The 21st Annual
Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll:
2026 Mid-Year

Ballot 2026 Mid-Year

Bill Milkowski (DownBeat, Absolute Sound, JazzTimes, Jazzthing [Germany], Jazzwise [UK], Musings on Music by The Milkman [also on Substack])

NEW JAZZ ALBUMS

  1. Ingrid Jensen, Landings (Newvelle) →
  2. Emmet Cohen, Universal Truth (Mack Avenue) →
  3. Helen Sung Big Band, Oracles (Sunnyside) →
  4. Joe Lovano, Paramount Quartet (ECM) →
  5. Chris Potter, Alive With Ghosts Today (Edition) →
  6. Harry Skoler, Echoes (Red Brick Hill) →
  7. Ben Wolfe, Any Time After Now (Resident Arts) →
  8. Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note) →
  9. Alexander Claffy, Alive in Philadelphia Vol. 1: At Chris' Jazz Cafe (Cellar) →
  10. Nat Reeves, Now in Time (The Side Door) →

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Carla Bley, Joyful Noise (Live in Hamburg 1984) (Moosicus) →
  2. Joe Henderson, Consonance: Live at the Jazz Showcase (1978, Resonance) →
  3. Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch, Feebles, Fables and Ferns (1988, ECM) →
  4. Cecil Taylor Unit, Fragments: The Complete 1969 Salle Pleyel Concerts (Elemental Music) →
  5. Jimmy Scott, Falling in Love Is Wonderful (1963, Tangerine) →