10 Favorite Albums of 2020 (alphabetical)

Eric Alexander: Eric Alexander With Strings (HighNote)

Don Braden, Joris Teepe: The Spirit of Herbie Hancock (O.A.P. Records)

Joe Farnsworth: Time To Swing (SmokeSessions)

Lafayette Harris, Jr.: You Can't Lose the Blues (Savant)

Eddie Henderson: Shuffle and Deal (SmokeSessions)

Diana Krall: This Dream of You (Verve)

Alex Levin: A Sunday Kind of Love (Alex Levin Music)

Jeremy Pelt: The Art of Intimacy (HighNote)

Eric Reed: Such a Time as This (SmokeSessions)

James Taylor/John Pizzarelli: American Standard (Fantasy)

Big Band:

John Hollenbeck w Kate McGarry, Theo Bleckmann and Gary Versace and the Franfurt Radio Band: Song You Like A Lot, Flexatonic Records

Maria Schneider: Data Lords: Artists Share

Dave Stryker w Bob Mintzer and WDR Big Band : Blue Soul: Strikezone Records

John Beasley's Monk'estra: Monk'estra Plays John Beasley: Mack  Avenue Records

The Ed Palmero Big Band: The Great Un-American Songbook Vol III: Sky Cat Records

Gregg August: Gregg August Dialogues on Race Vol 1: Self Produced

Modern Jazz Smaller Groups:

Jerry Bergonzi: Nearly Blue: Savant Records

Jeff Cosgrove w John Medeski and Jeff Lederer: Histroy Gets Ahead of the Story: Grizzley Music

Wolfgang Musthspiel w Scott Colley and Brian Blade: Angular Blues ECM Records

Gregoire Maret w Romain Collin and Bill Frisell: Americana: ACT Records

Brian Landrus: For Now: Blueland Records

Ricardo Grilli: 1962 : Tone Rogue Records

John Scofield w Bill Stewart and Steve Swallow: Swallow Tales: ECM Records

Aaron Parks Little Big III: Dreams of a Mechanical Man: Ropeadope Records

Dayna Stephens w Ben Street and Eric Harland: Liberty: Contagious Music

Eric Revis: Slipknots Through a Looking Glass; Pyroclastic Records

Chamber Jazz and Jazz  Opera:

Ryan Keberle, Frank Woeste and Vincet Courtois: Reverso The MElodic Line: Outhere Music

Pete Malinverni and Juliet Kurtzman: Candlelight: Love in the Time of Cholera: Self-Produced

John Ellis and Andy Bragen: The Ice Siren: Parade Light Records

Best Debut Jazz Album :

Raphael Pannier Quartet: Faune: French Paradox

Best Vocal Jazz Album:

Somi w John Beasley and the Franfurt Radio Band: Holy Room Live at Alte Opre: 

Best Latin Jazz Album:

Chico Pinheiro: City of Dreams: Buriti Records

Best Historical Jazz Releases:

Thelonious Monk Quartet: Live at Pao Alto : Impulse Records

Bill Evans w Eddie Gomez and Jack Dejohnette: Bill Evans Live at Ronnie Scott's : Resonance Records

Nat King Cole: Nat King Cole Hittin' the Ramp  The Early Years 1936-1945: Resonance Records

Additional worthy music from this year:

Aaron Diehl w Pal Skivie and Gregory Hutchinson: The Vagabond: Mack Avenue Records

Rudresh Mahanthappa: Hero Trio : Whirlwind Records

Chick Corea w Christian McBride and Brian Blade: Trilogy 2: Concord records

Edgar Djangirov: Rhapsodize: Twelev Tone Resonance

Steve Cardenas: Blue Has A Range: Sunnyside records

Amina Figarova Edition 113: Persistence: AmiFi Records

Kenny Barron w Dave Holland and Joanthan Blake: Without Deception: Dare 2 Records

Marvin Stamm and Mike Holober: Live @ Maureen's Jazz Cellar: Big Miles Music

Denny Zeitlin w Buster Williams and Matt Wilson: Denny Zeitlin Live at Mezzrow: Sunnyside Records

