15th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2020

2020 Totals: Reissues/Historical

  1. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (1968, Impulse) 159 (68)
  2. Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland (1967, Resonance) 133 (60)
  3. Charles Mingus, @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside) 76 (35)
  4. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (1959, Blue Note) 40 (23)
  5. Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1968, Resonance) 29 (14)
  6. Ella Fitzgerald, Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (1962, Verve) 24 (17)
  7. Horace Tapscott With the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Ancestral Echoes: The Covina Sessions, 1976 (Dark Tree) 18 (8)
  8. Nina Simone, Fodder on My Wings (1982, Verve) 16 (8)
  9. Sam Rivers, Ricochet [Sam Rivers Archive Project, Volume 3] (1978, NoBusiness) 15 (9)
  10. Paul Desmond, The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings (Mosaic) 14 (7)
  11. Dave Brubeck Quartet, Time OutTakes (1959, Brubeck Editions) 12 (5)
  12. Pharoah Sanders, Live in Paris 1975: Lost ORTF Recordings (Transversales Disque) 11 (6)
  13. Hank Mobley, The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70 (Mosaic -19) 10 (6) *
  14. Bob James, Once Upon a Time: The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions (Resonance) 8 (5)
  15. Edward Simon, 25 Years (1995-2018, Ridgeway) 8 (4)
  16. Dexter Gordon Quartet, Live in Chateauvallon 1978 (Elemental Music) 8 (3)
  17. Charlie Parker, The Savoy 10-Inch LP Collection (1944-48, Craft) 8 (3)
  18. Lennie Tristano, The Duo Sessions (1967-76, Dot Time) 8 (3)
  19. London Jazz Composers Orchestra, That Time (1972-80, Not Two) 7 (4)
  20. Modern Jazz Quintet Karlsruhe/Four Men Only, Complete Recordings (1968-73, NoBusiness) 6 (4)
  21. Borah Bergman-Perry Robinson-Steve Swell-Ray Sage, Quartets Trios Duos (2007, Mahakala Music) 6 (3)
  22. John Coltrane, Blue World (1964, Impulse -19) 6 (3)
  23. The Heshoo Beshoo Group, Armitage Road (1970, We Are Busy Bodies) 6 (3)
  24. Sun Ra Arkestra, Egypt 1971 (Strut) 6 (3)
  25. Mike Westbrook, Love and Understanding: Citadel/Room 315 Sweden '74 (My Only Desire) 6 (3)
  26. New York Contemporary Five, Consequences Revisited (1963-64, Ezz-thetics) 5 (3)
  27. The Miles Davis Quintet, The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions (Craft -19) 5 (2)
  28. Borah Bergman-Wilber Morris-Sunny Murray, Monks (1996, SomeRealMusic) 4 (2)
  29. Nat King Cole, Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Best of Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) (Resonance) 4 (2)
  30. Milford Graves & Don Pullen, The Complete Yale Concert, 1966 (Corbett vs Dempsey) 4 (2)
  31. George Lewis, Rainbow Family (1984, Carrier) 4 (2)
  32. Nina Simone, I Put a Spell on You (1965, Verve) 4 (2)
  33. Sun Ra Arkestra, Heliocentric Worlds 1 & 2 Revisited (1965, Ezz-thetics) 4 (2)
  34. Rashied Ali & Frank Lowe, Duo Exchange: Complete Sessions (1972, Survival) 3 (2)
  35. Joe Castro, Passion Flower: For Doris Duke (1955-66, Sunnyside) 3 (2)
  36. George Coleman Quintet, In Baltimore (1971, Reel to Real) 3 (2)
  37. Jon Hassell/Farafina, Flash of the Spirit (1988, Tak:Til) 3 (2)
  38. Wolfgang Lackerschmid & Chet Baker, Quintet Sessions 1979 (Dot Time) 3 (2)
  39. Neil Swainson Quintet, 49th Parallel (1988, Reel to Real) 3 (2)
  40. Masayuki Takayanagi New Direction Unit, Axis/Another Revolvable Thing (1975, Blank Forms Editions) 3 (2)
  41. Norma Winstone & John Taylor, In Concert (1988, Sunnyside) 3 (2)
  42. Ambiance, Into a New Journey (1982, BBE) 3 (1)
  43. Louis Armstrong, Live in Europe (1948-52, Dot Time -19) 3 (1)
  44. Albert Ayler Trio, 1964: Prophecy Revisited (Ezz-thetics) 3 (1)
  45. John Coltrane, Giant Steps [60th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition] (1969, Rhino) 3 (1)
  46. Bill Dixon & Cecil Taylor, Duets 1992 (Triple Point -19) 3 (1)
  47. Europe Jazz All Stars, Room 1220 (1970, Trio/Ultra Vybe) 3 (1)
  48. Hardcell, The Cosmos (2007, Screwgun) 3 (1)
  49. Tubby Hayes, The Complete Fontana Albums (1961-1969) (Decca -19) 3 (1)
  50. Terumasa Hino, Journey to Air (1970, Octave Lab) 3 (1)
  51. Peter Kowald Quintet, Peter Kowald Quintet (1972, Corbett vs Dempsey) 3 (1)
  52. Charles Mingus, Jazz in Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden (BBE -18) 3 (1)
  53. Charles Mingus, Pithecanthropus Erectus (WaxTime in Color -19) 3 (1)
  54. Dudu Pukwana, Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" (1968-69, Matsuli Music) 3 (1)
