The 18th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2023

Ballots 2023 [7]

Peter Quinn (Jazzwise, The Arts Desk)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Nikki Iles & the NDR Bigband, Face to Face (Edition)
  2. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)
  3. Lakecia Benjamin, Phoenix (Whirlwind)
  4. Nils Petter Molvær, Certainty of Tides (Modern)
  5. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  6. Pat Metheny, Dream Box (Modern)
  7. Shakti, This Moment (Abstract Logix)
  8. Ambrose Akinmusire, Beauty Is Enough (Origami Harvest)
  9. Marius Neset, Geyser (ACT Music)
  10. Mark Turner Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Giant Step Arts)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Bill Evans-Scott LaFaro-Paul Motian, Complete Trio Recordings (1959-61, Fingerpoppin')
  2. Duke Ellington, All the Hits and More: 1927-54 (Acrobat)
  3. Dorothy Ashby, With Strings Attached (1957-65, New Land)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Derk Richardson (The Absolute Sound, KPFA 94.1 FM [Berkeley])

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!)
  2. Charles Mingus, Changes: The Complete 1970s Atlantic Studio Recordings (1973-79, Rhino)
  3. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Britt Robson (Bandcamp, Minnpost)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  2. Marc Ribot/Ceramic Dog, Connection (Knockwurst)
  3. Chris Potter, Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition)
  4. Ingrid Laubrock, The Last Quiet Place (Pyroclastic)
  5. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  6. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  7. Darius Jones, Fluxkit Vancouver (Its Suite but Sacred) (We Jazz)
  8. Micah Thomas, Reveal (Artwork)
  9. Lafayette Gilchrist, Undaunted (Morphius)
  10. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)
  2. Malombo Jazz Makers, Malompo Jazz (1966, Strut)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Lloyd Sachs (Lloyd Sachs: Writing About Popular Culture)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  2. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  3. Allison Miller, Rivers in Our Veins (Royal Potato Family)
  4. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  5. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge, Beyond the Margins (Trost)
  6. Ingrid Laubrock, The Last Quiet Place (Pyroclastic)
  7. Angelika Niescier-Tomeka Reid-Savannah Harris, Beyond Dragons (Intakt)
  8. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  9. Mike Reed, The Separatist Party (We Jazz/Astral Spirits)
  10. George Coleman, Live at Smalls Jazz Club (Cellar)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)
  2. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Bret Saunders (Denver Post, KBCO-FM [Denver])

NEW RELEASES

  1. Kris Davis, Diatom Ribbons Live at the Village Vanguard (Pyroclastic)
  2. Wadada Leo Smith & Orange Wave Electric, Fire Illuminations (Kabell)
  3. Mendoza Hoff Revels, Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
  4. Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry, Our Daily Bread (ECM)
  5. Allen Lowe and the Constant Sorrow Orchestra, In the Dark (ESP-Disk)
  6. Illegal Crowns, Unclosing (Out of Your Heads)
  7. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  8. Irreversible Entanglements, Protect Your Light (Impulse!)
  9. David Murray-Questlove-Ray Angry, Plumb (J.M.I./Outside In Music)
  10. Kate Gentile, Find Letter X (Pi)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Steve Swell's Fire Into Music, For Jemeel: Fire From the Road (2003-04, RogueArt)
  2. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)
  3. Shirley Scott, Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank (1972, Reel to Real)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Rich Scheinin (SFJAZZ)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jesse Davis, Live at Smalls Jazz Club (Cellar)
  2. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  3. Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo, El Arte Del Bolero, Vol. 2 (Miel Music)
  4. Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets, Pan Africa (Impact Jazz)
  5. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  6. Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Borrowed Roses (Top Side Music)
  7. Allison Miller, Rivers in Our Veins (Royal Potato Family)
  8. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Undercover: Live at the Village Vanguard (Heartcore)
  9. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  10. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Hasaan Ibn Ali, Reaching for the Stars: Trios/Duos/Solos (1962-65, Omnivore)
  3. Sonny Stitt, Boppin' in Baltimore: Live at the Left Bank (1973, Jazz Detective/Elemental)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Sarah Schmidt (Jazz Director, WRFL-FM [Lexington, KY])

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)
  2. Steve Swell's Fire Into Music, For Jemeel: Fire From the Road (2003-04, RogueArt)
  3. Sonny Rollins With Heikki Sarmanto Trio, Live at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki 1972 (Svart)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Gene Seymour (The Nation, CNN.com)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding, Alive at the Village Vanguard (Palmetto)
  2. Matthew Shipp, The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp (Mahakala Music)
  3. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  4. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  5. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  6. Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mélusine (Nonesuch)
  7. Sara Caswell, The Way to You (Anzic)
  8. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  9. Anat Fort Trio, The Berlin Sessions (Sunnyside)
  10. Allen Lowe and the Constant Sorrow Orchestra, In the Dark (ESP-Disk)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music)
  2. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)
  3. Sun Ra and His Arkestra, Jazz in Silhouette (Expanded Edition) (1958, Cosmic Myth)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see Gene Seymour's Top Ten Jazz Albums for 2023.

