2024 Totals: Rara Avis (Reissues/Archival)

This category is for new albums of older music, released in 2024 (or 2023 but discovered in 2024), consisting of reissues of any previously released music, or of previously unreleased music that has beeen recorded more than 10 years ago (in or before 2014). For new albums of newer music, see New Albums.

Critics were asked to list up to 5 albums in descending order, or they could submit an unranked list (preferably alphabetized by artist). Albums in unranked lists are accorded 1 point each. Albums in ranked lists are accorded points according to rank: 1: 2.0; 2: 1.6; 3: 1.4; 4: 1.2, 5: 1.0.

The listings are sorted by points (near end of line), with the number of votes (in parentheses) used as a tiebreaker. The arrow at the end of the line will route you to a page listing all of the critics who voted for the album. Some entries may have footnotes, which follow the list. There is also a Notes section at the bottom of the page.

1. McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (1966, Blue Note) 91.6 (62)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
2. Alice Coltrane, The Carnegie Hall Concert (1971, Impulse!) 77.8 (50)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
3. Sonny Rollins, Freedom Weaver: The 1959 European Tour Recordings (Resonance) 57.2 (39) →
4. Mal Waldron & Steve Lacy, The Mighty Warriors: Live in Antwerp (1995, Elemental Music) 53.8 (36) →
5. Miles Davis Quintet, Miles in France 1963 & 1964 [The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8] (Columbia/Legacy) 41.2 (28) →
6. Art Tatum, Jewels in the Treasure Box: The 1953 Chicago Blue Note Jazz Club Recordings (Resonance) 34.8 (28) →
7. Charles Gayle-Milford Graves-William Parker, WEBO (1991, Black Editions Archive) 32.4 (20) →
8. Keith Jarrett-Gary Peacock-Paul Motian, The Old Country (1992, ECM) 31 (22) →
9. Wayne Shorter, Celebration, Volume 1 (2014, Blue Note) 29.8 (22)  [Includes 3 (3) from New Albums] →
10. Emily Remler, Cookin' at the Queens (1984-88, Resonance) 29.2 (23) →
Andrew Hill Sextet Plus 10, A Beautiful Day Revisited (2002, Palmetto) 27.2 (20)  [Includes 2 (2) from New Albums] →
12. Sun Ra, At the Showcase: Live in Chicago 1976-1977 (Jazz Detective) 22.6 (19) →
13. Sun Ra, Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank (1978, Resonance) 22.2 (15) →
14. Roy Hargrove's Crisol, Grande-Terre (1998, Verve) 20.6 (14)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
15. Ron Miles, Old Main Chapel (2011, Blue Note) 19.4 (14)  [Includes 3 (3) from New Albums] →
16. Yusef Lateef, Atlantis Lullaby: The Concert From Avignon (1972, Elemental Music) 16.2 (13) →
17. Charles Tolliver Music Inc., Live at the Captain's Cabin (1973, Cellar Music) 16 (12) →
18. King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Centennial (1923, Archeophone) 14.8 (10) →
19. Cecil Taylor Unit, Live at Fat Tuesday's February 9, 1980 [First Visit] (1980, Ezz-Thetics) 14 (10) →
20. Bobby Hutcherson, Classic Bobby Hutcherson Blue Note Sessions 1963-1970 (Mosaic) 13.6 (9) →
Tomasz Stanko Quartet, September Night (2004, ECM) 12.4 (9)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
22. Don Byas, Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946 (Mosaic '23) 12 (8)  [Includes 5 (3) from 2023] →
23. Phil Haynes' 4 Horns and What?, The Complete American Recordings (1989-95, Corner Store Jazz) 11 (7) →
24. Charlie Parker, Bird in Kansas City (1941-51, Verve) 10 (7) →
25. Bill Evans, In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert (1970, Elemental Music) 8.6 (7) →
26. Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959 (Whaling City Sound) 8 (5) →
27. Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Next Step Band: Live at Smalls 1996 (Heartcore) 7.6 (6) →
28. Byard Lancaster, The Complete Palm Recordings 1973-1974 (Souffle Continu) 7.6 (5) →
29. Sonny Rollins, A Night at the Village Vanguard: The Complete Masters (1957, Blue Note) 7.4 (6) →
30. Louis Armstrong, Louis in London (1968, Verve) 7.4 (5) →
John Abercrombie-Dave Holland-Jack DeJohnette, Gateway (1975, ECM) 6.8 (5) →
32. Black Artist Group, For Peace and Liberty: In Paris, Dec 1972 (WeWantSounds) 6.2 (5) →
33. Nat King Cole, Live at the Blue Note Chicago (1953, Iconic) 5 (3) →
34. Joe Henderson, Power to the People (1969, Craft/Jazz Dispensary) 5 (3) →
35. NRG Ensemble, Hold That Thought (1996, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 5 (3) →
36. Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Live From Studio Rivbea: July 12, 1975 [Rivbea Live! Series, Volume 1] (NoBusiness) 4.8 (4) →
37. Arthur Blythe Quartet, Live From Studio Rivbea: July 6, 1976 (NoBusiness) 4.4 (3) →
38. Charles Mingus, Mingus Takes Manhattan: The Complete Birdland Dates: 1961-1962 (New Land) 4.4 (3) →
39. Cannonball Adderley, Burnin' in Bordeaux: Live in France 1969 (Elemental Music) 4.2 (3) →
40. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse! '23) 4.2 (3) →
Cannonball Adderley, Poppin' in Paris: Live at L'Olympia 1972 (Elemental Music) 4 (3) →
41. Tony Oxley, Angular Apron (1992, Corbett vs. Dempsey) 4 (3) →
43. Oscar Peterson, City Lights: Live in Munich 1994 (Mack Avenue) 3.8 (3) →
44. Tim Berne & Michael Formanek, Parlour Games (1991, Relative Pitch) 3.6 (3) →
45. Jakob Bro-Lee Konitz-Bill Frisell-Jason Moran-Thomas Morgan-Andrew Cyrille, Taking Turns (2014, ECM) 3.6 (3)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
46. Gush, Afro Blue (1998, Trost) 3.6 (2) →
47. Roy Hargrove, The Love Suite: In Mahogany (1993, Blue Engine '23) 3.6 (2) →
48. Scott LaFaro, The Alchemy of Scott LaFaro (1957-61, El) 3.6 (2) →
49. Derek Bailey & Sabu Toyozumi, Breath Awareness (1987, NoBusiness) 3.4 (3) →
50. Harold Land, The Fox (1960, Craft) 3.4 (3) →
Sun Ra, Inside the Light World: Sun Ra Meets the OVC (1986, Strut) 3.4 (3) →
52. Miles Davis, Miles '54: The Prestige Recordings (Craft) 3.4 (2) →
53. Louis Stewart & Jim Hall, The Dublin Concert (1982, Livia) 3.2 (3) →
54. New Direction for the Arts, Projection: The Complete Inspiration and Power Live at Shinjuku Art Theater (1973, Jinya Disc) 3 (3) →
55. Dorothy Ashby, Afro-Harping [Deluxe Edition] (1968, Verve) 3 (2) →
56. Tim Berne, Live in Someplace Nice (1984, Screwgun) 3 (2) →
57. Die Like a Dog [Peter Brötzmann-Toshinori Kondo-William Parker-Hamid Drake], Fragments of Music, Life and Death of Albert Ayler (1994, Cien Fuegos) 3 (2) →
58. Children of the Sun, Ofamfa (1971, Moved-by-Sound) 2.8 (2) →
59. Karen Borca Trio Quartet & Quintet, Good News Blues: Live at the Vision Festival 1998 & 2005 (NoBusiness) 2.6 (2) →
60. Al Jarreau, Wow! Live at the Childe Harold (1976, Resonance) 2.6 (2) →
Christer Bothén Featuring Bolon Bata, Trancedance [40th Anniversary Edition] (1984, Black Truffle) 2.4 (2) →
61. Classic V-Disc Small Group Jazz Sessions, 1943-49 (Mosaic) 2.4 (2) →
62. Wes Montgomery/Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance '23) 2.4 (2) →
63. Soft Machine, Høvikkoden 1971 (Cuneiform) 2.4 (2) →
64. Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Pink Elephants on Parade (1985-90, Modern Harmonic) 2.4 (2) →
