“Best of Jazz 2019” posts by JJA members are now being published at http://members.jazzjournalists.org/2019BestofJazz (the link is also in the right-hand column here at JJANews).
New updates: Mirian Arbalejo, Laurence Donohue-Greene, Dana Elise, C. Andrew Hovan, John Chacona and W. Royal Stokes have posted their year-end lists along with those of J Hunter, Dan Bilawsky and Rick Mitchel, Jeffrey Siegel, Sammy Stein, Michael J. West, David Adler, Steve Feeney, Marcela Breton, Philip Booth, John Pietaro, John Szwed, Ralph A. Miriello, Ken Franckling, James Hale and Howard Mandel — three pages of listings! The preferred works continue to proliferate, revealing both agreements and differences among the critics. The range of artists cited continues to expand. There’s been a lot excellent jazz in 2019! These personal posts are a great way to find out what you might have missed, or was more highly regarded than you realized.
All currently active professional, student and associate members are invited to opine in any manner they choose (however many recordings, graded or not; notes on live performances; essays; snark) about the highlights — and lowlights? — of music in the past year.
Everyone’s ballot stands as an individual post, so you can promote your entry via social media and email or your own website using a personal URL as a link. Don’t be shy — let everyone know what’s worth hearing. These best-of posts are also a good resource when time comes to make nominations for the upcoming 2020 JJA Jazz Awards.
