The 18th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2023
Past Polls Index
New Albums Rara Avis Debuts Latin Vocals
Critics
Acquaro - CartwrightCastaņeda - DrouotDryden - GuttermanHale - KaplanKato - MicallefMichie - PollettaQuinn - SzwedTamarkin - Yokoi

2023 Totals: Rara Avis (Reissues/Archival)

Critics were asked to list three reissues in descending order, with three points awarded for #1, 2 for #2, and 1 for #3. (On ballots where choices were listed alphabetically, each received 2 points.) The first bold number indicates total points; the number in parentheses tallies ballots on which a CD appeared, which was used as a tiebreaker.

  1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse!) 151 (66)
  2. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental) 45 (21)
  3. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motéma Music) 44 (22)
  4. Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance) 37 (19)
  5. Pharoah Sanders, Pharoah [Harvest Time] (1976, Luaka Bop) 30 (15)
  6. Abdul Wadud, By Myself: Solo Cello (1977, Gotta Groove) 29 (15)
  7. Dorothy Ashby, With Strings Attached (1957-65, New Land) 26 (12)
  8. Nina Simone, You've Got to Learn (1966, Verve) 21 (10)
  9. Charles Mingus, Changes: The Complete 1970s Atlantic Studio Recordings (1973-79, Rhino) 20 (11)
  10. Derek Bailey & Paul Motian, Duo in Concert (1990, Frozen Reeds) 16 (8)
  11. Matthew Shipp Trio, Circular Temple (1990, ESP-Disk) 15 (6)
  12. Milford Graves With Arthur Doyle & Hugh Glover, Children of the Forest (1976, Black Editions Archive) 14 (6)
  13. Steve Swell's Fire Into Music, For Jemeel: Fire From the Road (2003-04, RogueArt) 14 (6)
  14. Shirley Scott, Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank (1972, Reel to Real) 13 (6)
  15. Roy Hargrove, The Love Suite: In Mahogany (1993, Blue Engine) 12 (7)
  16. Hasaan Ibn Ali, Reaching for the Stars: Trios/Duos/Solos (1962-65, Omnivore) 12 (5)
  17. The Jazz Doctors, Intensive Care: Prescriptions Filled [The Billy Bang Quartet Sessions 1983/1984] (Cadillac) 11 (6)
  18. Cal Tjader, Catch the Groove: Live at the Penthouse 1963-1967 (Jazz Detective/Elemental) 11 (6)
  19. Sonny Clark, The Complete Sonny Clark Blue Note Sessions (1957-61, Mosaic) 11 (5)
  20. Miles Davis Quintet, In Concert at the Olympia Paris 1957 (Fresh Sound) 10 (6)
  21. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Shirley Scott, Cookin' With Jaws and the Queen: The Legendary Prestige Albums (1958, Craft) 10 (4)
  22. Sonny Rollins, Go West! The Contemporary Records Albums (1957-58, Craft) 9 (5)
  23. Dave Brubeck, Live From the Northwest, 1959 (Brubeck Editions) 9 (5)
  24. Chet Baker, Blue Room: The 1979 Vara Studio Sessions in Holland (Jazz Detective) 8 (5)
  25. Sonny Stitt, Boppin' in Baltimore: Live at the Left Bank (1973, Jazz Detective/Elemental) 8 (5)
  26. Jazz at the Philharmonic, The Complete Jam Sessions 1950-1957 (Mosaic) 8 (3)
  27. Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie-Bud Powell-Charles Mingus-Max Roach, Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings (1953, Craft) 8 (3)
  28. Bill Evans, Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestral Recordings From Denmark (1965-1969) (Elemental) 7 (4)
  29. Barry Altschul-David Izenson-Perry Robinson, Stop Time: Live at Prince Street 1978 (NoBusiness) 7 (3)
  30. Art Ensemble of Chicago, Les Stances à Sophie (1970, Play Loud!) 6 (3)
  31. Don Byas, Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946 (Mosaic) 6 (3)
  32. Bill Evans, Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) (Elemental Music) 6 (3)
  33. Sun Ra and His Arkestra, Jazz in Silhouette (Expanded Edition) (1958, Cosmic Myth) 6 (3)
  34. James P. Johnson, De Organizer/The Dreamy Kid (Excerpts) (2006, Naxos) 6 (2)
  35. Soft Machine, The Dutch Lesson (1973, Cuneiform) 6 (2)
  36. Fred Anderson Quartet, The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 2 (1980, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 5 (3)
  37. Les McCann, Never a Dull Moment! Live From Coast to Coast 1966-1967 (Resonance) 5 (2)
  38. Mike Osborne, Starting Fires: Live at the 100 Club 1970 (British Progressive Jazz) 5 (2)
  39. Sam Rivers, Archive Series (1971-2002, NoBusiness) 5 (2)
  40. Charles Mingus, At Antibes 1960 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics) 4 (3)
  41. Sonny Rollins With Heikki Sarmanto Trio, Live at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki 1972 (Svart) 4 (3)
  42. Luis Russell, At the Swing Cats Ball: Newly Discovered Recordings From the Closet, Volume 1 1938-1940 (Dot Time Legends) 4 (3)
  43. Art Pepper, The Complete Maiden Voyage Recordings (1981, Omnivore) 4 (2)
  44. Archie Shepp, Derailleur: The 1964 Demo (Triple Point) 4 (2)
  45. François Carrier Ensemble, Openness (2006, Fundacja Sluchaj) 3 (2)
  46. Baikida E.J. Carroll, Orange Fish Tears (1974, Souffle Continu) 3 (2)
  47. Steve Davis, Meets Hank Jones, Vol. 1 (2008, Smoke Sessions) 3 (2)
  48. Wayne Shorter, Schizophrenia (1967, Blue Note Tone Poet) 3 (2)
  49. Bernie Worrell-Cindy Blackman Santana-John King, Spherical (1994, Infrequent Seams) 3 (2)
  50. Jean-Jacques Avenel-Siegfried Kessler-Daunik Lazro, Ecstatic Jazz: Crypte Des Franciscains Béziers 12 Février 1982 (Fou) 3 (1)
  51. Ornette Coleman Trio, At the Golden Circle Stockholm Revisited (1965, Ezz-Thetics) 3 (1)
  52. Bill Evans-Scott LaFaro-Paul Motian, Complete Trio Recordings (1959-61, Fingerpoppin') 3 (1)
  53. Dror Feiler, Maavak (Music & Noise 1980-2023, Volume 1 & 2) (Ideal) 3 (1)
  54. Donald Harrison, Indian Blues (1991, Tipitina's Record Club) 3 (1)
  55. Jimi Hendrix Experience, Los Angeles Forum, April 26, 1969 (Legacy/Experience Hendrix '22) 3 (1)
  56. Wayne Horvitz-Butch Morris-Bobby Previte Trio, Live Forever, Vol. 2: NYC, Leverkusen 1988-1989 (self-released) 3 (1)
  57. J Jazz: Deep Modern Jazz From Japan Volume 4: The Nippon Columbia Label 1968-1981 (BBE) 3 (1)
  58. Per 'Texas' Johansson, Alla Mina Kompisar (1998, Moserobie) 3 (1)
  59. Joy, Joy (1976, Cadillac) 3 (1)
  60. Wynton Marsalis, Plays Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens (2006, Blue Engine) 3 (1)
  61. The Moaninest Moan of Them All: The Jazz Saxophone of Loren McMurray 1920-1922 (Archeophone) 3 (1)
  62. Joni Mitchell, Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) (Rhino) 3 (1)