  55. Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Tape Archive Essence 1973-1978 (Bureau B) 3 (1)
  56. Gene Russell, New Direction (1971, Real Gone Music) 3 (1)
  57. Cecil Taylor & Tony Oxley, Being Astral and All Registers (2002, Discus Music) 3 (1)
  58. Alan Wakeman, The Octet Broadcasts: 1969 & 1979 (Gearbox) 3 (1)
  59. Oneness of Juju, African Rhythms 1970-1982 (Strut) 2 (2)
  60. Phil Wachsmann, Writing in Water (1985, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 2 (2)
  61. Albert Ayler, Quartets 1964: Spirits to Ghosts Revisited (Ezz-thetics -19) 2 (1)
  62. Ray Barretto, Barretto Power (1970, Fania) 2 (1)
  63. Marion Brown, Why Not? Porto Novo! Revisited (1966-67, Ezz-thetics) 2 (1)
  64. Dave Brubeck Trio Featuring Gerry Mulligan, Compadres: Recorded Live in Mexico (1968, Columbia) 2 (1)
  65. Don Cherry, Om Santi Om (1976, Black Sweat) 2 (1)
  66. Ella Fitzgerald, The Complete Piano Duets (Verve) 2 (1)
  67. Erroll Garner, Plays Gershwin & Kern (1964-68, Mack Avenue) 2 (1)
  68. Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker, Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 (Premium Cool) 2 (1)
  69. Dexter Gordon, Montmartre 1964 (Storyville) 2 (1)
  70. Johnny Griffin & Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ow! Live at the Penthouse -19 (Reel to Real) 2 (1)
  71. Bobby Hutcherson, Oblique (1967, Blue Note Tone Poet) 2 (1)
  72. The MacroQuarktet, The Complete Night: Live at the Stone NYC (2007, Out of Your Head) 2 (1)
  73. Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane, Monk's Music (1957, American Jazz Classics) 2 (1)
  74. Steve Potts, Musique Pour Le Film D'un Ami (1975, Souffle Continu) 2 (1)
  75. Prezens, XForm (2007, Screwgun) 2 (1)
  76. The Ray Russell Quartet, Spontaneous Event: Live Vol 1: 1967-69 (Jazz in Britain) 2 (1)
  77. Second Sight, Tiger Tracks (1987, Sunjump) 2 (1)
  78. Nina Simone, Pastel Blue (1965, Verve) 2 (1)
  79. Sun Ra, Haverford College 1980 (Enterplanetary Koncepts) 2 (1)
  80. Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley, Birdland, Neuburg 2011 (Fundacja Sluchaj) 2 (1)
  81. Mal Waldron, Free at Last [Extended Edition] (1969, ECM -19) 2 (1)
  82. Sharhabil Ahmed, The King of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk) 1 (1)
  83. Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela, Rejoice (2010, World Circuit) 1 (1)
  84. Albert Ayler, 1965: Spirits Rejoice & Bells Revisited (Ezz-thetics) 1 (1)
  85. Albert Ayler, New Grass (1968, Third Man) 1 (1)
  86. Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings (1954, Blue Note) 1 (1)
  87. Chet Baker, The Legendary Riverside Albums (1958-59, Craft -19) 1 (1)
  88. Peter Brötzmann, 14 Love Poems [Plus 10 More] (1984, Cien Fuegos) 1 (1)
  89. Vincent Chancey-Wilber Morris-Warren Smith, The Spell: The Vincent Chancey Trio Live 1987 (NoBusiness) 1 (1)
  90. Don Cherry, Brown Rice (1975, Verve -19) 1 (1)
  91. Nat King Cole, Hittin' the Ramp: The Early Years (1936-1943) (Resonance -19) 1 (1)
  92. Nathan Davis Sextet, Peace Treaty (1965, SFP-Sam) 1 (1)
  93. Edikanfo, The Pace Setters (1981, Glitterbeat) 1 (1)
  94. Duke Ellington-Charles Mingus-Max Roach, Money Jungle (1962, Blue Note Tone Poet) 1 (1)
  95. Bill Evans, Some Other Time: The Lost Session From the Black Forest (1968, Resonance -16) 1 (1)
  96. Ibrahim Ferrer, Buenos Hermanos (2003, World Circuit) 1 (1)
  97. Alain Jean-Marie, The Complete Alain Jean-Marie Biguine Reflections (Frémeaux & Associés -19) 1 (1)
  98. Charles Lloyd Quartet, Montreux Jazz Festival 1967 [Swiss Radio Days Volume 46] (TCB -19) 1 (1)
  99. Jackie McLean, It's Time (1965, Blue Note Tone Poet) 1 (1)
  100. Lenny Pickett, Bad Dreams (1988, self-released) 1 (1)
  101. Buddy Rich, Just in Time: The Final Recording (1986, Gearbox -19) 1 (1)
  102. Frank Sinatra, Nice 'N Easy [60th Anniversary Edition] (Capitol) 1 (1)
  103. Sun Ra, Celestial Love (1982, Modern Harmonic) 1 (1)
  104. Horace Tapscott Quintet, The Giant Is Awakened (1969, Real Gone Music) 1 (1)
  105. Cecil Taylor, At Angelica 2000 Bologna (I Dischi Di Angelica) 1 (1)
  106. René Thomas, Remembering Rene Thomas: Rare and Unreleased (1955-62, Fresh Sound) 1 (1)
  107. Ivan Zagni & Steve Garden, Trouble Spots (1984, Rattle Echo) 1 (1)

Notes


Reissues/Historical albums that erroneously received votes as New:

New albums that erroneously received votes as Reissues/Historical:

Albums receiving votes this year that had received votes in last year's poll (2019 vote + 2020 vote). Rule is that we add the old votes to this year's only if the album received votes on more ballots this year. Only one that qualified was the Hank Mobley box: