'''Down Beat''' is an
American magazine devoted to
jazz. The publication was established in
1935 in
Chicago,
Illinois. It is named after the "
downbeat" in
music also called the "one beat".
''Down Beat'' publishes results of annual surveys of both its readers and critics in a variety of categories. The '''Down Beat'' 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.
A well-known feature of ''Down Beat'' is its "Blindfold Test" column, in a which a musician listens to records from other artists and tries to guess who they are. Musicians that get 50% right do better than average.
''Down Beat'' Jazz Hall of Fame
The ''Down Beat'' Jazz Hall of Fame is maintained at
Universal Studios' City Jazz club in
Orlando,
Florida. Current membership, by year, is listed in the following table. The critics poll was not initiated until
1961, so there are only readers poll winners before then. Although they have many members in common, the ''Down Beat'' Jazz Hall of Fame is separate and distinct from the
Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
''Down Beat'' Jazz Album of the Year
An essential contribution of the critics and readers polls are the selections for "Jazz Album of the Year", listing the dozen or so most popular records.
'2006' critics poll:
(1)
Andrew Hill: Time Lines (Blue Note)
(2)
Wayne Shorter Quartet: Beyond The Sound Barrier (Verve)
(3)
Sonny Rollins: Without A Song (The 9/11 Concert) (Milestone)
'2007' critics poll:
(1)
Ornette Coleman: Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar)
(2)
Trio Beyond: Saudades (ECM)
(3)
Sonny Rollins: Sonny, Please (Doxy)
External links
★
''Down Beat'' website
★
"About ''Down Beat'': A History As Rich As Jazz"