Commentary
Since 2014, the category has been dominated by previously unreleased music, mostly live shots.
While the intent of this category was to prod critics into exploring Latin Jazz, it has been dominated by a small number of artists.
It takes a peculiar combination of talent and luck to win this category. By luck, I mean getting your one-and-only shot at a debut album enough promotion to be recognized.
By far, the hardest part of this job is rounding up voters.
In recent years, the category has been dominated by Cécile McLorin Salvant, who won handily again this year, her seventh time, one for each of her albums.
A selection of my top newsletter columns for 2026.
Viewing John Singer Sargent and his art through the lens of identity studies and LGBTQ history supplies new insights into claims about his homosexuality.
“Unfinished” supplies a thoughtful analysis of the relationship between music, musicians, and AI.
Sometimes the stranger is someone who is very well known to us, like a father whose strange ways include a devotion to a certain story about a childhood in Wales.
The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll: New Jazz Albums
This was one of the closest New Jazz Albums contests ever.
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