Sometimes it is unclear how to parse an album cover, for artist credits and/or titles. I have many rules of thumb, but have yet to formalize them into a list. Like most rules of thumb, they can lead to exceptions. Some cases:
Voters are sometimes tempted to combine multiple distinct albums into one ballot line. This is generally frowned on, and may in some cases be rejected, but may be allowed if the two pieces are intended as part of a whole. Some cases:
Immanuel Wilkins: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note): This was released in three separate digital volumes, over a three month span (Vol. 1 on Mar. 20, Vol. 2 on Apr. 17, and Vol. 3 on May 15), with CD and 2-LP editions shipping later (June 24 for Vol. 1). I'm not aware of a combined product, but that seems inevitable. In any case, it seems hopeless (and possibly pointless) to insist that critics treat them as individual albums. Therefore, they will be counted under their common title, with Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and/or Vol. 3 footnoted if so specified. (First vote grouped them together.)
The rule is: any album which contains reissued material and/or was recorded before Jan. 1, 2017 should be considered under Rara Avis. On the other hand, any previously unreleased album recorded on or after Jan. 1, 2017 should be considered under New Jazz Releases. While this seems like it should be pretty cut and dry, every year a few albums appear that challenge these rules. With them, we allow voters some discretion in which category to place an album in.
Some albums we've noted here (N for New, RA for Rara Avis below, VC for voter choice, meaning that either will be accepted, and points awarded to the more popular category):
James Brandon Lewis & Lutosławski Quartet: These Are Soulful Days (2021, TAO Forms): This music was originally included as a bonus CD in the CD package of James Brandon Lewis Lily Quartet, For Mahalia, With Love, released in 2023. It was not included in the 2023 LP release, but the LP came with a download code for it. It's been released on digital and LP in 2026, as far as I know for the first time under its own title. So you can make a good case it should be treated as New, but many people will recall the CD (which won the poll in 2023), so may be inclined to treat it as a Reissue. I'm accepting votes either way.
Some possible cases of confusion:
Charles Tolliver All Stars: Right Now . . . and Then (1968, Strata-East): This album was part of Mack Avenue's 2025 Strata-East reissues, appearing on CD and digital. It has since been reissued on LP (on 04-18), which makes it a new 2026 reissue. We are not combining votes for the Mid-Year Poll, but that may become an issue in the EOY Poll. Also note that the credit used in 2025 was: Charles Tolliver With Gary Bartz - Herbie Hancock - Ron Carter - Joe Chambers, which was a transcription from the album cover. Charles Tolliver All Stars doesn't appear on the cover, but may occur elsewhere, as it is the album's commonly-used credit. The label now appears to just be Strata-East. Mack Avenue is undoubtedly involved, but it is as yet unclear whether to include them in the label credit.
If you have any questions about an album, please ask.