2020: The Year’s Top-Rated Albums

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Carla Bley (left), Steve Swallow and Andy Sheppard recorded Life Goes On for the ECM label.

(Photo: Caterina di Perri/ECM)

FOUR-AND-A-HALF-STAR ALBUMS (Historical)

Keith Jarrett, Munich 2016 (ECM)

FOUR-STAR ALBUMS (New)

3D Jazz Trio, I Love To See You Smile (Diva Jazz)

11 Guys Quartet, Small Blues And Grooves (VizzTone)

Rez Abbasi, Djanto-shift (Whirlwind)

Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids, Shaman! (Strut)

Ryoko Akama, Dial (Another Timbre)

JD Allen, Toys/Die Dreaming (Savant)

Antibalas, Fu Chronicles (Daptone)

Lynne Arriale Trio, Chimes Of Freedom (Challenge)

Gregg August, Dialogues On Race, Volume One (Iacuessa)

Omer Avital Qantar, New York Paradox (jazz&people/Zamzama)

John Bailey, Can You Imagine? (Freedom Road)

Marc Benham, Biotope (SteepleChase)

Frank Bey, All My Dues Are Paid (Nola Blue)

Tim Berne’s Snakeoil, The Fantastic Mrs. 10 (Intakt)

Peter Bernstein, What Comes Next (Smoke Sessions)

Laila Biali, Out Of Dust (Chronograph/ACT)

Jim Black Trio, Reckon (Intakt)

Black Art Jazz Collective, Ascension (HighNote)

Blaer, Yellow (Ronin Rhythm)

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore, Patchouli Blue (Ipecac)

Moses Boyd, Dark Matter (Exodus)

Geof Bradfield/Ben Goldberg/Dana Hall, General Semantics (Delmark)

Peter Brötzmann, I Surrender Dear (Trost)

The Darius Brubeck Quartet, Live In Poland (Ubuntu)

Brody Buster’s One Man Band, Damn! I Spilled The Blues (Booga)

Gary Brunton/Simon Goubert/Bojan Z, Night Bus (Juste Une Trace)

Ernesto Cervini, Tetrahedron (Anzic)

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  • 0c3c86_2fd4930d4a61477c8516238ae334ebb5~mv2_d_2000_1335_s_2_copy.jpeg

    Jim Rotondi was acclaimed for his wide, round trumpet tone, remarkable virtuosity and assured swing.

  • DB24_Charles_Lloyd_by_Douglas_Mason_at_New_Orleans_Jazz_Fest.jpg

    Charles Lloyd, seen here at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, makes DownBeat Poll history!

  • DonWas_A1100547_byMyriamSantos_copy.jpg

    “Being president of Blue Note has been one of the coolest things that ever happened to me,” Was said. “It’s a gas to serve as one of the caretakers of that legacy.”

  • Century_Room_by_Travis_Jensen.jpg

    ​The Century Room in downtown Tucson, Arizona, was born in 2021.

  • Cecile_McLorin_Salvant_Ashley_Kahn_bu_David_Morresi_copy.jpg

    ​“She reminds me of my childhood and makes we want to cry,” Cécile McLorin Salvant, pictured here with writer Ashley Kahn, said of Dianne Reeves.


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