Mike Shanley (Shanley on Music, New York City Jazz Record)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Jason Adasiewicz, Roy's World (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
  2. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  3. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  4. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  5. Matthew Shipp, The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp (Mahakala Music)
  6. Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Sixth Decade From Paris to Paris: Live at Sons D'Hiver (RogueArt)
  7. Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Continuing (Pi)
  8. Lina Allemano Four, Pipe Dream (Lumo)
  9. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  10. SLUGish Ensemble, In Solitude (Slow & Steady)

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. Matthew Shipp Trio, Circular Temple (1990, ESP-Disk)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

John Sharpe (The New York City Jazz Record, Point of Departure, All About Jazz)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Fred Frith & Susana Santos Silva, Laying Demons to Rest (RogueArt)
  2. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  3. Lesley Mok, The Living Collection (American Dreams)
  4. Rodrigo Amado/The Bridge, Beyond the Margins (Trost)
  5. Angelika Niescier-Tomeka Reid-Savannah Harris, Beyond Dragons (Intakt)
  6. Barry Guy & Friends, Krakow 2018 (Not Two '22)
  7. Matt Mitchell, Oblong Aplomb (Out of Your Head)
  8. Satoko Fujii, Hyaku: One Hundred Dreams (Libra '22)
  9. Patrick Brennan Sonic Openings, Tilting Curvaceous (Clean Feed)
  10. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Steve Swell's Fire Into Music, For Jemeel: Fire From the Road (2003-04, RogueArt)
  2. Joe McPhee & Evan Parker, Sweet Nothings for Milford Graves (Corbett vs. Dempsey '22)
  3. Evan Parker, NYC 1978 (Relative Pitch)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Adam Shatz (London Review of Books)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ambrose Akinmusire, Beauty Is Enough (Origami Harvest)
  2. Darius Jones, Fluxkit Vancouver (Its Suite but Sacred) (We Jazz)
  3. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  4. Trio San, Hibiki (Jazzdor)
  5. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  6. David Virelles, Carta (Intakt)
  7. Ron Horton, A Prayer for Andrew (Newvelle)
  8. Micah Thomas, Reveal (Artwork)
  9. Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry, Our Daily Bread (ECM)
  10. François Houle & Benoît Delbecq, Poise (Afterday)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  2. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)
  3. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Rob Shepherd (PostGenre Media)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Susan Alcorn & Septeto Del Sur, Canto (Relative Pitch)
  2. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  3. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  4. Angel Bat Dawid, Requiem for Jazz (International Anthem)
  5. Anna Webber, Shimmer Wince (Intakt)
  6. John Zorn & Bill Laswell, Memoria (Tzadik)
  7. Wadada Leo Smith & Orange Wave Electric, Fire Illuminations (Kabell)
  8. Ingrid Laubrock, Monochromes (Intakt)
  9. Brandon Seabrook's Epic Proportions, Brutalovechamp (Pyroclastic)
  10. Arooj Aftab-Vijay Iyer-Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile (Verve)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. WaJazz: Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol. II: Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz From Japan 1962-1985: The King Records Masters (Universalsounds)
  2. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Note: Also see Rob Shepherd's Favorite Albums of 2023.

