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Thursday, August 7, 2014
Downbeat Readers Poll
I was queried the other day about the deadline for Downbeat's
[79th] annual readers poll. Not sure when it is, but voting is currently
open (link).
I vote in their Critics Poll, which takes a lot more work: we generally
pick three candidates in each category, and there are "rising star"
subcategories (formerly "talents deserving wider recognition"), but
less work means less trouble, so I voted anyway. If you have any degree
of interest and expertise, you should too. If you want to compare notes,
mine follow:
Hall of Fame: Lee Konitz. He's 87, and the leading
candidate for the past decade. What, you want he should die first?
Isn't it bad enough you voted for Pat Metheny last year? Others,
la crčme de la crčme on the ballot: Han Bennink, Anthony
Braxton, Don Cherry, Tommy Flanagan, Abdullah Ibrahim, Illinois
Jacquet, Misha Mengelberg, Tito Puente, George Russell, Tomasz
Stanko. Baseball HOF thinkers divide between ultra-exclusivists
(who doubt that Sam Rice or Al Kaline were really such big stars)
and more-inclusivists (who are more likely to think that Bid McPhee
and Bill Mazeroski got snubbed). I've usually aligned with the
latter (McPhee at least, but maybe not Mazeroski: both era-defining
fielders, but the latter didn't have much bat, except on the day
he broke my 10-year-old heart). So, sure, many more good names on
the ballot -- more than they'll ever get to at the rate of two
per year.
Off ballot: Red Allen, Billy Bang, Don Byas, Cab Calloway, Leroy
Jenkins, Budd Johnson, Louis Jordan, Herbie Nichols, Pérez Prado,
Don Pullen, Don Redman, Jimmy Rushing, Sonny Sharrock, Lucky Thompson,
Mal Waldron, David S. Ware, Barney Wilen -- all dead and done. Among
the living: Vinny Golia, Sheila Jordan, Joe McPhee, David Murray,
William Parker, Houston Person, Roswell Rudd, Irčne Schweizer, Bob
Wilber, and of course one could add and add and add. Wynton Marsalis
is on the ballot, so why not Dave Douglas? Wadada Leo Smith? Dennis
González?
Jazz Artist: Anthony Braxton. It's a special year
for him. On ballot: Dave Douglas, John Hollenbeck, William Parker,
Matthew Shipp, Wadada Leo Smith, Ken Vandermark, John Zorn.
Jazz Group: Mostly Other People Do the Killing.
Off ballot: Ideal Bread, the Whammies.
Big Band: ICP Orchestra. On ballot: Steven Bernstein's
Millennial Territory Orchestra. Off ballot: Ken Vandermark/The Resonance
Ensemble.
Jazz Album (June 2013-May 2014): Roswell Rudd: Trombone
for Lovers (Sunnyside '13). Off ballot (and I'm very surprised
by this, because the label tends to finish very well in polls but also
the artist has earned a real following): Steve Lehman Octet: Mise en
Abîme (Pi '14). [PS: Release date turns out ot be June 24,
so the record is eligible next year. I was assuming that everything in
my 2014 list is eligible for the
ballot, but some of those records were released after May 31, so the
lower percentage of 2014 A-list on the ballot should be expected.] I
have three other full-A albums listed from the period: William Parker:
Wood Flute Songs (AUM Fidelity); Paul Shapiro: Shofarot
Verses (Tzadik); and Digital Primitives: Lipsomuch/Soul
Searchin' (Hopscotch) -- only Parker is on the ballot.
Total nominated records: 175. My grade breakdown: A (2); A- (15);
B+(***) (31); B+(**) (29); B+(*) (18); B (10); B- (9). Ungraded: 61
(34.8%). Last year's ungraded percentage was 31%, so I'm slipping a
bit, but not an awful lot. The grade distribution has slipped downward
a bit too (overall graded is up 29.5%, but A/A- is down from 20 to 17,
and B/B- is up from 8 to 19). The six-month offset makes it hard to
compare to my yearly lists, but within 2014 only 11 of my 42 jazz A/A-
records (26.1%) were listed on the ballot (Jenny Scheinman, Craig Handy,
Regina Carter, Mary Halvorson, Bobby Avey, Dave Douglas, Catherine Russell,
Eric Revis, Sonny Rollins, Vijay Iyer, James Brandon Lewis).
Full breakdown on the ballot albums below the fold.
Historical Album (Released June 2013-May 2014): Art Pepper:
Unreleased Art Vol. VIII: Live at the Winery (Widow's Taste).
Despite my long interest in Recycled Goods, I get very few "historical"
albums: only 10 of the 42 (23.8%) on the ballot. Given this small sample,
I won't bother with grade breakdowns (other than to note that I had 4 A-
records), or whatever competitive off ballot records I had (other than
one A- this year: Enrico Pieranunzi: Play Morricone 1 & 2).
Trumpet: Dave Douglas. On ballot: Ralph Alessi, Steven
Bernstein, Taylor Ho Bynum, Peter Evans, Rob Mazurek, Randy Sandke,
Wadada Leo Smith, Tomasz Stanko. Off ballot: Dennis González, Darren
Johnston, Matt Lavelle, Paul Smoker, Warren Vaché, James Zollar.
