In the current issue of The Village Voice, critic Francis Davis assesses venerable jazz survivors. Here’s his lead:
The votes are in: Monk and Coltrane at Carnegie Hall in 1957, my choice as the best jazz CD released in 2005, is the winner in JazzTimes‘ critics’ poll, scoring 165 points to 87 for Dizzy and Bird at Town Hall in 1945—my runner-up as well. Number three with 73 points is Coltrane at the Half Note in ’65, followed by the highest-ranking living performers: Sonny Rollins (40 points) and Wayne Shorter (34), both septuagenarians.
Who could’ve imagined that finally becoming part of a critical consensus would leave me feeling so blue?
And for good reason. To read Davis’s Voice piece, go here.