Hank Shteamer

NEW RELEASES

  1. Mendoza Hoff Revels, Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
  2. Christian McBride's New Jawn, Prime (Mack Avenue)
  3. Joe Farnsworth, In What Direction Are You Headed? (Smoke Sessions)
  4. John Zorn, Full Fathom Five (Tzadik)
  5. Jason Moran, From the Dancehall to the Battlefield (Yes)
  6. Jim Black & the Schrimps, Ain't No Saint (Intakt)
  7. Ambrose Akinmusire, Beauty Is Enough (Origami Harvest)
  8. Kate Gentile, Find Letter X (Pi)
  9. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  10. Leap Day Trio, Live at the Cafe Bohemia (Giant Step Arts)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)
  2. Archie Shepp, Derailleur: The 1964 Demo (Triple Point)
  3. Fred Anderson Quartet, The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 2 (1980, Corbett vs. Dempsey)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Slim (WRCU: Slim's Spins and The Slim & Him Show)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Shirley Scott, Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank (1972, Reel to Real)
  2. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)
  3. Mulgrew Miller, Solo in Barcelona (2004, Storyville)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Stewart Smith (The Wire, Bandcamp Daily, The Quietus)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Darius Jones, Fluxkit Vancouver (Its Suite but Sacred) (We Jazz)
  2. Ingrid Laubrock, Monochromes (Intakt)
  3. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  4. Steve Lehman & Orchestre National de Jazz, Ex Machina (Pi)
  5. Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((World War)) (International Anthem)
  6. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  7. Henry Threadgill Ensemble, The Other One (Pi)
  8. Mendoza Hoff Revels, Echolocation (AUM Fidelity)
  9. Joe McPhee-Mette Rasmussen-Dennis Tyfus, Oblique Strategies (Black Truffle)
  10. Keith & Julie Tippett, Couple in Spirit/Sound on Stone (Discus Music)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Milford Graves With Arthur Doyle & Hugh Glover, Children of the Forest (1976, Black Editions Archive)
  2. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove)
  3. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Sammy Stein (Readers Digest, Something Else, Free Jazz Collective, Platinum Mind; six books, most recent: Fabulous Female Musicians)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp, Tryptych I-III (SMP '22)
  2. Devin Gray, Most Definitely (Rataplan)
  3. The Brass Monkeys, Lullabite (33 Jazz)
  4. Mama Terra, The Summoned (Caffala)
  5. Charu Suri, Rags & Ragas (self-released)
  6. Benet McLean, Green Park (Sea Mammal)
  7. Lyia Meta, Always You (self-released)
  8. Fay Victor, Blackity Black Black Is Beautiful (Northern Spy)
  9. Guido Spannocchi, Live at Porgy & Bess Vienna (Audioguido)
  10. Ian Shaw, Greek Street Friday (Silent Wish)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Mark Stryker (Jazz From Detroit [University of Michigan Press])

NEW RELEASES

  1. Kenny Barron, The Source (Artwork)
  2. Terell Stafford, Between Two Worlds (Le Coq)
  3. Christian McBride's New Jawn, Prime (Mack Avenue)
  4. David Virelles, Carta (Intakt)
  5. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  6. Aaron Diehl & the Knights, Zodiac Suite (Mack Avenue)
  7. Dave Liebman, Live at Smalls (Cellar)
  8. Sullivan Fortner, Solo Game (Artwork)
  9. Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Dynamic Maximum Tension (Nonesuch)
  10. Simon Moullier, Inception (Fresh Sound New Talent)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. James P. Johnson, De Organizer/The Dreamy Kid (Excerpts) (2006, Naxos)
  2. Stanley Turrentine, Mr. Natural (1964, Blue Note Tone Poet)
  3. Steve Davis, Meets Hank Jones, Vol. 1 (2008, Smoke Sessions)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Mark Sullivan (All About Jazz, Minor 7th: Acoustic Guitar Music Reviews)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Mata Atlantica, Retiro E Ritmo (7D Media '22)
  2. Sonar With David Torn and J Peter Schwalm, Three Movements (7D Media)
  3. Stephan Thelen, Fractal Guitar 3 (MoonJune '22)
  4. Soft Machine, Other Doors (MoonJune)
  5. John Scofield, Uncle John's Band (ECM)
  6. Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dance of the Elders (ECM)
  7. Palle Mikkelborg-Jakob Bro-Marilyn Mazur, Strands (ECM)
  8. Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, The Gennett Suite (Patois)
  9. Ron Horton, A Prayer for Andrew (Newvelle)
  10. Mareike Wiening, Reveal (Greenleaf Music)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Soft Machine, The Dutch Lesson (1973, Cuneiform)
  2. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance)
  3. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

Dave Sumner (Bandcamp, Bird Is the Worm)

NEW RELEASES

  1. Angel Bat Dawid, Requiem for Jazz (International Anthem)
  2. Per Texas Johansson, Orkester Omnitonal (Moserobie)
  3. Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation)
  4. Mike Reed, The Separatist Party (We Jazz/Astral Spirits)
  5. Illegal Crowns, Unclosing (Out of Your Heads)
  6. Emilio Teubal, Futuro (self-released)
  7. Rajna Swaminathan, Apertures (Ropeadope)
  8. Marike van Dijk Nonet, Stranded (Brooklyn Jazz Underground/ZenneZ)
  9. James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quintet, For Mahalia, With Love (Tao Forms)
  10. Ricardo Dias Gomes, Muito Sol (Hive Mind)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN

John Szwed (Wire)

NEW RELEASES (listed alphabetically; 5.5 points each)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Hasaan Ibn Ali, Reaching for the Stars: Trios/Duos/Solos (1962-65, Omnivore)
  2. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!)
  3. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop)

VOCAL

DEBUT

LATIN