Trombone: Roswell Rudd. On ballot: Ray Anderson, Joe
Fiedler, Curtis Fowlkes, Phil Ranelin, Steve Swell, Steve Turre. Off
ballot: Conrad Bauer, Samuel Blaser.
Soprano Sax: Evan Parker. On ballot: Jan Garbarek,
Vinny Golia, Bob Wilber. I'm not quite ready to add Dave Liebman,
but he tries hard and has become notably more tolerable in the last
couple years. Off ballot: Brent Jensen. Few specialists, and nearly
everyone plays better on larger saxes (including Parker).
Alto Sax: François Carrier. On ballot: Tim Berne,
Anthony Braxton, Ornette Coleman, Mike DiRubbo, Marty Ehrlich, Jon
Irabagon, Lee Konitz, Oliver Lake, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Michael
Moore, Ted Nash, Dave Rempis, Yosvany Terry, Henry Threadgill,
Bobby Watson, Miguel Zenón, John Zorn. Off ballot: Martin Küchen,
Steve Lehman, Mark Whitecage.
Tenor Sax: Ellery Eskelin. On ballot: Harry Allen,
Jerry Bergonzi, James Carter, Joel Frahm, Jan Garbarek, Jon Irabagon,
Charles Lloyd, Joe Lovano, Tony Malaby, Branford Marsalis, Joe McPhee,
David Murray, Larry Ochs, Evan Parker, Ivo Perelman, Houston Person,
Chris Potter, Sonny Rollins, Grant Stewart, Marcus Strickland, Ken
Vandermark. Off ballot: Juhani Aaltonen, Rodrigo Amado, Chris Byars,
Rich Halley, Scott Hamilton, Billy Harper, Dave Rempis, Archie Shepp,
Tommy Smith, Assif Tsahar.
Baritone Sax: Howard Johnson. On ballot: Hamiet
Bluiett, James Carter, Claire Daly, Vinny Golia, Brian Landrus,
Scott Robinson, Gary Smulyan, John Surman. Not sure why we hear
so little from Bluiett; otherwise no obvious choices, so I thought
I'd vote for the tuba great.
Clarinet: Michael Moore. On ballot: Andy Biskin,
Don Byron, Evan Christopher, Anat Cohen, Marty Ehrlich, Ben Goldberg,
Rudi Mahall, Perry Robinson, Louis Sclavis, Gebhard Ullmann, Mort Weiss.
Off ballot: Lajos Dudas, Avram Fefer.
Flute: Juhani Aaltonen. On ballot: Robert Dick,
Nicole Mitchell.
Piano: Satoko Fujii. On ballot: Kenny Barron, George
Cables, Uri Caine, Marilyn Crispell, Kris Davis, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ethan
Iverson, Vijay Iyer, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Myra Melford, Misha
Mengelberg, Jason Moran, Enrico Pieranunzi, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Matthew
d Shipp, Chucho Valdés, Denny Zeitlin. Off ballot: Nik Bärtsch, Ran Blake,
Bill Carrothers, Cooper-Moore, David Hazeltine, Pandelis Karayorgis,
Joachim Kühn, Steve Kuhn, Russ Lossing, Irčne Schweizer, Aki Takase,
Albert Van Veenendaal.
ELectronic Keyboard: Nik Bärtsch. Doesn't actually
play electronic, which makes what he does all the more remarkable.
Organ: Brian Charette.
Guitar: Marc Ribot. On ballot: Rez Abbasi, Howard Alden,
Peter Bernstein, Nels Cline, Bill Frisell, Mary Halvorson, Jeff Parker,
Bucky Pizzarelli. Off ballot: Raoul Björkenheim, Pierre Dřrge, Marc Ducret,
Scott Dubois, Gordon Grdina, Billy Jenkins, Luis Lopes, Pete McCann,
Wolfgang Muthspiel, Anders Nilsson, Kevin O'Neil, Samo Salamon, Brad
Shepik, Ulf Wakenius.
Bass: William Parker. On ballot: Ben Allison, Arild
Andersen, Pablo Aslan, Harrison Bankhead, Avishai Cohen, Mark Dresser,
Moppa Elliott, Ingebrigt Hĺker Flaten, Michael Formanek, Drew Gress,
Barry Guy, Charlie Haden, John Hébert, Mark Helias, Dave Holland, Marc
Johnson, Christian McBride, Gary Peacock, Eric Revis, Peter Washington,
Reggie Workman. Off ballot: Jason Ajemian, Reid Anderson, Michael Bates,
Ken Filiano, Adam Lane, John Lindberg, Mario Pavone.
Electric Bass: Steve Swallow.
Violin: Jenny Scheinman. On ballot: Charles Burnham,
Regina Carter, Jason Kao Hwang, Aaron Weinstein, Carlos Zingaro.
