The 18th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2023

Ballots 2023 [6]

Allen Michie (The Arts Fuse)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  2. Bobby Kapp, Synergy: Bobby Kapp Plays the Music of Richard Sussman (Tweed Boulevard)
  3. The Necks, Travel (Northern Spy)
  4. Bobby West, Big Trippin' (Soulville Sound)
  5. Brad Mehldau, Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles (Nonesuch)
  6. Mike Dillon & Punkadelick, Inflorescence (Royal Potato Family)
  7. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  8. Phil Grenadier, Regeneration (Butternotes)
  9. Donny McCaslin, I Want More (Edition)
  10. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Bill Evans, Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) (Elemental Music)
  2. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  3. Miles Davis Quintet, In Concert at the Olympia Paris 1957 (Fresh Sound)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Milo Miles (The Arts Fuse, Miles to Go)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Bill Milkowski (DownBeat, Guitar Player, Absolute Sound, Substack)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Shakti, This Moment (Abstract Logix)
  2. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Undercover: Live at the Village Vanguard (Heartcore)
  3. Ben Wolfe, Unjust (Resident Arts)
  4. John Scofield, Uncle John's Band (ECM)
  5. Chris Potter, Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition)
  6. Brad Mehldau, Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles (Nonesuch)
  7. Joshua Redman, Where Are We (Blue Note)
  8. Mark Turner Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Giant Step Arts)
  9. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  10. Dan Wilson, Things Eternal (Brother Mister/Mack Avenue)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)
  2. Charles Mingus, At Antibes 1960 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)
  3. Jaco Pastorius, Word of Mouth (1981, Rhino High Fidelity/Warner)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Roz Milner (Milner on Music)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Dorothy Ashby, With Strings Attached (1957-65, New Land)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  3. Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Live at Fabrik: Hamburg 1980 (Jazzline)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Ralph A. Miriello (Notes on Jazz)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

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!)
  3. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Rick Mitchell (Jazz in the New Millennium [book/radio program])

NEW RELEASES

  1. Joshua Redman, Where Are We (Blue Note)
  2. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  3. Joe Chambers, Dance Kobina (Blue Note)
  4. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)
  5. Billy Childs, The Winds of Change (Mack Avenue)
  6. Walter Smith III, Return to Casual (Blue Note)
  7. Johnathan Blake, Passage (Blue Note)
  8. Sammy Figueroa, Something for a Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo) (Ashé)
  9. Terell Stafford, Between Two Worlds (Le Coq)
  10. Mike Clark, Kosen Rufu (Wide Hive)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Cal Tjader, Catch the Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Chris Monsen (Musikkmagasinet [Klassekampen], Jazznytt, Substack)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Isach Skeidsvoll, Dance to Summon (Ultraaani)
  2. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)
  3. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  4. Mark Lomax Trio, Tapestry (CFG Multimedia)
  5. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge, Beyond the Margins (Trost)
  6. Lukas Traxel, One-Eyed Daruma (We Jazz)
  7. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  8. Peter Brötzmann-Majid Bekkas-Hamid Drake, Catching Ghosts (ACT)
  9. Angelika Niescier-Tomeka Reid-Savannah Harris, Beyond Dragons (Intakt)
  10. Irreversible Entanglements, Protect Your Light (Impulse!)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Per 'Texas' Johansson, Alla Mina Kompisar (1998, Moserobie)
  2. Sam Rivers, The Quest (1976, RED)
  3. The Jazz Doctors, Intensive Care: Prescriptions Filled [The Billy Bang Quartet Sessions 1983/1984] (Cadillac)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see 10 favorite reissues and vault releases of 2023.

