For this annual companion poll to our Top 50 Critics’ Picks, our regular contributors participated in this survey based on our yearly Readers’ Poll. Winners are bolded; runners-up are listed below in order of votes. Contributors were asked to focus on artists’ achievements during 2020 rather than assessing entire careers. An asterisk * denotes a tie.
BEST OF ALL
Artist of the Year
Maria Schneider
Terri Lyne Carrington
Shabaka Hutchings
Rudresh Mahanthappa
New Artist
Immanuel Wilkins
Artemis
Micah Thomas
Ted Poor
BEST GROUPS
Acoustic Small Group/Artist
JD Allen
Jason Moran & the Bandwagon
Fred Hersch Trio
Ambrose Akinmusire*
Charles Lloyd*
Electric/Jazz-Rock/Contemporary Group/Artist
Bill Frisell
John Scofield
Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl*
Charles Lloyd & the Marvels*
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Big Band/Large Ensemble
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Christian McBride Big Band
Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band
Sun Ra Arkestra*
Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra*