  63. Phineas Newborn Jr., A World of Piano! (1961, Craft) 3 (1)
  64. Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, 60 Years (1961-2019, The Village) 3 (1)
  65. Michel Petrucciani, The Montreux Years (1990-98, BMG/Montreux) 3 (1)
  66. Nina Simone, Four Women: The Nina Simone Complete Recordings 1964-1967 (Verve) 3 (1)
  67. Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Ellingtonia, Vol. 2 (1951-87, Enterplanetary Koncepts) 3 (1)
  68. WaJazz: Japanese Jazz Spectacle Vol. II: Deep, Heavy and Beautiful Jazz From Japan 1962-1985: The King Records Masters (Universalsounds) 3 (1)
  69. Frank Zappa, Waka Wazoo (1971, Zappa/UMG '22) 3 (1)
  70. Evan Parker, NYC 1978 (Relative Pitch) 2 (2)
  71. Walter Bishop, Jr., Bish at the Bank: Live in Baltimore (1966-67, Reel to Real) 2 (1)
  72. The Bix Centennial All-Stars, Celebrating Bix! [20th Anniversary Edition] (2003, Turtle Bay) 2 (1)
  73. Brew [Miya Masaoka-Reggie Workman-Gerry Hemingway], Heat/Between Reflections (1998/2019, Clean Feed) 2 (1) *
  74. Peter Brötzmann-Fred Van Hove-Han Bennink [+ Albert Mangelsdorff], Outspan No 1/2 (1974, CienFuegos) 2 (1)
  75. Donald Byrd, Live: Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux (1973, Blue Note '22) 2 (1)
  76. Ornette Coleman, Ornette at 12/Crisis to Man on the Moon Revisited (1968-69, Ezz-Thetics) 2 (1)
  77. Ornette Coleman, Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary Albums (1958-59, Craft '22) 2 (1)
  78. Alice Coltrane Featuring Pharoah Sanders, Journey in Satchidananda (1970, Impulse [Acoustic Sounds Series]) 2 (1)
  79. Kenny Cox & the Contemporary Jazz Quintet, Multidirection (1969, Third Man/Blue Note) 2 (1)
  80. Eric Dolphy, Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions (Resonance) 2 (1)
  81. Duke Ellington, All the Hits and More: 1927-54 (Acrobat) 2 (1)
  82. Don Ellis, How Time Passes (1960, Candid) 2 (1)
  83. Eric Ghost, Secret Sauce (1975, Jazz Room '22) 2 (1)
  84. Joe Henderson, The Complete "An Evening With Joe Henderson" (1987, Red) 2 (1)
  85. Kim Dae Hwan & Choi Sun Bae, Korean Fantasy (1999, NoBusiness) 2 (1)
  86. Keith Jarrett, Solo-Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne (1973, ECM) 2 (1)
  87. Roland Kirk, Live at Ronnie Scott's, 1963 (Gearbox '22) 2 (1)
  88. Harold Land, Damisi (1972, Wewantsounds) 2 (1)
  89. Malombo Jazz Makers, Malompo Jazz (1966, Strut) 2 (1)
  90. Joe McPhee & Evan Parker, Sweet Nothings for Milford Graves (Corbett vs. Dempsey '22) 2 (1)
  91. Medeski Martin and Wood, Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995, Real Gone Music) 2 (1)
  92. Bengt Frippe Nordström, Vinyl Box (1962-68, Ni Vu Ni Connu) 2 (1)
  93. Oscar Peterson, Con Alma: The Oscar Peterson Trio - Live in Lugano, 1964 (Mack Avenue) 2 (1)
  94. Sam Rivers, The Quest (1976, RED) 2 (1)
  95. Wayne Shorter, Footprints Live! (2001, Verve/Third Man) 2 (1)
  96. Clifford Thornton, Ketchaoua Revisited [+ Arthur Jones Trio: Scorpio] (1969, Ezz-Thetics) 2 (1)
  97. Stan Tracey Quartet, Jazz Suite: Inspired by Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood (1965, Resteamed) 2 (1)
  98. Stanley Turrentine, Mr. Natural (1964, Blue Note Tone Poet) 2 (1)