John Frederick Moore (Jazziz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  2. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)
  3. Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, Kings Highway (Stoner Hill)
  4. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  5. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  6. Chris Potter, Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition)
  7. Kate Gentile, Find Letter X (Pi)
  8. Walter Smith III, Return to Casual (Blue Note)
  9. London Brew, London Brew (Concord)
  10. Artemis, In Real Time (Blue Note)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)
  2. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)
  3. Chet Baker, Blue Room: The 1979 Vara Studio Sessions in Holland (Jazz Detective)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Allen Morrison (DownBeat, TIDAL)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Ivana Ng (DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  2. Meshell Ndegeocello, The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note)
  3. Ganavya & Munir Hossn, Sister, Idea (Ropeadope)
  4. Chief Adjuah, Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (Ropeadope)
  5. André 3000, New Blue Sun (Epic)
  6. Irreversible Entanglements, Protect Your Light (Impulse!)
  7. Angel Bat Dawid, Requiem for Jazz (International Anthem)
  8. Enji, Ulaan (Squama)
  9. Brandee Younger, Brand New Life (Impulse)
  10. Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids, Afro Futuristic Dreams (Strut)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Stuart Nicholson (Jazzwise)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Shakti, This Moment (Abstract Logix)
  2. Espen Eriksen Trio & Andy Sheppard, As Good as It Gets (Rune Grammofon)
  3. Visions of Nar [Jeremy Rose & Zela Margossian], Daughter of the Seas (Earshift Music)
  4. Pat Metheny, Dream Box (Modern)
  5. Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry, Our Daily Bread (ECM)
  6. Zoe Rahman, Colour of Sound (Manushi)
  7. Jason Rebello & Tim Garland, Life to Life (Whirlwind)
  8. Paul Mottram, Seven Ages of Man (Ubuntu Music)
  9. Helge Lien Trio & Tore Brunborg, Funeral Dance (Ozella Music)
  10. Artemis, In Real Time (Blue Note)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Stan Tracey Quartet, Jazz Suite: Inspired by Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood (1965, Resteamed)
  3. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Fotis Nikolakopoulos (Free Jazz Collective)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Alabaster DePlume, Come With Fierce Grace (International Anthem)
  2. The Necks, Travel (Northern Spy)
  3. Darius Jones, Fluxkit Vancouver (Its Suite but Sacred) (We Jazz)
  4. Zoh Amba, O Life, O Light Vol. 1 (577 '22)
  5. Silke Eberhard & Céline Voccia, Wild Knots (Relative Pitch)
  6. Adam Rudolph & Tyshawn Sorey, Archaisms (Defkaz)
  7. Jack Wright & Ben Bennett, Augur (Palliative)
  8. Joe McPhee-Mette Rasmussen-Dennis Tyfus, Oblique Strategies (Black Truffle)
  9. Elisabeth Harnik & Zlatko Kaučič, One Foot in the Air (Catalytic Sound)
  10. Light.Box + Emil Karlsen, The Undanced Dance (Bead)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Milford Graves With Arthur Doyle & Hugh Glover, Children of the Forest (1976, Black Editions Archive)
  2. Derek Bailey & Paul Motian, Duo in Concert (1990, Frozen Reeds)
  3. Steve Lacy, The Ictus Archives Vol. 1 (1976, Ictus)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Tim Niland (freelance)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Allen Lowe and the Constant Sorrow Orchestra, America: The Rough Cut (ESP-Disk)
  2. Matthew Shipp, The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp (Mahakala Music)
  3. Dave Rempis-Elisabeth Harnik-Fred Lonberg-Holm-Tim Daisy, Earscratcher (Aerophonic)
  4. Jason Adasiewicz, Roscoe Village: The Music of Roscoe Mitchell (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
  5. John Zorn, New Masada Quartet Vol. 2 (Tzadik)
  6. Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra, Lightning Dreamers (International Anthem)
  7. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  8. James Brandon Lewis Trio, Eye of I (Anti-)
  9. Angelica Sanchez Nonet, Nighttime Creatures (Pyroclastic)
  10. Mette Rasmussen-Paul Flaherty-Zach Rowden-Chris Corsano, Crying in Space (Relative Pitch)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Ornette Coleman, Ornette at 12/Crisis to Man on the Moon Revisited (1968-69, Ezz-Thetics)
  3. Roy Campbell-William Parker-Zen Matsuura, Visitation of Spirits: The Pyramid Trio Live, 1985 (NoBusiness)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see 2023 Music Rewind.

