The 20th Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2025

Ballot 2025

Chris Monsen (Musikkmagasinet [Klassekampen], Jazznytt, Chris Monsen's Listening Booth)

NEW JAZZ ALBUMS

  1. Isaiah Collier - William Hooker - William Parker, The Ancients (Eremite)
  2. Christer Bothén 3, L'Invisible (Thanatosis)
  3. Mary Halvorson, About Ghosts (Nonesuch)
  4. Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, Great Intentions (Action Jazz)
  5. Silt Remembrance Ensemble [Luke Stewart], The Order (Cuneiform)
  6. Fieldwork, Thereupon (Pi)
  7. Zanussi 3, A Keen Beast (Sauajazz)
  8. Steve Lehman Trio + Mark Turner, The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi)
  9. أحمد [Ahmed], سماع [Sama'a] (Audition) (Otoroku)
  10. Linda May Han Oh, Strange Heavens (Biophilia)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Anthony Braxton, Quartet (England) 1985 (Burning Ambulance)
  2. Griot Galaxy, Live on WUOM 1979 (Two Rooms)
  3. Irène Schweizer - Rüdiger Carl - Johnny Dyani - Han Bennink, Irène's Hot Four (1981, Intakt)
  4. Jimmy Lyons, Live From Studio Rivbea: 1974 & 1976 (NoBusiness)
  5. John Surman, Flashpoints and Undercurrents (1969, Cuneiform)

VOCAL

LATIN

DEBUT

Note: Also see Year end picks: the best albums of 2025.