Here are my top eleven for 2020. I also list another 14 albums that greatly impressed me- along with comments on these 11- over at PostGenre.

New Releases

1. Jennifer Curtis & Tyshawn Sorey, Invisible Ritual (Tundra/New Focus)

2. Alabaster Deplume, To Cy & Lee: The Instrumentals Vol. 1 (International Anthem) [Much of this album was previously released, so often doesn't count on new releases lists]

3. Kahil El'Zabar, Kahil El'Zabar's Spirit Groove ft. David Murray (Spiritmuse)

4. Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)

5. Josh Johnson, Freedom Exercise (Northern Spy)

6. Carla Bley - Andy Sheppard - Steve Swallow, Life Goes On (ECM)

7. Charles Lloyd, 8: Kindred Spirits (Live from the Lobero) (Blue Note)

8. Angelica Sanchez & Marilyn Crispell, How to Turn the Moon (Pyroclastic)

9. Susan Alcorn Quintet, Pedernal (Relative Pitch)

10. George Burton, Reciprocity (self-released)

11. Lionel Loueke, HH (Edition)

Historical

1. Dudu Pukwana, Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears" (Matsuli Music)

2. The Heshoo Beshoo Group, Armitage Road (We are Busy Bodies)

3. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Just Coolin' (Blue Note)

4. Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins in Holland (Resonance)

5. Thelonious Monk, Palo Alto (Impulse!)


Vocal

Norah Jones, Pick Me Up Off the Floor (Blue Note)


Debut

Josh Johnson, Freedom Exercise (Northern Spy)

Latin

Aruan Ortiz with Andrew Cyrille and Mauricio Herrera, Inside Rhythmic Falls (Intakt)