Despite the rough year that 2020 has been for us all, we are eternally grateful for the artists, musicians, and labels that kept us inspired, and hopeful. We want to celebrate their contributions! We asked our listeners and presenters to nominate their favourite Singles, Compilations, Re-Issues, and Albums of 2020. We compiled that list, and shared them for the vote. Democracy has spoken. There’s been no fraud. Below are the winners, and the full list. Thank you to all that voted! Thank you for supporting #NewMusic!
Best Album of 2020
Smoove & Turrell – Stratos Bleu Jalapeno Records Bandcamp
Best Compilation of 2020
Blue Note Re:imagined Blue Note Records Blue Note Records Store
Best Re-Issues of 2020
Gang Starr – Jazz Thing Mr Bongo Records Mr Bongo Records Store
Prince – Sign Of The Times (Deluxe Edition) Warner Bros. Prince Store
Best Single of 2020
Smoove & Turrell – Do It Jalapeno Records Bandcamp
Full List of 2020
Best Albums of 2020
Bahama Soul Club – Bohemia After Dawn
Dr Rubberfunk – My Life At 45
Ephemerals – Third Eye
Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death
Franc Moody – Dream in Colour
FSQ – Reprise Tonight
Joel Sarakula – Companionship
Karate Boogaloo – Carn The Boogers
Kassa Overall – I Think I’m Good
Khruangbin – Mordechai
Liam Bailey – Ekundayo
Malcom Strachan – About Time
Monophonics – It’s Only Us
Moses Boyd – Dark Matter
Mr President – One Night
Nubya Garcia – Source
Open Mike Eagle – Anime, Trauma and Divorce
Paul Weller – On Sunset
Potatohead People – Mellow Fantasy
Reuben Vaun Smith – Warm Nights
Run the Jewels – Run The Jewels 4
Salaam Remi – Black On Purpose
Sault – Untitled (Rise)
Smoove & Turrell – Stratos Bleu
Spitfires – Life Worth Living
Stone Foundation – Is Love Enough
STR4TA – Aspects
Surprise Chef – Daylight Savings
Sven Wunder – Wabi Sabi
The Far East – New York Is For Lovers
The Strokes – The New Abnormal
Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music
Best Compilations of 2020
Balearic Headspace Volume 5
Black Fire: Soul Love Now – The Black Fire Records Story 1975-1993
Blue Note Re:imagined
Claremont Editions Vol 2
Clive ‘Azul’ Hunt Presents: Bad Bad Bad
For The Love Of You
Isolation Therapy
Jazz Is Dead 001 – Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Jazz Is Dead 002 – Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Jazz Is Dead 003 – Marcos Valle, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge
Jazz Is Dead 004 – Azymuth, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge
Jazz Is Dead 005 – Doug Carn, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge
Jazz Is Dead 006 – Gary Bartz, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge
Jazz On The Corner Two
Mr. Bongo Record Club Volume 4
Prince Fatty presents Shniece in a Disco Deception
Pura Vida Sounds 12’’ Series
Retour Au Club Meduse Compiled by Charles Bals
Take It To Church Volume 3
The Silhouettes Project
This Is Fame 1964-1968
Best Re-Issues of 2020
52nd Street – Look Into My Eyes
A Certain Ratio – Sextet
Ambiance – Into A New Journey
Augustus Pablo – One Step Dub
Billy Brooks – Windows of the Mind
Brenda Jones – Superstroke / Big Mistake
Dee Dee Bridgewater – Afro Blue
East Coast Love Affair – Don’t Be Afraid
Gangstarr – Jazz Thing
Gene Chandler – There Was a Time
Gratien Midonet - A Cosmic Poet From Martinique 1979-1989
JR Bailey – Just Me N’ You
Kid Creole and the Coconuts – Off The Coast of Me (40th Anniversary Edition)
Lamont Butler – It’s Time For A Change
Leo’s Sunshipp – We Need Each Other
Michael Wilson – Groove It To Your Body
Prince – Sign Of The Times (Deluxe Edition)
Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul
Souls of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity
Teebs – Ardour
Tim Maia – World Psychedelic Classics 4
Best Singles of 2020
Aaron Frazer – If I Got It (Your Love Brought It)
Aaron Frazer – Over You
Alanas Chosnau & Mark Reeder – Children of Nature
Anderson.Paak – Cut Em In (Feat. Rick Ross)
Arlo Parks – Black Dog
ben & dylan – Hanging Waters
Biig Piig – Feels Right
Clive From Accounts – Bisou
Computer Data – Verlust
Confidence Man – Does It Make You Feel Good (Greg and Che Wilson Remix)
Creole Brothers – Mama Ode
Diplomats Of Soul – I’m Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
DJ Spinna – Pleasure Principle Refreaked
Drama – Good For Nothing
Emma Jean-Thackray – Movementt
Emma Noble – No Turning Back
Emma Noble – Woman of the World
Franc Moody – Skin On Skin
FSQ – Vibe Out Now
Glitterbox – Love Saves The Day (Danny Krivit Edit)
Harlem Gospel Travellers – Fight On
Horse Meat Disco – Message To The People (Feat. Amy Douglas)
Isaac B – All About Me
IzMpande – Motivation Music
Jason Joshua – Language of Love
Jay Nemor & Electrified – Sitting On Top Of The World
Jeannette Ndiaye – Makom Ma Bobe
Jessie Ware – Spotlight
Johnny Quinones – Maybe Its Time
Jonny Go Figure – Unemployment
Jordan Rakei – Wind Parade
Jorja Smith – Rose Rouge
Junior Brielle – DBSR
Khruangbin – Time (You and I)
King Bee (Feat. Jay Nemor) – Life Goes On…
Kite – Hand Out The Drugs
Koffee feat. Buju Banton – Pressure
KOKOROKO – Baba Ayoola
L’Imperatrice – Voodoo
Laurence Guy – Your Good Times Will Come
Lex Amor – Seven Days (Prod. Rei Sky)
Liam Bailey – Cold And Clear
Longhair – The Forbidden Dance
Mexican Institute of Sound – My America Is Not Your America
Monophonics – Chances
Nick Corbin – Sunshine In (Smoove Edit)
Quantic – Theme from Selva
Raf Rundell – Monsterpiece
Renaldo Domino – No Laggin And Draggin
Rheinzand – Obey
Roisin Murphy – Murphy’s Law
Ruby Rushton – Sun Khosi
Run The Jewels – Ooh LA LA
Salaam Remi featuring D-Nice & Teedra Moses – Black Moses
Sault – Wildfires
Smoove & Turrell – Do It
Sol Power All-Stars – Va Se Da
Stone Foundation – Deeper Love
STR4TA – Aspects
Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
The Allergies – Let Them Know (feat. The Cuban Brothers)
The Good Ones – Soccer (Summer 1988)
The Joubert Singers – Stand On The Word (Mr K Edit)
The Organauts – I Feel Love
The Teskey Brothers – So Caught Up (RJD2 Mix)
Thundercat – Black Qualls (featuring Steve Lacy & Steve Arrington)
Tim Burgess – Empathy For The Devil
Tony Orlando - Don’t Let Go
Waajeed – That Ain’t Right
Willie Dade – I Can’t Speak
Working Men’s Club – Valleys
Yazmin Lacey – Morning Matters
Zero For Marta – One True Lover