Ysi Ortega (Stalker 21, El Intruso)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  2. Fire! Orchestra, Echoes (Rune Grammofon)
  3. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  4. Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Sixth Decade From Paris to Paris: Live at Sons D'Hiver (RogueArt)
  5. Illegal Crowns, Unclosing (Out of Your Heads)
  6. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, Hear the Light Singing (RogueArt)
  7. SurdelSur Ensemble, Hernandez-Sanjuro-Nebbia (Ears & Eyes)
  8. Peter Evans Being & Becoming, Ars Memoria (More Is More)
  9. Javier Red's Imagery Converter, Life & Umbrella (Desafio Candente)
  10. Sylvie Courvoisier, Chimaera (Intakt)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)
  2. Chet Baker, Blue Room: The 1979 Vara Studio Sessions in Holland (Jazz Detective)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dan Ouellette (DownBeat, Stereophile, QWEST.TV, Jazz & Beyond Intel, The Landfill Chronicles)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Todd Sickafoose, Bear Proof (Secret Hatch)
  2. Tania Giannouli, Solo (Rattle)
  3. Will Bernard & Beth Custer, Sky (Dreck to Disk)
  4. Luciana Souza & Trio Corrente, Cometa (Sunnyside)
  5. Allison Miller, Rivers in Our Veins (Royal Potato Family)
  6. Janiece Jaffe & Monika Herzig, Both Sides of Joni (Acme)
  7. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)
  8. The Peggy Lee Band, A Giving Way (Songlines)
  9. Susan Alcorn & Septeto Del Sur, Canto (Relative Pitch)
  10. Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dance of the Elders (ECM)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see Best of 2023.

Phil Overeem (Living to Listen)

NEW RELEASES

  1. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  2. Jason Adasiewicz, Roscoe Village: The Music of Roscoe Mitchell (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
  3. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  4. Susan Alcorn & Septeto Del Sur, Canto (Relative Pitch)
  5. Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 (Miel Music)
  6. Mark Lomax Trio, Tapestry (CFG Multimedia)
  7. Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Spirit Gatherer: Tribute to Don Cherry (Spiritmuse)
  8. Natural Information Society, Since Time Is Gravity (Aguirre/Eremite)
  9. Mark Turner Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Giant Step Arts)
  10. Trio San, Hibiki (Jazzdor)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Dorothy Ashby, With Strings Attached (1957-65, New Land)
  2. Walter Bishop, Jr., Bish at the Bank: Live in Baltimore (1966-67, Reel to Real)
  3. Gabe Baltazar Quartet, Birdology (1992, Fresh Sound)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Annie Parnell (Virginia's Home for Public Media [NPR, Richmond, VA])

NEW RELEASES

  1. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  2. Butcher Brown, Solar Music (Concord Jazz)
  3. Yussef Dayes, Black Classical Music (Brownswood/Nonesuch)
  4. Brandee Younger, Brand New Life (Impulse)
  5. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  6. Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding, Alive at the Village Vanguard (Palmetto)
  7. André 3000, New Blue Sun (Epic)
  8. Johnathan Blake, Passage (Blue Note)
  9. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  10. Arooj Aftab-Vijay Iyer-Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile (Verve)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  3. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (1972-73, Columbia/Legacy)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Terry Perkins (DownBeat)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Joshua Redman, Where Are We (Blue Note)
  2. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  3. Anat Cohen, Quartetinho (Anzic '22)
  4. Brad Mehldau, Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles (Nonesuch)
  5. Wayne Shorter-Terri Lyne Carrington-Leo Genovese-Esperanza Spalding, Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival (Candid '22)
  6. Isaiah J. Thompson, The Power of the Spirit (Blue Engine)
  7. Samara Joy, Linger Awhile (Verve '22)
  8. Terri Lyne Carrington, New Standards Vol. 1 (Candid '22)
  9. David Murray-Questlove-Ray Angry, Plumb (J.M.I./Outside In Music)
  10. Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 (Miel Music)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)
  2. Bill Evans, Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestral Recordings From Denmark (1965-1969) (Elemental)
  3. Charles Mingus, The Lost Album: From Ronnie Scott's (1972, Resonance '22)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Sergio Piccirilli (El Intruso)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  2. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  3. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  4. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet, Hear the Light Singing (RogueArt)
  5. Peter Evans Being & Becoming, Ars Memoria (More Is More)
  6. Illegal Crowns, Unclosing (Out of Your Heads)
  7. Fire! Orchestra, Echoes (Rune Grammofon)
  8. Kate Gentile & International Contemporary Ensemble, Biomei.i (Obliquity)
  9. Ingrid Laubrock, The Last Quiet Place (Pyroclastic)
  10. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  3. Charles Mingus, At Antibes 1960 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dan Polletta (WCLV Cleveland)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

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

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN