Commentary
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.
What have Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy got in common? Besides the office they hold, not much. Certainly not an appreciation for the arts: Trump is to the field what McDonald’s is to fine dining.
Our demanding critics choose the best films (along with some disappointments) of the year. And there is plenty of disagreement.
The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll: Latin Jazz Albums
While the intent of this category was to prod critics into exploring Latin Jazz, it has been dominated by a small number of artists.
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