Poll 2022

MUSICIANS OF THE YEAR

  Lifetime achievement: Amina Claudine Myers

Violin: Gwen Laster

Viola: Melanie Dyer

Cello: Lester St. Louis

Harp: Zeena Parkins

Flute: Nicole Mitchell

Clarinet: Ned Rothenberg

Bassoon: Claire de Brunner

Trumpet: Mac Gollehon

French Horn: Vincent Chancey

Trombone: Steve Swell

Tuba: Joe Daley

Soprano saxophone: Sam Newsome

Alto saxophone: Darius Jones

Tenor saxophone: James Brandon Lewis

Baritone saxophone: Claire Daly

Electric guitar: Chris Cochrane

Acoustic guitar: Marco Capelli

Various fretted instrument: Cynthia Sayer (plectrum banjo)

Upright bass: Ken Filiano

Electric bass: Jamaaladeen Tacuma

Piano: Mara Rosenbloom

Drumset: Michael Wimberly

Percussion: Warren Smith

Vibraphone: Patricia Brennan

Multi-instrumentalist: Scott Robinson

Vocals: Fay Victor

Spoken Word: Tracie Morris

DUO: Elliott Sharp and Tracie Morris

SMALL GROUP: Ceramic Dog

LARGE ENSEMBLE: Ed Palermo Big Band

 

New Releases

1)    Sun Ra Arkestra, Living Sky (Omni Sound)

2)    Ches Smith, Interpret It Well (Pyroclastic)

3)    Elliott Sharp and Eric Mingus, Songs From the Rogue State (Zoar)

4)    We Free Strings, Love in the Form of Sacred Outrage (ESP-Disk)

5)    Bi Ba Doom, Graceful Collision (Astral Spirits)

6)    Mac Gollehon, The End is the Beginning (Nefarious Industries)

7)    Heroes Are Gangleaders, LeAutoRoiOgraphy (577)

8)    Gene Pritsker’s Sound Liberation, Let’s Save the World Suite (Composers Concordance)

9)    John Zorn, Meditations on the Tarot (Tzadik)

10)Cint Bahr, Puzzle Box (MoonJune)

Historical albums/Unearthed Gems

1)    No Safety, Spill (Cuneiform)

2)    Cecil Taylor, The Complete, Legendary, Live Return Concert (Oblivion)

3)    Nikki Giovanni, The Way I Feel (Modern Harmonic)
 

Vocal album: Elliott Sharp and Eric Mingus, Songs from the Rogue State (Zoar)

 

Debut album: Bi Ba Doom, Graceful Collision (Astral Spirits)

Live album: No Safety, Live at the Knitting Factory (Cuneiform)

Solo album: Ava Mendoza, New Spells (Relative Pitch)

Large ensemble album: Sun Ra Arkestra, Living Sky (Omni Sound)

Record labels of the year:Cuneiform, 577, Modern Harmonic

Venues of the year: Café Bohemia (Manhattan), 411 Kent (Brooklyn)

The music has experienced an expanse over recent years, particularly with spoken word coming into a newly rediscovered place up front. I feel this advancement, only in part an homage to the Beat Generation, compiles the best of free jazz, post-mod composition and a bold, Left outspokenness.