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

Ballot 2026 Mid-Year

Stewart Smith (The Wire, We Jazz, Bandcamp Daily, The Quietus)

NEW JAZZ ALBUMS

  1. DoYeon Kim, Wellspring (TAO Forms)
  2. أحمد [Ahmed], Play Monk (Otoroku)
  3. Tyshawn Sorey, Members . . . Don't! (Pi)
  4. The Tomeka Reid Quartet, Dance! Skip! Hop! (Out of Your Head)
  5. Phillip Golub, Partisan Ship (Berthold)
  6. Pat Thomas & XT, Strata, Act (Joy Contemporary) (We Jazz)
  7. Mariá Portugal - Emilio Gordoa - Burkhard Beins, Erosão Percussion Trio (Kassiani/Fun in the Church)
  8. @xcrswx, Moodboard (Feedback Moves '25)
  9. Ambrose Akinmusire & Mary Halvorson, Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings (Nonesuch)
  10. Rodrigo Amado This Is Our Language Quartet, Wailers (European Echoes)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL)

  1. Hans Reichel, Dalbergia Retusa (1973-88, Black Truffle)
  2. Art Ensemble of Chicago, People in Sorrow (1969, Play Loud!)
  3. Julius Hemphill, Dogon A.D. (1972, New World)
  4. Noah Howard, The Black Ark (1969, Superior Viaduct)
  5. Charles Tyler Ensemble, Voyage From Jericho (1974, Frederiksberg)