The Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll has extended invitations to a fairly wide group of distinguished writers and broadcast journalists: in recent years invites have been sent out to a bit more than 200 critics, with up to 159 submitting ballots.
The Mid-Year Poll is an experiment, using the same invite list, but it's been kind of a rush job, and for various reasons turnout has been low (although a deadline rush is possible). So, as another experiment, I thought I'd open the voting to anyone who is serious about jazz, has somehow discovered this forum, and has listened to enough new jazz albums this year to formulate a respectable list. If that describes you, please fill this out this next section, and mail it to: 24myvotes [at] hullworks.net by the deadline of Wednesday, July 17.
Your name and credentials (if any)*
Your email address**
Your choices for up to 10 New Releases of 2024 (so far).
Your choices for up to 5 Rara Avis (archival/reissues) of
2024 (so far).
*Credentials may include your website, blog, social media links, etc., but are not required, and will be published only if they seem to be of genuine public interest. If your credentials sufficiently impress me, I may promote you to Critic. If for some reason you wish your name withheld, please let me know.
**Your email address will not be published, and may not even be collected, but I want it so I can verify source and receipt, and possibly ask questions. Whatever I wind up publishing will first be mailed to this address, to give you a chance for review.
While the ballot above should be straightforward enough, here is some more information.
I think what you should focus on here coming up with a list of records that you most wish to recommend to your colleagues and readers. While the consensus rankings will be of interest to many, the Poll is at least that valuable as a prospecting tool.
If you prefer to submit an unranked list, please state so and/or alphabetize your list by artist (last name).
Unranked lists will receive one point per album. Albums in ranked lists will receive extra points, ranging from 3-to-1 for New, 2-to-1 for Rara Avis. Thus you have some incentive to rank, but not a lot.
The recommended divide between New Releases and Rara Avis is a recording date of Jan. 1, 2014. You may include older recordings under New Releases if that's what you prefer. You may include a record in both New Releases and Rara Avis to make sure it's counted both ways. (I may add points to Rara Avis for records eligible there that receive votes under New Releases.)
You may also include any 2023 releases that are new to you. Nobody gets to listen to everything within the calendar year, so we're all catching up. I may compile some data later, but we're not doing carryover votes, as we do for year-end polls.
I've set up a website to manage this poll. It is at:
This currently has some information of interest to voters, and will eventually include complete ballots and totals, as well as a nice way to explore by hopping from album to ballot to album again.
This Mid-Year Poll is something of an experiment. Rule changes here will not necessarily be applied for the End of Year Poll. I'm also only sending invites out using the Hullworks Mailman list, and I don't expect to follow it up with more than one pre-deadline reminder, and one publication notice. As Google seems to think that my server has "poor reputational quality," it is possible that these messages will not be delivered, or will shunted off into Spam directories. (I am particularly worried about gmail addresses.) Unfortunately, people who actually need this information (and invite) won't be able to receive it. Therefore, it would be helpful if those of you who do receive it make sure your colleagues are aware of it, either by forwarding it or linking to the website (which will have a copy of the invite on it).
Also as an experiment, if you know someone who you think is qualified and competent to vote in this Poll, please forward your invite or link to them, and ask them to send me a ballot. If they have credentials I can check, and seem credible, chances are good that I will accept their votes, and arrange for them to join us in future Polls. After all, you received this invite because we recognize your credentials and value your input.
As a further experiment, we're inviting non-invited, non-credential fans to also submit ballots. These will be counted separately, but they will be published (possibly at a slightly later date).
Please respond with any questions you may have. A notice that you receive this and intend to vote is not necessary, but would be appreciated. I will post further news on this in my Music Week blog, and (more cryptically) on X.
You may contact me through my contact form, or by email: 24myvotes [at] hullworks.net.
Tom Hull