Episode 202: 70th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll

Discovering Jazz

Playing a few selected recordings of artists who were highly rated on the latest Downbeat Critics poll. It starts with three tracks from the latest entry into the Jazz Hall of Fame. It finishes with the ‘best historical album’.

Between you’ll hear someone who is both #1 jazz and #1 non-jazz artist (Quantum physics or a parallel universe maybe?).

Then there’s the winner of the Jazz Album of the Year category.

And a Canadian jazz pianist who ‘graduated’ from the rising star list. She is now #1 on the rankings for jazz pianist of the year.

Then there’s the Rising Star Large Ensemble Category won by Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band.

The group Artemis, as well as being highly rated in the Jazz Group category also features women who are rated high in other categories—such as tenor saxophone, trumpet, piano, and clarinet.

And speaking of clarinet….there’s that jazz clarinetist who ranks way above the others.

Some great music, as usual, in this episode.