Drums: Hamid Drake. On ballot: Barry Altschul, Joey
Baron, Han Bennink, Jim Black, Gerald Cleaver, Andrew Cyrille, Jack
DeJohnette, Joe Farnsworth, Gerry Hemingway, John Hollenbeck, Billy
Martin, Lewis Nash, Paal Nilssen-Love, Mike Reed, Tyshawn Sorey,
Nasheet Waits, Matt Wilson. Off ballot: Harris Eisenstadt, Pierre
Favre, Louis Moholo, Kevin Norton, Warren Smith, Günter Sommer.
Vibes: Kevin Norton. On ballot: Jason Adasiewicz,
Joe Locke, Matt Moran, Warren Smith.
Percussion: Han Bennink. On ballot: Kahil El'Zabar,
Marilyn Mazur, Satoshi Takeishi.
Miscellaneous Instrument: Rabih Abou-Khalil (oud). On
ballot: Erik Friedlander (cello), Howard Johnson (tuba), Fred Lonberg-Holm
(cello), David Murray (bass clarinet), Bob Stewart (tuba).
Male Vocalist: Freddy Cole.
Female Vocalist: Sheila Jordan. On ballot: Leena Conquest,
Diana Krall, René Marie, Catherine Russell, Fay Victor.
Composer: Steve Lehman.
Arranger: Steven Bernstein.
Record Label: Clean Feed.
Blues Artist or Group: Lurrie Bell.
Blues Album (June 2013-May 2014): Leo Welch: Sabougla
Voices (Big Legal Mess). I graded eight blues albums from the
ballot (2 A-: Leo Welch, Lurrie Bell). My ungraded rate is 90.0% (72
of 80). Not that I dislike blues, but it's not exactly a cutting edge
art form.
Beyond Artist or Group: The Roots. Can't really deal
with this concept.
Beyond Album (June 2013-May 2014): M.I.A.: Matangi
(Interscope). I graded 27 albums from the ballot (4 A/A-: MIA,
Arcade Fire, The Road to Jajouka, Janelle Monáe; B+ split
5-7-4; B or lower 7). My ungraded rate is 40.0% (18 of 45).
Looking over my ballot, I'll note several things. One is that I
always went with someone on the ballot, even though in a couple slots
a write-in might be the better candidate. I do more write-ins in the
Critics Poll, but figure the larger voting population here makes them
even more invisible (plus they take more time than it's worth). Also,
sometimes I skipped the player I generally take as best-established
to pick out someone I'm especially fond of (e.g., Eskelin over Murray
at tenor sax). Third, in the thinner categories I just grabbed someone
and didn't sweat the details. If I filled out the ballot again tomorrow
I'd probably make some changes. Indeed, from last year, I changed: Jazz
Artist (was Wadada Leo Smith), Big Band (Steven Bernstein Millennial
Territory Orchestra), Trumpet (Wadada Leo Smith), Alto Sax (Oliver Lake,
Tenor Sax (David Murray), Baritone Sax (Vinny Golia), Electric Keyboard
(Matthew Shipp), Organ (John Medeski), Guitar (Mary Halvorson), Electric
Bass (Stomu Takeishi), Drums (Han Bennink), Vibes (Warren Smith),
Percussion (Kahil El'Zabar), Miscellaneous Instrument (Howard Johnson),
Composer (Ben Allison), Blues Artist (Eric Bibb), Beyond Artist (Neil
Young). Those all look like pretty good answers, but so are this year's
picks.
Some more detailed information on the albums.
New album lists (graded):
- William Parker: Wood Flute Songs: Anthology/Live 2006-2012 (AUM Fidelity) [A]
- Roswell Rudd: Trombone for Lovers (Sunnyside) [A]
- Bobby Avey: Authority Melts From Me (Whirlwind) [A-]
- Regina Carter: Southern Comfort (Sony Masterworks) [A-]
- The Claudia Quintet: September (Cuneiform) [A-]
- Dave Douglas/Chet Doxas/Steve Swallow/Jim Doxas: Riverside (Greenleaf) [A-]
- Marty Ehrlich Large Ensemble: A Trumpet in the Morning (New World) [A-]
- Mary Halvorson/Michael Formanek/Tomas Fujiwara: Thumbscrew (Cuneiform) [A-]
- Craig Handy: Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith (OKeh) [A-]
- Vijay Iyer: Mutations (ECM) [A-]
- James Brandon Lewis: Divine Travels (OKeh) [A-]
- Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Red Hot (Hot Cup) [A-]
- Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: Second Cities: Volume 1 (482 Music) [A-]
- Eric Revis Quartet: In Memory of Things Yet Seen (Clean Feed) [A-]
- Sonny Rollins: Road Shows, Volume 3 (Doxy/OKeh) [A-]
- Catherine Russell: Bring It Back (Jazz Village) [A-]
- Jenny Scheinman: The Littlest Prisoner (Sony Masterworks) [A-]
- Jeff Ballard Trio: Time's Tales (OKeh '14) [***]
- Kenny Barron: Kenny Barron & The Brazilian Knights (Sunnyside '13) [***]
- Matt Bauder & Day In Pictures: Nightshades (Clean Feed '14) [***]
- Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow: Trios (ECM) [***]
- George Cables: Icons & Influences (HighNote) [***]
- Chicago Underground Duo: Locus (Northern Spy) [***]
- The Nels Cline Singers: Macroscope (Mack Avenue) [***]
- Mark Dresser Quintet: Nourishments (Clean Feed) [***]
- Amir ElSaffar: Alchemy (Pi) [***]
- Erik Friedlander: Nighthawks (Skipstone) [***]
- Tord Gustavsen Quartet: Extended Circle (ECM) [***]
- Tom Harrell: Colors of a Dream (HighNote) [***]
- Albert "Tootie" Heath/Ethan Iverson/Ben Street: Tootie's Tempo (Sunnyside) [***]
- Hera with Hamid Drake: Seven Lines (Multikulti Project) [***]
- Lee Konitz/Dan Tepfer,/Michael Janisch/Jeff Williams: First Meeting: Live In London, Vol. 1 (Whirlwind) [***]
- David Krakauer: The Big Picture (Table Pounding) [***]
- Christian McBride Trio: Out Here (Mack Avenue) [***]
- Medeski Martin & Wood + Nels Cline: Woodstock Sessions, Vol. 2 (Woodstock Sessions) [***]
- Myra Melford: Life Carries Me This Way (Firehouse 12) [***]
- Cava Menzies/Nick Phillips: Moment To Moment (Nick Phillips Music) [***]
- Nicole Mitchell: Intergalactic Beings (FPE) [***]
- Mark Ribot Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard (PI) [***]
- Jason Roebke Octet: High/Red/Center (Delmark) [***]
- Adam Rudolph & Go: Organic Orchestra: Sonic Mandala (Meta) [***]
- Cécile McLorin Salvant: WomanChild (Mack Avenue) [***]
- Angelica Sanchez/Wadada Leo Smith: Twine Forest (Clean Feed) [***]
- Archie Shepp & The Attica Blues Orchestra: I Hear The Sound (Archie Ball) [***]
- Sons of Kemet: Burn (Naim Jazz) [***]
- Frank Wess: Magic 201 (IPO) [***]
- Randy Weston/Billy Harper: The Roots Of The Blues (Sunnyside) [***]
- Matt Wilson Quartet + John Medeski: Gathering Call (Palmetto) [***]
- Geri Allen: Grand River Crossings: Motown & Motor City Inspirations (Motéma) [**]
- Jane Ira Bloom: Sixteen Sunsets (Outline) [**]
- The New Gary Burton Quartet: Guided Tour (Mack Avenue) [**]
- George Colligan: The Endless Mysteries (Origin) [**]
- Chick Corea: The Vigil (Stretch/Concord) [**]
- Stephan Crump's Rosetta Trio: Thwirl (Sunnyside) [**]
- Steve Davis: For Real (Posi-Tone) [**]
- Paquito D'Rivera & Trio Corrente: Song For Maura (Paquito Records/Sunnyside) [**]
- Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch (Posi-Tone) [**]
- Bill Frisell: Big Sur (OKeh) [**]
- Dave Holland & Prism: Prism (Dare2) [**]
- Abdullah Ibrahim: Mukashi: Once Upon A Time (Sunnyside) [**]
- Vijay Iyer/Mike Ladd: Holding It Down: The Veterans' Dreams Project (Pi) [**]
- Stacey Kent: The Changing Lights (Warner Bros.) [**]
- Brian Landrus Kaleidoscope: Mirage (BlueLand) [**]
- Mike McGinnis +9: Road*Trip (RKM Music) [**]
- Mehliana [Brad Mehldau/Mark Guiliana]: Taming The Dragon (Nonesuch) [**]
- Gary Peacock/Marilyn Crispell: Azure (ECM) [**]
- Danilo Pérez: Panama 500 (Mack Avenue) [**]
- Ed Reed: I'm A Shy Guy (Blue Shorts Records) [**]
- Matana Roberts: Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile (Constellation) [**]
- Rudy Royston: 303 (Greenleaf Music) [**]
- Matthew Shipp: Piano Sutras (Thirsty Ear) [**]
- Edward Simon: Venezuelan Suite (Sunnyside) [**]
- Gary Smulyan/Dominic Chianese: Bella Napoli (Capri) [**]
- Colin Vallon Trio: Le Vent (ECM) [**]
- Frank Wess: Magic 101 (IPO) [**]
- Michael Wollny Trio: Weltentraum (ACT Music) [**]
- Nate Wooley Sextet: (Sit In) The Throne of Friendship (Clean Feed) [**]
- David Binney: Lifted Land (Criss Cross '13) [*]
- Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band: Landmarks (Blue Note) [*]
- Joshua Breakstone: With the Wind and the Rain (Capri) [*]
- Peter Brötzman & Steve Noble: I Am Here Where Are You (Trost) [*]
- Marc Cary: For the Love of Abbey (Motéma) [*]
- Wayne Escoffery Quintet: Live At Firehouse 12 (Sunnyside) [*]
- Holly Hofmann: Low Life: The Alto Flute Project (Capri) [*]
- Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra: Habitat (Justin Time) [*]
- Mimi Jones: Balance (Hot Tone Music) [*]
- Romero Lubambo: Só: Brazilian Essence (Sunnyside) [*]
- Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra: Strength In Numbers (Summit) [*]
- Roscoe Mitchell with Craig Taborn & Kikanju Baku: Conversations 2 (Wide Hive) [*]
