Note: The usual procedure is to send this "longer" invite out in a customized "mail merge" at the opening of the poll — these were sent out on November ? — then use the shorter form as a reminder as the deadline is approaching. Both verions have minimal links, as more links increase spam scores, making the mail less likely to be delivered. We keep copies of the invites on the website so that voters can refer to them. We are not running a "reader poll," but if you weren't invited and can make a case why you should have been invited, please contact us and make that case.
Dear Colleague,
Founded by Francis Davis in 2006, this is out 21st Annual Jazz Critics Poll. Since Davis died in 2025, his poll has been administered by long-time assistant Tom Hull.
Deadline for voting is Sunday, December 21. Results will be published by ArtsFuse shortly after January 1, with complete totals and individual ballots on this website. Please consult the website for additional information, including the "Notes for Voters" file, which explains and art and design of the poll. (Or just guess, as you'll probably be right. If not, don't worry: we'll talk about it.)
Let's make this as simple as possible: Click on Reply (to Sender, not to List if that's an option), fill it out the lines in the BALLOT section, and send it in. (If you're not responding to email, copy the BALLOT section below into an email message, and send it to 26votes or Tom Hull).
You may omit categories you do not have choices for. You can submit short lists if that's all you have. You may include late 2025 releases if they are new to you. But the purpose of the poll is to take stock of new music.
BALLOT:
Your name and primary affiliation(s)
Your choices for up to 10 New Jazz Albums of 2026
(in descending order, 1-to-10, or unranked and alphabetized
by artist; albums recorded in 2016 or earlier should be
considered under Rara Avis).
Your choices for up to 5 Rara Avis (reissues and/or music
recorded in 2016 or earlier) of 2026 (in descending order, 1-to-5,
or unranked and alphabetized by artist).
We have eliminated the previous special categories (Latin, Vocal, Debut). They have gotten to be more trouble than they're worth. We may try to glean that information from the totals. We do hope that those categories will be well represented, but that is entirely up to you.
The guidelines for distinguishing New Jazz Albums and Rara Avis are subject to your judgment. You may only put one album per vote slot, but the definition of an album may be part to pin down. Again, use your judgment. We have a "notes on albums" file which discusses ambiguous cases, but even we sometimes have trouble deciding. The only rules that are strictly enforced are that we do not allow any votes for albums not schedule for release until next year (2027), and we do not allow any votes for albums released before last year (2025). Any such votes will be rejected, but you will be given a chance to pick something more suitable.
Ranked lists are given extra points, but the points are only used to break ties among albums that receive the same number of votes. As such, the penalty for submitting an unranked list is minimal. If you submit an unranked list, please note it as such, and alphabetize the entries by artist name.
Once you send your ballot in, I will check and count it, and return to you a formatted copy, as it will appear on the website. The formatting includes adjustments so that all ballots that refer to an album do so consistently. Please check this, and make sure I didn't mess anything up. If you don't get a reply within 2-3 days, please resend.
If, up to the deadline, you find something new and want to add to or change your ballot, just let me know. I'll record your changes, and reply with another formatted ballot. Again, please recheck it.
The point isn't to judge everything. You're just making recommendations, and in doing so, we will all benefit from your knowledge and taste. We don't give out plaques or ribbons. We don't throw banquets. All we are really doing is helping our readers to better understand the great bounty of jazz released each year. No individual can do this, but together we can come close.
The website (link above) has information of interest to voters, including news, more precise definitions of categories, details on album eligibility, and answers to other questions. If any questions arise, or if you see anything amiss on the website, please let us know.
Once ArtsFuse publishes the results, the website will include complete ballots and totals, as well as a nice way to explore by hopping from album to ballot to album again. Individual ballots may be available on the website even before publication. You can look up your name in the Critics file, and find a URL that you can link to (e.g., on social media). This serves to help publicize the poll as well as yourself.
I use an email list (jazzpoll [at] hullworks.net) to send occasional messages to voters, including news, reminders, and a notice when it is published. It's a low volume list: once a week or so during voting season, a notice when the poll is published, perhaps an occasional message out of season. If you are not receiving mail from there, first check your spam filter, and failing that please check with me. I sign up people when they vote, not when they are invited (unless they ask).
Please to not reply to the email list. If you do so, your message will be trapped and discarded.
You may contact me through my contact form, or by email.
Your colleague,
Tom Hull