The 18th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2023

Ballots 2023 [1]

Paul Acquaro (Free Jazz Collective, Jazzpodium)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge, Beyond the Margins (Trost)
  2. Aruán Ortiz Trio, Serranias: Sketchbook for Piano Trio (Intakt)
  3. Ralph Towner, At First Light (ECM)
  4. John Zorn, Nothing Is as Real as Nothing (Tzadik)
  5. Tomas Fujiwara, Pith (Out of Your Head)
  6. Ivo Perelman & Matt Moran, Tuning Forks (Ibeji Music)
  7. Frode Gjerstad & Matthew Shipp, We Speak (Relative Pitch)
  8. Max Koch, Ten Bulls (Jazzwerkstatt)
  9. Christopher Dell-Christian Lillinger-Jonas Westergaard, Beats II (Plaist)
  10. Location Location Location [Michael Formanek/Anthony Pirog/Mike Pride], Damaged Goods (Cuneiform)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Sam Rivers, Archive Series (1971-2002, NoBusiness)
  2. Peter Brötzmann-Fred Van Hove-Han Bennink [+ Albert Mangelsdorff], Outspan No 1/2 (1974, CienFuegos)
  3. Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, Luten at Jazzwerkstatt Peitz (2011, Jazzwerkstatt)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see extended top list.