- Rufus Reid: Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project (Motéma) [*]
- Alfredo Rodríguez: The Invasion Parade (Mack Avenue) [*]
- John Scofield: Überjam Deux (Emarcy/Decca) [*]
- Wadada Leo Smith & Tumo: Occupy the World (TUM) [*]
- Helen Sung: Anthem for a New Day (Concord) [*]
- Chucho Valdés: Border-Free (Jazz Village) [*]
- Andy Bey: The World According To Andy Bey (HighNote) [B]
- Etienne Charles: Creole Soul (Culture Shock) [B]
- Kenny Garrett: Pushing The World Away (Mack Avenue) [B]
- Joel Harrison 19: Infinite Possibility (Sunnyside) [B]
- Billy Hart Quartet: One Is The Other (ECM) [B]
- Pedrito Martinez Group: Pedrito Martinez Group (Motéma) [B]
- Mark Masters Ensemble: Everything You Did: The Music Of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen (Capri) [B]
- Roscoe Mitchell with Craig Taborn & Kikanju Baku: Conversations (Wide Hive) [B]
- Tierney Sutton: After Blue (BFM Jazz) [B]
- Warren Wolf: Wolfgang (Mack Avenue) [B]
- Ambrose Akinmusire: The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint (Blue Note) [B-]
- Kris Bowers: Heroes + Misfits (Concord) [B-]
- George Duke: DreamWeaver (Heads Up) [B-]
- Pat Metheny Unity Group: Kin (Nonesuch) [B-]
- Ben Monder: Hydra (Sunnyside) [B-]
- Gregory Porter: Liquid Spirit (Blue Note) [B-]
- Dianne Reeves: Beautiful Life (Concord) [B-]
- Ali Ryerson Jazz Flute Big Band: Game Changer (Capri) [B-]
- Trombone Shorty: Say That To Say This (Verve) [B-]
New albums list (ungraded):
- 3 Cohens: Tightrope (Anzic)
- John Abercrombie Quartet: 39 Steps (ECM)
- Ralph Alessi: Baida (ECM)
- Eric Alexander: Chicago Fire (HighNote)
- JD Allen: Bloom (Savant)
- Ben Allison: The Stars Look Very Different Today (Sonic Camera)
- Fabian Almazan: Rhizome (Blue Note/ArtistShare)
- The Bad Plus: The Rite of Spring (Sony Masterworks)
- Diego Barber & Craig Taborn: Tales (Sunnyside)
- George Benson: nspiration (A Tribute to Nat King Cole) (Concord)
- Jerry Bergonzi: Intersecting Lines (Savant)
- Peter Bernstein: Solo Guitar: Live at Smalls (Smalls Live)
- Stefano Bollani/Hamilton De Holanda: O Que Será (ECM)
- Jakob Bro: December Song (Loveland)
- Alan Broadbent: Heart to Heart: Solo Piano (Chilly Bin)
- Henry Butler, Steven Bernstein and the Hot 9: Viper's Drag (Impulse)
- Marc Cary Focus Trio: Four Directions (Motéma)
- Brian Charette: The Question That Drives Us (SteepleChase)/li>
- Cyrus Chestnut: Soul Brother Cool (WJ3)
- John Clayton with Gerald Clayton: Parlor Series, Volume 1 (ArtistShare)
- Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: The L.A. Treasures Project (Capri)
- Dena DeRose: We Won't Forget You . . . An Homage to Shirley Horn (HighNote)
- Al Di Meola: All Your Life (Valiana/Songsurfer)
- Oran Etkin: Gathering Light (Motéma)
- Roberto Fonseca: Yo (Concord)
- Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Life in the Bubble (Telarc)
- Fareed Haque: Out Of Nowhere (Charleston Square)
- Jimmy Heath Big Band: Togetherness: Live at the Blue Note (JLP)
- Gerry Hemingway: Kernelings (Auricle)
- Fred Hersch/Julian Lage: Free Flying (Palmetto)
- Vincent Herring: The Uptown Shuffle (Smoke Sessions)
- Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra: Second Wind: A Tribute To The Music Of Bill Evans (SoulPatch)
- Anne Mette Iversen's Double Life: So Many Roads (Brooklyn Jazz Underground)
- Javon Jackson: Expression (Smoke Sessions)
- L.A. 6: Frame of Mind (Jazzed Media)
- Ellis Marsalis Trio: On the Second Occasion (Elm)
- Harvey Mason: Chameleon (Concord)
- John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension: The Boston Record (Abstract Truth)
- Nicole Mitchell's Sonic Projections: The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson (Rogue Art)
- Stanton Moore: Conversations (Royal Potato Family)
- Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: The Offense Of The Drum (Motéma)
- Aruán Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet: Banned In London (Whirlwind)
- Evan Parker & Joe McPhee: What/If/They Both Could Fly (Rune Grammofon)
- Evan Parker & Matthew Shipp: Rex, Wrecks & XXX (Rogue Art)
- Aaron Parks: Aborescence (ECM)
- Gretchen Parlato: Live In NYC (ObliqSound)