Martin Wind, Philip Catherine and Ack Van Rooyen: White Noise: Liaka Records

Rez Abbazi w Neil Alexander and Michael Sarin: Django Shift: Whirlwind Records

Chris Dingman: Embrace: Inner Arts Inniative

Jason  Palmer:The Concert: 12 MUsings for Isabella: Giant Steps Arts

John DiMartino: Passion Flower: The Music of Billy Strayhorn: Sunnyside Records

Than Alexa: Ona: Self-Produced

Sirkis/Bialis IQ: Our New World: Moonjune Records

Dave Douglas: Dizzy Atmsophere: Dizzy at Zero Gravity: Greenleaf Music

Marcin Wasilewski Trio w Joe Lovano: Artic Riff: ECM

Keb'Mo': Oklahoma: Concord records

Craig  Taborn: Junk Magic- Compass Confusion: Pyroclastic records

Jeff Hamilton Trio: Catch Me if You Can: Capri Records

Guiseppe Paradiso Meridian 71: Metropolitan Sketches: Self Produced

Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2020
1. Jyoti- Mama, You Can Bet! (SomeOthaShip Connect)
2. Jennifer Curtis and Tyshawn Sorey- Invisible Ritual (New Focus)
3. Ambrose Akinmusire- On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment (Blue Note)
4. Bill Frisell- Valentine (Blue Note)
5. Kaja Draksler Octet- Out For Stars (Clean Feed)
6. Jeremy Pelt- The Art of Intimacy, Vol. 1 (HighNote)
7. Angelica Sanchez and Marilyn Crispell- How to Turn the Moon (Pyroclastic)
8. Sara Serpa- Recognition (Biophilia)
9. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Hero Trio (Whirlwind)
10. Brad Mehldau- Suite: April 2020 (Nonesuch)

BEST RELEASES OF 2020

Nota bene: All of my choices are in alphabetical order by artist and are to be equally rated within each category. 

BEST 10 NEW RELEASES 

Susan Alcorn Quintet, Pedernal (Relative Pitch)

David Boswell, The Story Behind the Story (My Quiet Moon)

The Claire Daly Band, Rah! Rah! (Ride Symbol)

Chris Hopkins, Chris Hopkins Meets the Jazz Kangaroos, Vol. 1 (Echoes of Swing)

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wayne Shorter and Wynton Marsalis, The Music of Wayne Shorter (Blue Engine)

Okuden Quartet (Mat Walerian/Matthew Shipp/William Parker/Hamid Drake), Every Dog Has His Day But It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter (ESP-Disk)

Benny Rubin Jr. Quartet, Know Say or See (Benny Jr. Music)

Maria Schneider, Data Lords (Artists Share)

Gregory Tardy, If Time Could Stand Still (WJ3)

Charles Tolliver, Connect (Gearbox)

BEST 3  REISSUES/HISTORICAL  

Sonny Rollins, Rollins in Holland, 1967 (Resonance)

Lennie Tristano, The Duo Sessions, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1976,  (Dot Time)

Norma Winstone & John Taylor, In Concert, 1988 (Sunnyside)

BEST VOCAL

Kurt Elling, Secrets Are the Best Stories (Edition)

BEST DEBUT

New Orleans High Society, New Orleans High Society (2020) (1718 Records)

BEST LATIN

Carla Campopiano, Chicago/Buenos Aires Connections Vol. II (CarlaCampopiano.com)

Also see See my “A ROUNDUP OF 140 OR SO JAZZ, BLUES, BEYOND, AND OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO,” at wroyalstokes.com. 

W. Royal Stokes

Amazon.com/W.-Royal-Stokes/e/B001HD17MY

1. Charles Tolliver Connect (Gearbox)
2. Nubya Garcia Source (Concord Jazz)
3. Jeff Parker Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem)
4. Chicago Underground Quartet Good Days (Astral Spirits)
5. Jim Snidero Project K (Savant)
6. Tyshawn Sorey Unfiltered (self-released)
7. Charles McPherson Jazz Dance Suites (Chazz Mack)
8. Ron Miles Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)
9. Lakecia Benjamin Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope)
10. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland Trio Without Deception (Blue Note)

The 10 best new jazz releases of 2020

1.     Tim Ray, Excursions and Adventures (Whaling City Sound)
2.     Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords (ArtistShare)
3.     Artemis, Artemis (Blue Note)
4.     Jeff Rupert and George Garzone, The Ripple (Rupe Media)
5.     Lynne Arriale, Chimes of Freedom (Challenge)
6.     Bernard Purdie, Christian Fabian, Ron Oswanski, Move On! (Consolidated Artists)
7.     3D Jazz Trio, I Love to See You Smile (DIVA Jazz)
8.     Funk Shui NYC, Shark NATO on a Plane (Zoho)
9.     Wayne Alpern, Standard Deviation (Henri Elkan Music)
10.The Michael O’Neill Quartet, And Then It Rained (Jazzmo)

The best historical/reissues of 2020 (includes any recordings made over 10 years ago, whether newly released or reissued):

 2020’s best vocal recordings:

1.     Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band, We’ve Just Begun (Stunt/BFM Jazz)
2.     Kenny Washington, What’s The Hurry (A-Train Entertainment)
3.     Clairdee, A Love Letter to Lena (Declare Music)
4.     Melody Gardot, Sunset in Blue (Decca)
5.     Susan Tobocman, Touch & Go (Soliterra)

2020’s best Latin/Brazilian jazz recordings:

1.     Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra, Puertos: Music From International Waters (Avantango)
2.     Calle Loiza Jazz Project, There Will Never be Another You (self-produced)
3.     John Daversa Quintet, Cuarantena: With Family at Home (Tiger Turn)
4.     Jose Rizo’s Mongorama, Mariposas Cantan (Saungu)
5.     Vanderlei Pereira, Vision for Rhythm (Jazzheads)

 2020’s best debut recording:

Douglas Olsen, 2 Cents (self-produced)

