December 2021

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Cover

Roy Hargrove

86th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll

Roy Hargrove entering the DownBeat Hall of Fame leads off the 86th Annual Readers Poll in our December issue. The issue also features:

The readers honor the late Chick Corea one last time as Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, Pianist of the Year and Keyboardist of the Year.

Maria Schneider, honored for Album of the Year for Data Lords, Compose of the Year and Arranger of the Year.

John Coltrane’s Blue World named Historical Album of the Year.

Bob Dylan named Beyond Album and Artist of the Year.

Also, 77 great albums listed!

Features
  • Roy Hargrove

    Once In A Lifetime

    Three years after he passed away at the age of 49, Roy Hargrove enters the DownBeat Hall of Fame.

  • Chick Corea

    Farewell to My Mentor

    Saxophonist, composer and arranger Tim Garland bids a fond farewell to his musical mentor, the late Chick Corea, who was named Artist, Group, Pianist and Keyboardist of the Year one last time in the DownBeat Readers Poll.

  • Kurt Elling

    Goes Jazz Adjacent

    The readers’ Choice as Male Vocalist of the Year discusses his new album SuperBlue on Edition Records

  • Kenny Garrett

    Honors The Ancestors

    Kenny Garrett, the readers choice for Alto Saxophonist of the Year, discusses his latest album, Sounds From The Ancestors on Mack Avenue.

  • Holiday Gift Guide

    Holiday Hits

    New albums and great books for the music lover on your gift list…or a little something for yourself!

Blindfold Test

Don Byron is one of the most recognizable voices on clarinet in not just jazz, but music in general. This was his third Blindfold Test.

  • Dr. Michael White: “West African Strut” from Adventures In New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 1 (Basin Street)
  • Anat Cohen/Paquito D'Rivera: “Um A Zero” from Chiaroscuro (Anzic)
  • Ben Goldberg: “Cold Weather” from Everything Happens To Be (BAG Productions)
  • Gabrielle Mirabassi: “Espinha de Truta” from Tabacco e Caffé (Dodicilune)
  • Eddie Daniels: “My Little Suede Shoes” from Mean What You Say (IPO)
  • J.D. Parran: “Parenthetically” from Window Spirits (Mutable Music)
  • Ken Peplowski/Adrian Cunningham: “Background Music” from Duologue (Arbors)
  • Ted Nash: “Maria” from West Side Story Songs (Plastic Sax)
Also in this Issue
THE BEAT
  • In Memoriam: Dr. Lonnie Smith
  • Bruce Forman Revisits The Poll Winners
  • Darius Jones Renews His Voice
  • Jay Clayton: Follow What You Love
THE HOT BOX
  • Nicholas Payton, Smoke Sessions
  • Makaya McCraven, Deciphering The Message
  • Remy le Boeuf, Architecture Of Storms
  • Nubya Garcia, Source + We Move
WOODSHED
  • Reharmonizing Holiday Tunes by Eric DiVito
TOOLSHED
  • Nord Piano 5
  • P. Mauriat PMST-600XJ
GEAR BOX
  • 512 Audio Limelight/Skylight Mics
  • Keith McMillan K-Mix Blue
  • Fender Tone Master Super Reverb
  • D'Addario Eco-Comfort Guitar Straps
  • Bud Powell Omnibook from Hal Leonard
  • Rtom LV Mesh Drum Heads


PLUS: Dozens of album reviews, product reviews and much more!