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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  • Al_Foster_Marketing.jpg

    Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.

  • kZYVcIag_copy.jpg

    Benny Benack III and his quartet took the Midwest Jazz Collective’s route for a test run this spring.

  • Theo_Croker_by_Bruno_Baretto.jpg

    To record Dream Manifest (Dom Recs), Croker convened artists from his current and recent past ensembles, plus special guests.

  • Kandace_Springs_by_Eli_Sethna_copy.jpg

    “There’s nothing quite like it,” Springs says of working with an orchestra. “It’s 60 people working in harmony in the moment. Singing with them is kind of empowering but also humbling at the same time.”

  • James_Brandon_Lewis_by_Julien_Vonier_lo-res.jpeg

    James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.


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August 2025
Anthony Braxton
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