American jazz magazine
DownBeat (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz , blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago , Illinois . It is named after the "downbeat " in music, also called "beat one", or the first beat of a musical measure.
DownBeat publishes results of annual surveys of both its readers and critics in a variety of categories. The DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame includes winners from both the readers' and critics' poll. The results of the readers' poll are published in the December issue, those of the critics' poll in the August issue. Since 2008, the Hall of Fame also includes winners from the Veterans Committee.
Popular features of DownBeat magazine include its "Reviews" section where jazz critics, using a '1-Star to 5-Star' maximum rating system, rate the latest musical recordings, vintage recordings, and books; articles on individual musicians and music forms; and its famous "Blindfold Test" column, in which a musician listens to records by other artists, tries to guess who they are, and rates them using the 5-star maximum rating system.
History
DownBeat was established in 1934 in Chicago , Illinois.[ 2] In September 1939, the magazine announced that its circulation had increased from "a few hundred five years ago to more than 80,000 copies a month", and that it would change from monthly to fortnightly from the following month.[ 3] In Summer 1960 DownBeat launched the Japanese edition.[ 4] In 1972 the publisher of the magazine was Maher Publishers.[ 5] Starting in July 1979, DownBeat went to a monthly schedule for the first time since 1939.
DownBeat was named Jazz Publication of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 by the Jazz Journalists Association .[ 6]
DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame
The DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame's current membership, by year, is listed in the following table. The Readers' Poll began in 1952, the Critics' Poll in 1961, and the Veterans Committee Poll in 2008.[ 7]
Year
Readers Poll
Critics Poll
Veterans Committee Poll
1952
Louis Armstrong [ 8]
1953
Glenn Miller [ 9]
1954
Stan Kenton [ 10]
1955
Charlie Parker [ 11]
1956
Duke Ellington [ 12]
1957
Benny Goodman [ 13]
1958
Count Basie [ 14]
1959
Lester Young [ 15]
1960
Dizzy Gillespie [ 16]
1961
Billie Holiday [ 17]
Coleman Hawkins [ 18]
1962
Miles Davis [ 19]
Bix Beiderbecke [ 20]
1963
Thelonious Monk [ 21]
Jelly Roll Morton [ 22]
1964
Eric Dolphy [ 23]
Art Tatum [ 24]
1965
John Coltrane [ 25]
Earl Hines [ 26]
1966
Bud Powell [ 27]
Charlie Christian [ 28]
1967
Billy Strayhorn [ 29]
Bessie Smith [ 30]
1968
Wes Montgomery [ 31]
Sidney Bechet & Fats Waller [ 32]
1969
Ornette Coleman [ 33]
Pee Wee Russell & Jack Teagarden [ 34]
1970
Jimi Hendrix [ 35]
Johnny Hodges [ 36]
1971
Charles Mingus [ 37]
Roy Eldridge & Django Reinhardt [ 38]
1972
Gene Krupa [ 39]
Clifford Brown [ 40]
1973
Sonny Rollins [ 41]
Fletcher Henderson [ 42]
1974
Buddy Rich [ 43]
Ben Webster [ 44]
1975
Cannonball Adderley [ 45]
Cecil Taylor [ 46]
1976
Woody Herman
King Oliver [ 47]
1977
Paul Desmond
Benny Carter [ 48]
1978
Joe Venuti
Rahsaan Roland Kirk [ 49]
1979
Ella Fitzgerald
Lennie Tristano [ 50]
1980
Dexter Gordon
Max Roach [ 51]
1981
Art Blakey
Bill Evans [ 52]
1982
Art Pepper
Fats Navarro [ 53]
1983
Stéphane Grappelli
Albert Ayler [ 54]
1984
Oscar Peterson [ 55]
Sun Ra [ 56]
1985
Sarah Vaughan
Zoot Sims [ 57]
1986
Stan Getz
Gil Evans [ 58]
1987
Lionel Hampton
Johnny Dodds , Thad Jones , Teddy Wilson [ 59]
1988
Jaco Pastorius
Kenny Clarke [ 60]
1989
Woody Shaw
Chet Baker [ 61]
1990
Red Rodney
Mary Lou Williams [ 62]
1991
Lee Morgan
John Carter [ 63]
1992
Maynard Ferguson
James P. Johnson [ 64]
1993
Gerry Mulligan
Ed Blackwell [ 65]
1994
Dave Brubeck
Frank Zappa [ 66]
1995
J. J. Johnson
Julius Hemphill [ 67]
1996
Horace Silver
Artie Shaw [ 68]
1997
Nat King Cole
Tony Williams [ 69]
1998
Frank Sinatra
Elvin Jones [ 70]
1999
Milt Jackson [ 71]
Betty Carter [ 72]
2000
Clark Terry
Lester Bowie [ 73]
2001
Joe Henderson
Milt Hinton [ 74]
2002
Antonio Carlos Jobim
John Lewis [ 75]
2003
Ray Brown
Wayne Shorter [ 76]
2004
McCoy Tyner
Roy Haynes
2005
Herbie Hancock
Steve Lacy
2006
Jimmy Smith
Jackie McLean [ 77]
2007
Michael Brecker
Andrew Hill [ 78]
2008
Keith Jarrett [ 79]
Joe Zawinul
Jo Jones , Jimmie Lunceford , Erroll Garner , Harry Carney , Jimmy Blanton
2009
Freddie Hubbard
Hank Jones
Oscar Pettiford , Tadd Dameron
2010
Muhal Richard Abrams
Chick Corea
Baby Dodds , Chick Webb , Philly Joe Jones , Billy Eckstine
2011
Ahmad Jamal
Abbey Lincoln
Paul Chambers
2012
Ron Carter
Paul Motian
Gene Ammons , Sonny Stitt
2013
Pat Metheny
Charlie Haden
Robert Johnson
2014
B.B. King
Jim Hall
Bing Crosby , Dinah Washington
2015
Tony Bennett
Lee Konitz
Muddy Waters
2016
Phil Woods
Randy Weston
Hoagy Carmichael
2017
Wynton Marsalis [ 80]
Don Cherry
Eubie Blake , George Gershwin , Herbie Nichols
2018
Ray Charles
Benny Golson [ 81]
Marian McPartland
2019
Hank Mobley
Nina Simone
Scott LaFaro , Joe Williams
2020
George Benson
Jimmy Heath
Mildred Bailey , Carmen McRae
2021
Roy Hargrove [ 82]
Carla Bley [ 83]
Booker Little , Yusef Lateef
2022
Kenny Barron [ 84]
Geri Allen [ 85]
2023
Pharoah Sanders [ 86]
Alice Coltrane [ 87]
Red Norvo , Mario Bauza
2024
John McLaughlin [ 88]
Charles Lloyd [ 89]
Awards
Album of the Year
Critics' Poll
Lifetime Achievement Award
See also
References
^ Ron Welburn (Autumn 1987). "Jazz Magazines of the 1930s: An Overview of Their Provocative Journalism". American Music . 5 (3): 255–270. doi :10.2307/3051735 . JSTOR 3051735 .
^ Edward Komara (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues . Psychology Press. p. 756. ISBN 978-0-415-92699-7 . Retrieved July 7, 2016 .
^ "A New Down Beat". DownBeat . Vol. 6, no. 9. September 1939. p. 12.
^ "Shinu, Shinu, Shinu" . Time . September 12, 1960. Retrieved July 1, 2020 .
^ Lucile Perryman (1972). "Guide to Children's Magazines, Newspapers, Reference Books" (PDF) . Washington DC: Association for Childhood Education International . p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021 .
^ "Wadada Leo Smith Among Winners of 2017 JJA Awards" . DownBeat . May 16, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ "DownBeat Archives" . DownBeat . Retrieved April 8, 2017 .