David R. Adler (freelance)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  2. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  3. Angelica Sanchez Nonet, Nighttime Creatures (Pyroclastic)
  4. JD Allen, This (Savant)
  5. Daniel Santiago & Pedro Martins, Movement (Heartcore)
  6. Säje, Säje (Säjevoices)
  7. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  8. Lesley Mok, The Living Collection (American Dreams)
  9. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  10. Linda May Han Oh, The Glass Hours (Biophilia)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Hasaan Ibn Ali, Reaching for the Stars: Trios/Duos/Solos (1962-65, Omnivore)
  2. Sonny Stitt, Boppin' in Baltimore: Live at the Left Bank (1973, Jazz Detective/Elemental)
  3. Luis Russell, At the Swing Cats Ball: Newly Discovered Recordings From the Closet, Volume 1 1938-1940 (Dot Time Legends)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Scott Albin (Amazon.com)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Maria Baptist Quintet, Essays on Jazz (self-released)
  2. Chris Potter, Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition)
  3. Ethan Philion Quartet, Gnosis (Sunnyside)
  4. Charley Rose Trio, Dada Pulp (Menace)
  5. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  6. Brian McCarthy Nonet, After|Life (Truth Revolution)
  7. Jason Rebello & Tim Garland, Life to Life (Whirlwind)
  8. Engin Özşahin, Conversations in Chaos (self-released)
  9. Christian McBride's New Jawn, Prime (Mack Avenue)
  10. Alex Sipiagin Quintet, Mel's Vision (Criss Cross)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Ornette Coleman Trio, At the Golden Circle Stockholm Revisited (1965, Ezz-Thetics)
  2. Roy Hargrove, The Love Suite: In Mahogany (1993, Blue Engine)
  3. Graham Collier, Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days '69 (My Only Desire)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Shannon Ali (Shannon J. Effinger) (The Guardian UK, The Washington Post, W Magazine, The New York Times, Pitchfork, Jazziz, NPR Music)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note)
  2. JoVia Armstrong & Eunoia Society, Inception (Black Earth Music)
  3. Val Jeanty-Candice Hoyes-Mimi Jones, Nite Bjuti (Whirlwind)
  4. Johnathan Blake, Passage (Blue Note)
  5. Ambrose Akinmusire, Owl Song (Nonesuch)
  6. Chief Adjuah, Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (Ropeadope)
  7. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  8. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  9. Angel Bat Dawid, Requiem for Jazz (International Anthem)
  10. Bettye LaVette, LaVette! (Jay-Vee)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Dorothy Ashby, With Strings Attached (1957-65, New Land)
  2. Roy Hargrove, The Love Suite: In Mahogany (1993, Blue Engine)
  3. Max Roach, Members, Don't Git Weary (1968, Arc/Atlantic)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Larry Appelbaum (DownBeat, WPFW-FM)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Red Hot Org, Red Hot & Ra: Solar: Sun Ra in Brasil (Red Hot Org)
  2. John Scofield, Uncle John's Band (ECM)
  3. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  4. Ron Blake, Mistaken Identity (7ten33 Productions)
  5. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  6. David Virelles, Carta (Intakt)
  7. Guillermo Klein Quinteto, Telmo's Tune (Sunnyside)
  8. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  9. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  10. Laufey, Bewitched (AWAL)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)
  3. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Hrayr Attarian (Jazziz, All About Jazz)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL) (listed alphabetically; 2 points each)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Chris Barton (Los Angeles Times, DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  2. Arooj Aftab-Vijay Iyer-Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile (Verve)
  3. Ambrose Akinmusire, Owl Song (Nonesuch)
  4. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  5. Daniel Villarreal, Lados B (International Anthem)
  6. James Brandon Lewis Trio, Eye of I (Anti-)
  7. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  8. Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note)
  9. Yussef Dayes, Black Classical Music (Brownswood/Nonesuch)
  10. Walter Smith III, Return to Casual (Blue Note)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Joe Bebco (The Syncopated Times)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. The Moaninest Moan of Them All: The Jazz Saxophone of Loren McMurray 1920-1922 (Archeophone)
  2. The Bix Centennial All-Stars, Celebrating Bix! [20th Anniversary Edition] (2003, Turtle Bay)
  3. Dick Hyman, One Step to Chicago: The Legacy of Frank Teschemacher and the Austin High Gang (1992, Rivermont '22)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Bill Beuttler (Boston Globe, Emerson College, DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  2. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  3. Chief Adjuah, Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (Ropeadope)
  4. Ambrose Akinmusire, Owl Song (Nonesuch)
  5. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  6. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  7. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  8. Joshua Redman, Where Are We (Blue Note)
  9. Ron Horton, A Prayer for Andrew (Newvelle)
  10. Aaron Diehl & the Knights, Zodiac Suite (Mack Avenue)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Charles Mingus, Changes: The Complete 1970s Atlantic Studio Recordings (1973-79, Rhino)
  2. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  3. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dan Bilawsky (All About Jazz, Dark Blue Notes)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Alan Ferber Nonet, Up High, Down Low (Sunnyside)
  2. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  3. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  4. Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, Kings Highway (Stoner Hill)
  5. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  6. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  7. Jennifer Wharton's Bonegasm, Grit & Grace (Sunnyside)
  8. Nicole Zuraitis, How Love Begins (Outside In Music)
  9. Benny Benack III, Third Time's the Charm (La Reserve/Bandstand Presents)
  10. Jean-Michel Pilc, Symphony (Justin Time)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  3. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Larry Birnbaum (Stereophile)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL) (listed alphabetically; 2 points each)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Larry Blumenfeld (Wall Street Journal, Chamber Music America, Jazziz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ambrose Akinmusire, Beauty Is Enough (Origami Harvest)
  2. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, Hear the Light Singing (RogueArt)
  3. Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 (Miel Music)
  4. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  5. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  6. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  7. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  8. Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note)
  9. Arooj Aftab-Vijay Iyer-Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile (Verve)
  10. Ben Wolfe, Unjust (Resident Arts)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  2. John Zorn, Masada: 30th Anniversary Edition: The Complete Studio Master Takes (1994-97, Tzadik)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Philip Booth (Jazziz, Jazzlands)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL) (listed alphabetically; 2 points each)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Mike Borella (Avant Music News)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  2. Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis, Calibrating Friction (New Amsterdam)
  3. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  4. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Lightning Dreamers (International Anthem)
  5. Jessica Pavone, Clamor (Out of Your Head)
  6. Sally Gates-Trevor Dunn-Greg Fox, Deliriant Modifier (Riverworm)
  7. Illegal Crowns, Unclosing (Out of Your Heads)
  8. Tony Buck, Environmental Studies (Room40)
  9. Sick Boss, Businessless (Drip Audio)
  10. Laura Schuler Quartet, Sueños Paralelos (Antidro)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Shaun Brady (Philadelphia Inquirer, WRTI, Tidal)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  2. Mendoza Hoff Revels, Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
  3. Fire! Orchestra, Echoes (Rune Grammofon)
  4. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  5. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  6. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  7. The Necks, Travel (Northern Spy)
  8. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  9. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, Hear the Light Singing (RogueArt)
  10. Tineke Postma, Aria (Edition)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  3. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Stuart Broomer (Free Jazz Collective, Musicworks, New York City Jazz Record, Point of Departure, The Whole Note)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge, Beyond the Margins (Trost)
  2. Eddie Prévost-N.O. Moore-James O'Sullivan-Ross Lambert, Chord (Shrike)
  3. John Butcher, The Very Fabric (Hitorri)
  4. Ingrid Laubrock, The Last Quiet Place (Pyroclastic)
  5. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  6. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  7. Pascal Niggenkemper, Blòc (Subran/Musiques Aventureuses)
  8. Daunik Lazro-Benjamin Duboc-Mathieu Bec, Standards Combustion (Dark Tree)
  9. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  10. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, Hear the Light Singing (RogueArt)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Derek Bailey & Paul Motian, Duo in Concert (1990, Frozen Reeds)
  3. Sonny Clark, The Complete Sonny Clark Blue Note Sessions (1957-61, Mosaic)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Bill Brownlee (Plastic Sax, KCUR)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Sebastian Rochford & Kit Downes, A Short Diary (ECM)
  2. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  3. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  4. Kassa Overall, Animals (Warp)
  5. Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry, Our Daily Bread (ECM)
  6. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  7. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  8. Aja Monet, When the Poems Do What They Do (Drink Sum Wtr)
  9. Matt Otto, Umbra (Origin)
  10. Irreversible Entanglements, Protect Your Light (Impulse!)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie-Bud Powell-Charles Mingus-Max Roach, Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings (1953, Craft)
  2. Milford Graves With Arthur Doyle & Hugh Glover, Children of the Forest (1976, Black Editions Archive)
  3. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dan Buskirk (WPRB [Princeton], Fun2Know Podcast)