  99. Frank Zappa, Funky Nothingness (1970, Zappa) 2 (1)
  100. John Zorn, Masada: 30th Anniversary Edition: The Complete Studio Master Takes (1994-97, Tzadik) 2 (1)
  101. Dick Hyman, One Step to Chicago: The Legacy of Frank Teschemacher and the Austin High Gang (1992, Rivermont '22) 1 (1)
  102. Cannonball Adderley Quintet, In Concert: Falkoner Centret, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 13, 1961 (SteepleChase) 1 (1)
  103. Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toshiko's Blues: Quartet & Trios 1953-1958 (Fresh Sound) 1 (1)
  104. As-Shams Archive Vol. 1: South African Jazz, Funk & Soul 1975-1982 (As-Shams-The Sun) 1 (1)
  105. Axolotl, Abrasive (1981, Souffle Continu) 1 (1)
  106. Gabe Baltazar Quartet, Birdology (1992, Fresh Sound) 1 (1)
  107. Basie All Stars, Live at Fabrik Vol. 1: Hamburg 1981 (Jazzline) 1 (1)
  108. Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, Live From the Archives: Bootleg June 15, 2000 (Stoner Hill '22) 1 (1)
  109. Peter Brötzmann & Sabu Toyozumi, Triangle: Live at Ohm, 1987 (NoBusiness) 1 (1)
  110. Roy Campbell-William Parker-Zen Matsuura, Visitation of Spirits: The Pyramid Trio Live, 1985 (NoBusiness) 1 (1)
  111. Graham Collier, Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days '69 (My Only Desire) 1 (1)
  112. Miles Davis, That's What Happened [The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: 1982-1985] (Columbia/Legacy '22) 1 (1)
  113. Miles Davis, Turnaround: Rare Miles From the Complete On the Corner Sessions (1972-73, Columbia/Legacy) 1 (1)
  114. Booker Ervin, That's It! (1961, Candid '22) 1 (1)
  115. Johnny Griffin, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1964, Gearbox) 1 (1)
  116. Steve Lacy, The Ictus Archives Vol. 1 (1976, Ictus) 1 (1)
  117. Byard Lancaster, It's Not Up to Us (1968, Superior Viaduct) 1 (1)
  118. Mulgrew Miller, Solo in Barcelona (2004, Storyville) 1 (1)
  119. Charles Mingus, The Lost Album: From Ronnie Scott's (1972, Resonance '22) 1 (1)
  120. Amina Claudine Myers, Song for Mother E (1979, Leo) 1 (1)
  121. Jaco Pastorius, Word of Mouth (1981, Rhino High Fidelity/Warner) 1 (1)
  122. Oscar Peterson, On a Clear Day: The Oscar Peterson Trio - Live in Zurich, 1971 (Mack Avenue '22) 1 (1)
  123. Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, Luten at Jazzwerkstatt Peitz (2011, Jazzwerkstatt) 1 (1)
  124. Max Roach, Members, Don't Git Weary (1968, Arc/Atlantic) 1 (1)
  125. Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Live at Fabrik: Hamburg 1980 (Jazzline) 1 (1)
  126. D.B. Shrier, D.B. Shrier Emerges (1967, Omnivore) 1 (1)
  127. Alan Skidmore, A Supreme Love (1961-2019, Confront) 1 (1)
  128. McCoy Tyner, The Montreux Years (1981-2009, BMG) 1 (1)
  129. Charlie Watts, Anthology (1978-2001, BMG) 1 (1)

Footnotes:

* Album Brew, Heat/Between Reflections received votes both in New Releases and Rara Avis: 10 (1), 2 (1)

Notes

If an album received votes in the previous year, and received more votes (not just more points) this year, the two years' totals were added together. This applied to: none.

Albums that also received votes in 2022. These are sorted by total votes for the two years.