^ "1952 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1953 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1954 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1955 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1956 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1957 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1958 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1959 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1960 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1961 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1961 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1962 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1962 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1963 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1963 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1964 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1964 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1965 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1965 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1966 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1966 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1967 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1967 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1968 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1968 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1969 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1969 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1970 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1970 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1971 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1971 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1972 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1972 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1973 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1973 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1974 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1974 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1975 Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2008 .
^ "1975 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1976 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1977 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1978 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1979 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1980 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1981 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1982 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1983 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "Oscar Peterson Dies at Age 82" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008 .
^ "1984 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1985 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1986 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1987 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1988 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1989 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1990 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1991 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1992 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1993 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1994 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1995 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1996 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1997 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1998 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "BMI Scores in Year End Jazz Polls" . bmi.com. December 1999. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "1999 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "2000 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "2001 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "2002 Down Beat Critics Poll" . downbeat.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "BMI Dominates Downbeat Critics Poll" . bmi.com. June 26, 2003. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "BMI Jazz Greats Sweep 'Downbeat' Critics Poll" . bmi.com. November 11, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "BMI Jazz Giants Score in Down Beat 2007 Critics Poll" . bmi.com. July 27, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "BMI Jazz Composers Top 'Downbeat' Readers Poll" . bmi.com. November 11, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2008 .
^ "Marsalis, Krall, Corea Among DownBeat Readers Poll Winners" . wyntonmarsalis.org . Retrieved November 16, 2017 .
^ Panken, Ted (August 2018). "Benny Golson". DownBeat .
^ "Down Beat Readers Poll" . downbeat.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021 .
^ "Down Beat Critics Poll" . July 13, 2021.
^ "DownBeat December 2022 Readers Poll" . archive.maherpublications.com . Retrieved March 2, 2023 .
^ "DownBeat August 2022 Critics Poll Results" . archive.maherpublications.com . Retrieved March 2, 2023 .
^ "DownBeat 2023 Readers poll" . November 22, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "Alice Coltrane Hall of Fame" . downbeat.com . July 27, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024 .
^ "John McLaughlin-Hall of Fame" . DownBeat. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024 .
^ "Charles Lloyd sweeps 72nd annual DownBeat Critics Poll" . DownBeat .
^ a b "In Memoriam: Producer George Avakian" . DownBeat . December 4, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ Heckman, Don (September 23, 1994). "Leonard Feather; Jazz Critic, Composer" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ "Baker Wins Downbeat's 1987 Lifetime Award". The Indianapolis Star . Indianapolis, Indiana. July 25, 1987. p. 12.
^ Pincus, Andrew L. (2002). Musicians with a Mission: Keeping the Classical Tradition Alive . UPNE. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-1-55553-516-2 . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ Panken, Ted. "The Right Groove - "DownBeat" Lifetime Achievement Award" . Open Music Library . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ Ricci, Michael (April 4, 2010). "Manfred Eicher Wins Downbeat Lifetime Achievement Award" . All About Jazz . Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
External links