66. Duke Ellington, Copenhagen 1958 (Storyville) 2.2 (2) →
67. Daunik Lazro-Paul Lovens-Annick Nozati-Fred Van Hove, Résumé of a Century (1999, Fou) 2.2 (2) →
68. Maria Schneider Orchestra, Decades (1992-2020, ArtistShare) 2.2 (2)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
69. Ran Blake & Dave Knife Fabris, Live Amsterdam 2006 [First Visit] (Ezz-Thetics) 2 (2) →
70. Omar Sosa's 88 Well-Tuned Drums (1996-2018, Otá) 2 (2)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
Alice Coltrane, A Monastic Trio (1968, Impulse!) 2 (1) →
71. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental '23) 2 (1) →
72. Paco de Lucia & Pepe de Lucia, Pepito y Paquito (1959-60, BMG) 2 (1) →
73. Charles Mingus, Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus to Pre Bird Revisited (1960-61, Ezz-Thetics) 2 (1) →
74. Martha Raye, Martha Raye & Co-Stars in Hollywood (1936-44, Sepia) 2 (1) →
75. Nina Simone, Blackbird: The Colpix Recordings (1959-1963) (Soul Music) 2 (1) →
76. Grover Washington, Jr., Grover Live: Vol. 2 (1998, Lightyear Entertainment) 2 (1) →
78. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motema Music '23) 1.6 (1) →
79. Faruq Z. Bey, Atlant-Tan Suite (1982, Entropy Stereo) 1.6 (1) →
80. Peter Brötzmann-Toshinori Kondo-Sabu Toyozumi, Complete Link (2016, NoBusiness) 1.6 (1) →
George Cartwright, The Ghostly Bee (2005, Mahakala Music '23) 1.6 (1) →
81. Ford Dabney's Syncopated Orchestras, After Midnight (1917-22, Archeophone) 1.6 (1) →
82. Sammy Davis Jr., Mr. Entertainment: 1949-1962 (Frémeaux & Associés) 1.6 (1) →
83. Duke Ellington, The Far East Suite (1966, Music on Vinyl) 1.6 (1) →
84. Bill Evans, The Legendary Trio at Birdland 1960 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics) 1.6 (1) →
85. Jan Garbarek Quartet, Afric Pepperbird (1970, ECM) 1.6 (1) →
86. Intercommunal Free Dance Music Orchestra, L'Intercommunal (1976-78, Souffle Continu) 1.6 (1) →
87. B.B. King, In France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival (Deep Digs/Elemental Music) 1.6 (1) →
88. Lee Morgan, Taru (1968, Blue Note Tone Poet) 1.6 (1) →
89. Pharoah Sanders, Thembi (1970-71, Impulse!) 1.6 (1) →
Sun Ra, Excelsior Mill (1984, Sundazed/Modern Harmonic) 1.6 (1) →
92. The Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Live in Montreal: May 1975 (Liberation Hall) 1.4 (1) →
93. Art Ensembe of Chicago, Message to Our Folks (1969, BYG Actuel) 1.4 (1) →
94. Sidney Bechet, Live in Paris: 1952-1958 (Frémeaux & Associés) 1.4 (1) →
95. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From the Northwest, 1959 (Brubeck Editions '23) 1.4 (1) →
96. Raymond Burke, The Southland Recordings 1958-1960 (GHB) 1.4 (1) →
97. Don Ellis, How Time Passes to Essence Revisited (1960-62, Ezz-Thetics) 1.4 (1) →
98. Bobby Hutcherson, Medina (1969, Blue Note Tone Poet) 1.4 (1) →
99. Bobby Hutcherson, Total Eclipse (1968, Blue Note Tone Poet) 1.4 (1) →
100. James P. Johnson, World Broadcast Recordings (1944, Solo Art) 1.4 (1) →
Brother Jack McDuff, Ain't No Sunshine: Live in Seattle (1972, Reel to Real) 1.4 (1) →
101. Thelonious Monk, Criss-Cross (1963, Columbia/Pure Pleasure) 1.4 (1) →
102. Jason Moran, Ten (2010, Blue Note) 1.4 (1) →
103. Prince Lasha Quintet Featuring Sonny Simmons, The Cry! (1962, Craft) 1.4 (1) →
104. Kenny Wheeler, Angel Song (1996, ECM) 1.4 (1) →
106. Art Ensemble of Chicago, A Jackson in Your House (1969, BYG-Actuel) 1.2 (1) →
107. Margo Guryan, Words and Music (1957-68, Numero Group) 1.2 (1) →
108. Byard Lancaster-Steve McCall-Sylvin Marc, Us (1973, Souffle Continu) 1.2 (1) →