NEW RELEASES

  1. James Brandon Lewis Trio, Eye of I (Anti-)
  2. Linda May Han Oh, The Glass Hours (Biophilia)
  3. Jason Kao Hwang Critical Response, Book of Stories (True Sound)
  4. Angelika Niescier-Tomeka Reid-Savannah Harris, Beyond Dragons (Intakt)
  5. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  6. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  7. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  8. Mendoza Hoff Revels, Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
  9. Susan Alcorn & Septeto Del Sur, Canto (Relative Pitch)
  10. Asher Gamedze, Turbulence and Pulse (International Anthem/Mushroom Hour)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)
  2. Shirley Scott, Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank (1972, Reel to Real)
  3. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dave Cantor (VPM News)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Mark Turner Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Giant Step Arts)
  2. Angelika Niescier-Tomeka Reid-Savannah Harris, Beyond Dragons (Intakt)
  3. Kendrick Scott, Corridors (Blue Note)
  4. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  5. Michael Feinberg, Blues Variant (Criss Cross)
  6. Matt Mitchell, Oblong Aplomb (Out of Your Head)
  7. Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Sixth Decade From Paris to Paris: Live at Sons D'Hiver (RogueArt)
  8. Christian McBride's New Jawn, Prime (Mack Avenue)
  9. Muriel Grossmann, Devotion (Third Man Music)
  10. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Soft Machine, The Dutch Lesson (1973, Cuneiform)
  2. Medeski Martin and Wood, Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995, Real Gone Music)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Katchie Cartwright (All Abourt Jazz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  2. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  3. Artemis, In Real Time (Blue Note)
  4. Rhiannon Giddens, You're the One (Nonesuch)
  5. Veronica Swift, Veronica Swift (Mack Avenue)
  6. Felipe Senna & Câmaranóva, Câmara Brasileira (Maritaca)
  7. Antonio Adolfo, Bossa 65: Celebrating Carlos Lyra and Roberto Menescal (AAM Music)
  8. Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente, Cometa (Sunnyside)
  9. Colette Michaan, Earth Rebirth (Creatrix Music)
  10. Marco Antonio Santos, About: Silence (Ears & Eyes)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see Katchie Cartwright's Best Releases of 2023.