Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
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.
(Photo: David Lobato)You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat annually asks for viewpoints from a robust committee of critics, but this year we decided to seek out even more of the world’s top sources on the creative music scene, sending ballots to 409 critics. Completing the task were 251, and a daunting task it was.
The ballot for the Critics Poll contained nearly 4,000 line items (artists, albums and groups) across 62 categories. It is an act of time, attention and dedication to complete, and we are thankful for every voter for their interest.
This poll serves as a labor of love for music that never will fit neatly under any one label or format. It’s too big, too unwieldy, too fantasically free to conform to being neatly tucked into any box. As multi-instrumentalist supreme Scott Robinson says in a great feature on page 13, “To me, it’s like a big river. I can’t separate one part of the river from another because it’s only a river if it’s all connected and flowing.”
As for the poll results … pretty darn cool. There’s something for everyone here.
Along with writeups on Anthony Braxton, Tito Puente, James Brandon Lewis and Patricia Brennan, we asked 10 critics to express why they voted for an honoree. Their responses inspire.
One, in particular, really touched this old editor’s heart. Peter Margasak’s note on why he voted for pedal steel guitar player Susan Alcorn really hit home. Alcorn passed away in January after a wonderful career making some of the most adventurous music ever heard, but she never placed in the polls. Her passing was an opportunity to correct that. We placed her in the Rising Star category for Beyond Instrument because I, frankly, thought she might have a chance to place higher there. When she won, it became a proper honor we wish she could have been here to receive.
It also demonstrates that the critics have big hearts. They also honored Zakir Hussain as Percussionist of the Year one more time after he passed away last December. Hussain, Lou Donaldson and Albert “Tootie” Heath all placed in the Hall of Fame voting after passing away in the past year. Dear friend of this magazine Claire Daly placed fourth in Baritone Saxophonist of the Year after passing last October. Russell Malone placed in Guitarist of the Year after passing away last August. Sadly, others appearing in their last poll include Hall of Fame drummer Roy Haynes, kora artist Toumani Diabaté, vocalist Andy Bey and legendary producer Michael Cuscuna. They will be missed.
But because of the dedication and mentorship of these older generations, a crop of exciting new artists are raising the roof as rising stars: Isaiah Collier, Yazz Ahmed, Natalie Cressman, Ingrid Laubrock, Immanuel Wilkins, Sam Gendel, Sarah Hanahan, Chet Doxas, Ava Mendoza, Brandon Lopez, Sasha Berliner, Jessica Pavone, Ulysses Owens Jr. and more!
One final note: Women instrumentalists are coming on strong! Check out Albums of the Year — Patricia Brennan, Kris Davis (whose Pyroclastic label is killing it), Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson, Amina Claudine Myers, the Tomeka Reid Quartet, the Marta Sánchez Trio, Nicole Mitchell, Melissa Aldana, Jenny Scheinman, Renee Rosnes all grace the category.
It’s still a work in progress, but things are changing. It’s good for all of us. More great new music to dig into!
To view the complete results of the 73rd Annual DownBeat Critics Poll as they appear in our August 2025 issue, CLICK HERE!
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
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