109. Pat Metheny, Bright Size Life (1975, ECM) 1.2 (1) →
110. Dave Pike, The Doors of Perception (1966, Nature Sounds) 1.2 (1) →
Archie Shepp, Live at the Panafrican Festival (1971, BYG Actuel) 1.2 (1) →
111. John Taylor-Norma Winstone-Kenny Wheeler, Azimuth (1977, ECM) 1.2 (1) →
112. Masahiko Togashi, Session in Paris Vol. One: Song of Soil (1979, We Want Sounds) 1.2 (1) →
113. Louis Vasnier, Genius of the Seventh Ward (1891-92, Archeophone) 1.2 (1) →
114. Gerald Wiggins, Classic Trio Sessions 1956-1957 (Fresh Sound) 1.2 (1) →
116. The Monty Alexander Trio, Montreux Alexander: Live! at the Montreux Festival (1976, MPS) 1 (1) →
117. Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon, In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album (1972, Jazz Detective) 1 (1) →
118. Duck Baker, Breakdown Lane: Free Jazz Guitar 1976-1998 (ESP-Disk) 1 (1) →
119. Steve Beresford & Anne Marie Beretta, Dancing the Line (1985, WeWantSounds) 1 (1) →
120. Anthony Braxton, Solo Bern 1984 [First Visit] (Ezz-thetics) 1 (1) →
Anthony Braxton-Roland Dahinden-Hildegard Kleeb, Four Compositions (Wesleyan) 2013 (Prague Music Platform '23) 1 (1) →
121. John Coltrane 4tet, Live in France July 27/28 1965: The Complete Concerts (Fingerpoppin) 1 (1) →
122. John Coltrane, Impressions From Graz 1962 Revisited (Ezz-Thetics) 1 (1) →
123. Miles Davis, Birth of the Blue (1958, Analogue Productions) 1 (1) →
124. Duke Ellington, Duke at His Very Best: Legendary Works 1940-1942 (Frémeaux & Associés) 1 (1) →
125. Bill Evans, Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) (Elemental Music '23) 1 (1) →
126. Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996 (Light in the Attic) 1 (1) →
127. Ella Fitzgerald & the Tommy Flanagan Trio, Live at the Wiener Konzerthaus, 1969 (ORF) 1 (1) →
128. Michael Griener & Jan Roder, Be Our Guest (1994-2022, Trouble in the East) 1 (1)  [Includes 1 (1) from New Albums] →
129. Hampton Hawes, For Real! (1958, Craft) 1 (1) →
Fumio Itabashi, Watarase (1982, Wewantsounds) 1 (1) →
130. Keith Jarrett, Solo-Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne (1973, ECM '23) 1 (1) →
131. Louis Jordan, World Broadcast Recordings 1944/45 (GHB/Circle) 1 (1) →
132. Mieczysław Kosz, Debiut. Jazz Jamboree '67/'68 (Polskie Radio/Polish Radio) 1 (1) →
133. The Malombo Jazz Men, Castle Lager Jazz Fesetival 1964 (Strut) 1 (1) →
134. Shelly Manne & His Men, Jazz From the Pacific Northwest (1958-66, Reel to Real) 1 (1) →
135. Phil Markowitz, Trio Portugal (1999, self-released) 1 (1) →
136. Joni Mitchell, Archives Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980) (Rhino) 1 (1) →
137. Louis Moholo-Moholo's Viva-La-Black (1988, Ogun) 1 (1) →
138. James Moody, The Moody Story (1951-55, Fresh Sound) 1 (1) →
Nature's Consort, Nature's Consort (1969, Aguirre) 1 (1) →
139. Charlie Parker, Ornithology: The Best of Bird (Craft) 1 (1) →
140. Michel Petrucciani Trio, Jazz Club Montmartre - CPH 1988 (Storyville) 1 (1) →
141. Phil Ranelin, The Found Tapes: Live in Los Angeles (1978-81, ORG Music) 1 (1) →
142. Nisse Sandström Group, Öppet Ett (1965-67, Caprice '23) 1 (1) →
143. Slow Poke, At Home (1998, P&M) 1 (1) →
144. Snarky Puppy, We Like It Here (Remixed + Remastered + Reimagined) (GroundUP Music) 1 (1) →
145. The Louis Stewart Trio, Louis the First (1975, Livia) 1 (1) →
146. Masayuki Takayanagi & Kaoru Abe, Real Jazz (1970, Jinya Disc) 1 (1) →
147. 2R+2B [Gunārs Rozenbergs-Raimonds Raubiško-Boriss Bannihs-Vladmirs Boldirevs], Live at the Tbilisi Jazz Festival 1978 (Jersika) 1 (1) →