The 10 best new compositions from CDs released in 2020, listed alphabetically:

• Lynne Arriale, “3 Million Steps” from Chimes of Freedom (Challenge)
• Frank Colón, “Spanish Heart” from Latin Lounge (Technoprimal)
• Jenny Davis, “Wise Up” from Rearranged (Three Penny)
• Erik Jekabson, “Dusk” from Erik Jekabson Sextet III, One Note at a Time (Wide Hive)
• Austin McMahon, “Sol” from The Lost Melody, New Songs For Old Souls (Tie)
• Dave Morgan, Noel Cohen, “July Groove/September Funk” from Funk Shui NYC, Shark NATO on a Plane (Zoho)
• Josh Nelson, “Kintsugi” from Josh Nelson Trio, The Discovery Project Live in Japan (Steel Bird)
• Jose Rizo and Francisco Torres, “Descarga Ramon Banda” from Jose Rizo’s Mongarama, Mariposas Cantan (Saungu)
• Renee Rosnes, “Big Top” from Artemis (Blue Note)
• Maria Schneider, “A World Lost” from Data Lords (ArtistShare)

In a year overflowing with mixed blessings, the opportunity to hear more recorded music must rank in my Top Ten--not that I always had the taste or mental energy for doing so. Still, this extraordinary year brought so much extraordinary music to my ears that this alphabetical list is 15 items long. The fact that all releases are by BIPoC and women artists is not an accident.

Ambrose Akinmusire: On the tender spot of every calloused moment (Blue Note)

Camilla Nebbia: Aura (ears & eyes Records)

Code Girl: Artlessly Falling(Firehouse 12)

Dayna Stephens Quartet: Right Now! Live at the Village Vanguard (Contagious Music)

Eric Revis: Slipknots Through A Looking Glass (Pyroclastic Records)

Ingrid Laubrock: Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt (Intakt Records)

Ingrid Laubrock+Kris Davis: Blood Moon (Intakt Records)

Irreversible Entanglements:  Who Sent You? (International Anthem)

Manuel Valera & New Cuban Express Big Band: José Martí En Nueva York (Greenleaf Music)

Maria Schneider Orchestra: Data Lords (ArtistShare)

Matthew Shipp: The Piano Equation (Tao Forms)

Shabaka And The Ancestors : We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse!)

Steph Richards: Supersense (Northern Spy)

Thumbscrew: The Anthony Braxton Project (Cunieform)

Tyshawn Sorey: Unfiltered (self released)

Yes, it's hard to select 10 best of the year. Downloads are not making it easier to organize -- I'm flooded! Great to have so much music at my fingertips, so that's not a complaint. And I may return to this list to add other notable releases, but I can recommend all of these albums -- and urge you to hear the title track of 92-year-old-though-you-wouldn't-know-it bluesman Jimmy Johnson's "Ever Day of Your Life."

Monk'estra plays John Beasley (Mack Avenue), John Beasley

Ism (International Anthem), Junius Paul*

Old New, (Cuneiform), Tomeka Reid Quartet*

Omega (Blue Note), Immanuel Wilkins

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

Night Visitors (SE Records), by Dave Bryant with Charnette Moffett and Gregg Bendian

Every Day of Your Life (Delmark), Jimmy Johnson

Rainbow Sign (Blue Note), Ron Miles

Like the Sun (Dim Mak), Brian Charrett

Cosmicomics (Queen Bee Records), Lisa Mezzacappa

* released in 2019

Also -- Human Rights Trio, Jason Kao Hwang

          Swallow Tales (ECM), John Scofield

Top releases 2020 - in no order

 Sothiac feat Paul Jolly ' Superluna' ( Sotrhiac/33Jazz)

 Ivo Perelman/Gordon Grdina ' The Purity of desire' ( Not Two records)

 The End Allt Ir Intet ( Rare Noise records)

 Will Glaser and James Allsop ' New River Ramble' ( self release)

 Archie The Goldfish 'Hidden Depths' ( Ropeadope)

 Elliot Galvin and Binker Golding 'Ex Nihillo (Byrd Out)

 Ensemble C Small World ( Self Release)

 Dinosaur ' to THe Earth' ( Edition)

 Erodoto Project ' Mythos- Metomorphosis ( Cultural Bridge)

 Tony Kofi - Another Kind Of Soul ( Last Music Company)

 Witch N Monk ' Witch 'N Monk' ( Tzadik )

 David Grubbs/Mats Gustafsson ' The Underflow' (Corbet vs Dempsey)

All of these are worth checking out. So difficult to choose just a few.

Best Interviews I carried out in 2020

Ivo Perelman       Ivo Perelman is Prolific in His Creativity: An Interview with Ivo Perelman ~ The Free Jazz Collective (freejazzblog.org)

Mats Gustafsson  An Interview with Mats Gustafsson ~ The Free Jazz Collective (freejazzblog.org)

Daniel Bennett LOOKING FOR THE BLESSINGS! - Daniel Bennett offers hope during Coronavirus (jazzviews.net) 

These interviews were very revealing