- Simona Premazzi: The Lucid Dreamer (Inner Circle Music)
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That's It! (Sony/Legacy) [**]
- Marcus Roberts Trio: From Rags To Rhythm (J-Master)
- Michelle Rosewoman's New Yor-Uba: 30 Years! A Musical Celebration Of Cuba In America (Advance Dance Disques)
- Jacques Schwarz-Bart: Jazz Racine Haiti (Motéma)
- Dr. Lonnie Smith: In The Beginning Volumes 1 & 2 (Pilgrimage)
- Omar Sosa: Senses (Otá)
- Dave Stryker: Eight Track (Strikezone Records)
- Brannen Temple: Temple Underground (Live At Strange Brew Lounge Side) (Lounge Side Records)
- Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide (ECM)
- Ken Vandermark/Mats Gustafsson: Verses (Corbett vs. Dempsey)
- Bobby Watson & The "I Have a Dream" Project: Check Cashing Day (Lafiya)
- David Weiss: When Words Fail (Motéma)
- Martin Wind Quartet: Turn Out The Stars (What If? Music)
- John Zorn: Dreamachines (Tzadik)
2014 A/A- albums not on ballot (hard to separate out late-2013 releases
from 2013 list):
- Steve Lehman Octet: Mise en Abîme (Pi)
- Paul Shapiro: Shofarot Verses (Tzadik) *
- Digital Primitives: Lipsomuch/Soul Searchin' (Hopscotch, 2CD)
- Ivo Perelman: The Other Edge (Leo)
- Revolutionary Snake Ensemble: Live Snakes (Accurate)
- Kris Davis Trio: Waiting for You to Grow (Clean Feed)
- Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble: Cimmerian Crossroads (Edgetone)
- Jonas Kullhammar/Torbjörn Zetterberg/Espen Aalberg: Basement Sessions Vol. 2 (Clean Feed)
- Ben Flocks: Battle Mountain (self-released)
- Peter Van Huffel/Michael Bates/Jeff Davis: Boom Crane (Fresh Sound New Talent) **
- John Hollenbeck/Alban Darche/Sébastien Boisseau/Samuel Blaser: JASS (Yolk) **
- Free Nelson Mandoomjazz: The Shape of Doomjazz to Come/Saxophone Giganticus (RareNoise) *
- Barbara Morrison: I Love You, Yes I Do (Savant)
- Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Liverevil (Hot Cup, 2CD) [**]
- Joachim Kühn/Alexey Kruglov: Duo Art: Moscow (ACT) **
- Tom Rainey: Obbligato (Intakt) **
- Anne Waldman: Jaguar Harmonics (Fast Speaking Music)
- François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Alexey Lapin: The Russian Concerts (FMR)
- Allen Lowe: Mulatto Radio: Field Recordings: 1-4 (Constant Sorrow, 4CD)
- Rich Halley 4: The Wisdom of Rocks (Pine Eagle)
- Jason Ajemian: Folklords (Delmark)
- Sonny Simmons/Delphine Latil/Thomas Bellier: Beyond the Planets (Improvising Beings, 2CD)
- Rodrigo Amado: Wire Quartet (Clean Feed)
- Mike DiRubbo: Threshold (Ksanti)
- Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: Live in Ljubljana (Clean Feed)
- The Young Mothers: A Mothers Work Is Never Done (Tektite) *
- Kali Z. Fasteau: Piano Rapture (Flying Note)
- Andy Biskin Ibid: Act Necessary (Strudelmedia)
- Assif Tsahar/Gerry Hemingway/Mark Dresser: Code Re(a)d (Hopscotch)
- Cortex: Live! (Clean Feed)
- Moskus: Mestertyven (Hubro) **
Historical album lists (graded/ungraded):
- Gene Ludwig-Pat Martino Trio: Young Guns (HighNote) [A-]
- Art Pepper: Unreleased Art Vol. VIII: Live at the Winery (Widow's Taste) [A-]
- Oscar Peterson/Ben Webster: During This Time (Art of Groove) [A-]
- Various Artists: Haiti Direct: Big Band, Mini Jazz & Twoubadou Sounds 1960-1978 (Strut) [A-]
- Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore: Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (Legacy) [***]
- Jimmy Giuffre 3 & 4: New York Concerts (Elemental Music) [***]
- Robert Wyatt: '68 (Cuneiform) [***]
- Roscoe Mitchell Quartet: Live at "A Space" 1975 (Sackville) [**]
- Thelonious Monk: Paris 1969 (Blue Note) [**]
- Stan Getz: Live At Montreux 1972 (Eagle Rock) [B]
- Duane Allman: Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective (Rounder)
- Louis Armstrong: The Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong & The All Stars (Mosaic)
- Albert Ayler: Lörrach, Paris 1966 (Hatology)
- Ran Blake: Ran Blake Plays Solo Piano (ESP-Disk)
- Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers: The Complete Jazz Messengers At The Café Bohemia (Phoenix Records)
- Michael Bloomfield: From His Head to His Heart to His Hands (Legacy)
- James Booker: Classified: Remixed And Expanded (Rounder)
- John Cage: Music of Changes (Hatology)
