2020: Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, Lakecia Benjamin And The Year’s Best-Read Stories

News, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Parker, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Billie Holiday, Redman/Mehldau/McBride/Blade, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Eddie Kendricks, Joey DeFrancesco, Walter Smith III, Lakecia Benjamin, Robert Cray, Kidd Jordan, Antonio Sánchez, Thana Alexa, Marc Ribot, Ethan Iverson, Aaron Parks, Terence Blanchard

By DownBeat I Dec. 31, 2020

Bassist Christian McBride (left), saxophonist Joshua Redman, drummer Brian Blade and pianist Brad Mehldau reconvened in the studio after more than two decades for RoundAgain.
(Photo: Michael Wilson)
Drummer Antonio Sánchez and vocalist Thana Alexa have reached a point of mutual influence.
(Photo: Jimmy & Dena Katz)
Guitarist Pat Metheny topped two DownBeat Readers Poll categories this year: Guitar and Jazz Album, for his disc From This Place (Nonesuch).
(Photo: Jimmy & Dena Katz)
Lakecia Benjamin’s latest album features compositions by Alice Coltrane and John Coltrane.
(Photo: Elizabeth Leitzell)
James Erskine’s documentary Billie includes vintage photos that have been digitally colorized by artist Marina Amaral.
(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, courtesy Greenwich Entertainment)

In 2020, DownBeat sought to cover the breadth of jazz, while also working to represent what was going on in the country at large—socially, politically and economically.

We published hundreds of stories and album reviews during the past 12 months, and the pieces here—whether drawn from the print edition or web-only features—have been viewed by readers more than any others. Perhaps it’s the musicians who were profiled here—or what they spoke about. Maybe it was their impeccable musicianship that drew readers in or the sterling prose that described their playing. Maybe it’s because readers like movies and lists.

A lot of music and information gets parsed here, so don’t rush through anything. Let the work—in addition to informing and perhaps inspiring—distract you from the next few months of difficulty we’re all set to face. But make sure to savor each turn of phrase or thoughtful metaphor, and maybe go track down a new record.

For a few of our best-read stories from 2019, take a look here. And for print and digital subscription options, head over here. DB

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