Total albums receiving votes: 150. Of these, 12 were initially released in 2023 (8.0%), and 137 in 2024.

Notes:

Albums that belong in New Albums (all music recorded in or after 2015) but which received votes here:

• Peter Brötzmann-Toshinori Kondo-Sabu Toyozumi, Compete Link (2016, NoBusiness) 1.6 (1)

Rara Avis albums awarded 1 point for each vote they erroneously received under New Albums:

• Wayne Shorter, Celebration, Volume 1 (2014, Blue Note) (3)
• Ron Miles, Old Main Chapel (2011, Blue Note) (3)
• Andrew Hill Sextet Plus 10, A Beautiful Day Revisited (2002, Palmetto) (2)
• Jakob Bro-Lee Konitz-Bill Frisell-Jason Moran-Thomas Morgan-Andrew Cyrille, Taking Turns (2014, ECM) (1)
• Maria Schneider Orchestra, Decades (1992-2020, ArtistShare) (1)
• Roy Hargrove's Crisol, Grande-Terre (1998, Verve) (1)
• Tomasz Stanko Quartet, September Night (2004, ECM) (1)
• Alice Coltrane, The Carnegie Hall Concert (1971, Impulse!) (1)
• Omar Sosa's 88 Well-Tuned Drums (1996-2018, Otá) (1)
• McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs' (1966, Blue Note) (1)
• Michael Griener & Jan Roder, Be Our Guest (1994-2022, Trouble in the East) (1)

Rara Avis albums that received votes in 2023 as well as 2024. These are numbered by their position in 2023. The point scales for 2023 and 2024 are different, so only the vote counts are added together (following the '=' sign):

1. John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate (1961, Impulse! '23) 151 (66) + 4.2 (3) = (69)
2. Ahmad Jamal, Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse 1966-1968 (Jazz Detective/Elemental '23) 45 (21) + 2 (1) = (22)
3. Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel, A Lovesome Thing (2012, Motema Music '23) 44 (22) + 1.6 (1) = (23)
4. Wes Montgomery/Wynton Kelly Trio, Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings (Resonance '23) 37 (19) + 2.4 (2) = (21)
15. Roy Hargrove, The Love Suite: In Mahogany (1993, Blue Engine '23) 12 (7) + 3.6 (2) = (9)
22. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Live From the Northwest, 1959 (Brubeck Editions '23) 9 (5) + 1.4 (1) = (6)
30. Don Byas, Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946 (Mosaic '23) 6 (3) + 7 (5) = (8)
30. Bill Evans, Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) (Elemental Music '23) 6 (3) + 1 (1) = (4)
71. Keith Jarrett, Solo-Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne (1973, ECM '23) 2 (1) + 1 (1) = 2

The other '23 releases received no votes in 2023.

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 (points were converted to current scale, so 1st = 2.0 points, 2nd = 1.6, 3rd = 1.4, unranked = 1.0). This applied to:

• Don Byas, Classic Don Byas Sessions 1944-1946 (Mosaic '23) 5 (3) + 7 (5) = 12 (8): the 2023 points were from: Neil Tesser: 2.0; Art Lange: 1.6; Derek Taylor: 1.4.