- John Carter/Bobby Bradford Quartet: Flight for Four (International Phonograph)
- Don Cherry: Live in Stockholm (Caprice)
- John Coltrane: Afro Blue Impressions (Pablo)
- Miles Davis: The Original Mono Recordings (Sony/Legacy)
- Herbie Hancock: The Complete Columbia Album Collection 1972-1988 (Sony/Legacy)
- Donny Hathaway: Never My Love: The Anthology (Rhino)
- Roy Haynes with Phineas Newborn & Paul Chambers: We Three (Prestige)
- Earl Hines: Classic Earl Hines Sessions: 1928-1945 (Mosaic)
- Illinois Jacquet/Leo Parker: Toronto 1947 (Uptown)
- Clifford Jordan: The Complete Clifford Jordan Strata-East Sessions (Mosaic)
- Red Mitchell: What I Am (Caprice)
- Modern Jazz Quartet: Germany 1956-1958: Lost Tapes (Jazzhaus)
- Jaco Pastorius: Modern American Music . . . Period! The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore)
- Bud Powell: Birdland 1953 (ESP-Disk)
- Woody Shaw: The Complete Muse Sessions (Mosaic)
- Wayne Shorter: Speak No Evil (Blue Note)
- Sly And The Family Stone: Higher! (Epic/Legacy)
- Various Artists: The Chicago Blues Box: The MCM Records Story (Storyville)
- Various Artists: The South Side of Soul Street: The Minaret Soul Singles 1967-1976 (Omnivore)
- Various Artists: Verve: The Sound of America: The Singles Collection (Verve/Universal)
- Miroslav Vitous: Magical Shepherd (Warner Bros.)
- Chick Webb/Ella Fitzgerald: The Complete Chick Webb & Ella Fitzgerald Decca Sessions (1934-1941) (Mosaic)
- Teddy Wilson: Live at the King of France Tavern (LiSem)
- Lester Young: Boston 1950 (Uptown)
Blues album lists (graded/ungraded):
- Lurrie Bell: Blues in My Soul (Delmark) [A-]
- Leo Welch: Sabougla Voices (Big Legal Mess) [A-]
- Cyril Neville: Magic Honey (Ruf) [***]
- John Németh: Memphis Grease (Blue Corn) [**]
- Eric Bibb: Jericho Road (Stony Plain Music) [*]
- Luther Dickinson: Rock 'n' Roll Blues (New West) [*]
- Honey Island Swamp Band: Cane Sugar (Louisiana Red Hot) [B]
- Joe Louis Walker: Hornet's Nest (Alligator) [B-]
- Matt Andersen: Weightless (True North)
- James Armstrong: Guitar Angels (Catfood)
- Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band: Soul For Your Blues (Blue Dot)
- Macy Blackman & the Mighty Fines: I Didn't Want to Do It (MamaRu)
- Rory Block: Avalon: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt (Stony Plain)
- James Bolden Blues Band: No News Jus' the Blues (Real)
- Joe Bonamassa: Tour De Force: Live in London (J&R Adventures)
- Ray Bonneville: Easy Gone (Red House)
- Eden Brent: Jigsaw Heart (Yellow Dog)
- Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group: More Today Than Yesterday: 16th Anniversary Show: Vol. 2 (self-released)
- Toronzo Cannon: John the Conquer Root (Delmark)
- Tommy Castro & the Pain Killers: The Devil You Know (Alligator)
- Annika Chambers & the Houston All-Stars: Making My Mark (Montrose)
- The Claudettes: Infernal Piano Plot . . . Hatched! (Yellow Dog)
- Bob Corritore: Taboo (Delta Groove)
- The Robert Cray Band: In My Soul (Provogue)
- Daunielle: Daunielle (Catfood)
- Guy Davis: Juba Dance (M.C. Records)
- Lincoln Durham: Exodus of the Deemed Unrighteous (Droog)
- Omar Dykes: Runnin' With the Wolf (Mascot/Provogue)
- Tinsley Ellis: Midnight Blue (Heartfixer)
- Samantha Fish: Black Wind Howlin' (Ruf)
- Danny Fitzgerald: Danny Fitzgerald & the Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band (Lil' Shack)
- Robben Ford: Day in Nashville (Mascot)
- Eric Gales Trio: Ghost Notes (Tone Center)
- Ursula George: One Steady Roll (Tommytiger)
- Gov't Mule: Shout! (Blue Note)
- Kara Grainger: Shiver And Sigh (Delta Groove)
- Grand Marquis: Blues And Trouble (GM)
- Jim Gustin & Truth Jones: Can't Shed a Tear (Self-Release)
- Buddy Guy: Rhythm & Blues (RCA/Silvertone)
- John Hammond: Timeless (Palmetto)
- Hard Garden: Blue Yonder (Hard Garden Music)
- The Holmes Brothers: Brotherhood (Alligator)
- JeConte & the Mali Allstars: Mali Blues (Soulnow)
- Candye Kane: Coming Out Swingin' (Vizzitone)
- Keb' Mo': Bluesamericana (Kind of Blue)
- Dave Keyes: Right Here Right Now (Keyesland)
- Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King: Road Dog's LIfe (Delta Groove)
- Dayna Kurtz: Secret Canon, Vol. 2 (Kismet/M.C.)
- Jonny Lang: Fight For My Soul (Concord)
- Hugh Laurie: Didn't It Rain (Warner Bros.)
- Left Lane Cruiser: Rock Them Back To Hell! (Alive Naturalsound)
- Cathy Lemons: Black Crow (VizzTone)
- Little Mike & the Tornadoes: All the Right Moves (Elrob)
- Lonesome Shack: More Primitive (Alive Naturalsound)
- Moreland & Arbuckle: 7 Cities (Telarc)
- Mud Morganfield: Blues Is In My Blood (Blues Boulevard)
- North Mississippi Allstars: World Boogie Is Coming (Songs of the South)
- Anders Osborne: Peace (Alligator)
- Charlie Parr: Hollandale (Chaperone)
- Pork Chop Willie: Love Is The Devil (PCWM)
- Lou Pride: Ain't No More Love in This House (Severn)
- Rip Lee Pryor: Nobody but Me (Electro-Fi)
- Johnny Rawls: Remembering O.V. (Catfood)
- The Rides: Can't Get Enough (429)
- Roomful of Blues: 45 Live (Alligator)
- Bobby Rush with Blinddog Smokin': Decisions (Silver Talon)
- Tommy Schneller: Cream of the Crop (Cable Car)
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Goin' Home (Concord)
- The Soul of John Black: A Sunshine State of Mind (Yellow Dog)
- Dave Specter: Message in Blue (Delmark)
- Candi Staton: Life Happens (Beracah)
- Quinn Sullivan: Getting There (SuperStar)
- George Thorogood & the Destroyers: Live At Montreux 2013 (Eagle Rock)
- Trampled Under Foot: Badlands (Telarc)
- Walter Trout: Luther's Blues: A Tribute to Luther Allison (Mascot Records)
- David Vest: Roadhouse Revelation (Cordova Bay)
- Watermelon Slim & the Workers: Bull Goose Rooster (Northern Blues)
- Leslie West: Still Climbing (Mascot)
- Mike Zito: Gone to Texas (Ruf)
- Layla Zoe: The Lily (Cable Car)
Beyond album lists (graded/ungraded):
- M.I.A.: Matangi (Interscope) [A]
- Arcade Fire: Reflektor (Merge) [A-]
- Master Musicians of Jajouka: The Road to Jajouka (Howe) [A-]
- Janelle Monáe: Electric Lady (Bad Boy) [A-]
- Danny Brown: Old (Fool's Gold) [***]
- Dawn of Midi: Dysnomia (Thirsty Ear) [***]
- Deafheaven: Sunbather (Deathwish) [***]
- Valerie June: Pushin' Against A Stone (Concord) [***]
- St. Vincent: St. Vincent (Lorna Vista/Republic) [***]
- Neko Case: The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight . . . (Anti-) [**]
- Rosanne Cash: The River & the Thread (Blue Note) [**]
- Ry Cooder: Live In San Francisco (Nonesuch) [**]
- Sky Ferreira: Night Time, My Time (Capitol) [**]
- Haim: Days Are Gone (Columbia) [**]
- Lorde: Pure Heroine (Universal) [**]
- Mavis Staples: One True Vine (Anti-) [**]
- Elvis Costello & The Roots: Wise Up Ghost (Blue Note) [*]
- Disclosure: Settle (Interscope) [*]
- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Give the People What They Want (Daptone) [*]
- Kanye West: Yeezus (Def Jam) [*]
- Billie Joe Armstrong/Norah Jones: Foreverly (Reprise) [B]
- Drake: Nothing Was The Same (Cash Money) [B]
- Robert Glasper Experiment: Black Radio 2 (Blue Note) [B]
- Jason Isbell: Southeastern (Southeastern Records) [B]
- Queens of the Stone Age: . . . Like Clockwork (Matador) [B]
- Darkside: Psychic (Matador) [B-]
- Thundercat: Apocalypse (Brainfeeder) [C+]
- Beyoncé: Beyoncé (Columbia)
- Booker T: Sound the Alarm (Concord)
- Childish Gambino: Because the Internet (Glassnote)
- Dumpstaphunk: Dirty Word (Louisiana Red Hot)
- Gillet Singleton Duo: Ferdinand (self-released)
- Angelique Kidjo: Eve (429)
- Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns: Foolers' Gold (self-released)
- Amos Lee: Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song (Blue Note)
- Leyla McCalla: Vari-Colored Songs (Music Maker Foundation)
- Aoife O'Donovan: Fossils (Yep Roc)
- Robert Randolph & the Family Band: Lickety Split (Blue Note)
- Run the Jewels: Run the Jewels (Fool's Gold)
- Anoushka Shankar: Traces of You (Deutsche Grammophon)
- Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind (Sony/Masterworks)
- Allen Toussaint: Songbook (Rounder)
- Various Artists: Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 (Rhino/Warner Bros.)
- The Wood Brothers: The Muse (+180 Records)
- Wooden Shjips: Back To Land (Thrill Jockey)
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