Every year since 1982, Musica Jazz has held a referendum among the most significant Italian jazz experts to establish the best of the best of the year. There are 11 current categories: album of the year, musician of the year, group of the year, new talent, both for Italian and international jazz, in addition to the reissue of the year and the historical unreleased. Finally, the career award, which is directly assigned by the editorial staff.

TOP JAZZ – THE WINNERS OF MUSICA JAZZ POLL

Top Jazz 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of Musica Jazz, Italy’s most authoritative monthly jazz magazine and one of the longest-running ones, a faithful companion to jazz enthusiasts since 1945 and the oldest magazine in the world still available on newsstands after Down Beat.

The results of Top Jazz 2025 will be published in the first 2026 international issue.

Italian Jazz 2023

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Afternoon” (Parco della Musica)
Federica Michisanti Quartet

Second place
“Sketches of the 20th Century” (Parco della Musica)
Franco D’Andrea

Third place
“Invisible Painters” (Jam/UnJam 58)
Ferdinando Romano

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Federica Michisanti

Second place
Ferdinando Romano

Third place
Franco D’Andrea

First place
Federica Michisanti Quartet

Second place
Claudio Fasoli

Third place
Michele Bonifati Emong

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)

First place
Michele Bonifati

Second place
Evita Polidoro
Sade Mangiaracina

Third place
Francesco Cavestri

International Jazz 2023

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Ex Machina” (Pi)
O.N.J. & Steve Lehman

Second place
“The Source” (Artwork)
Kenny Barron

Third place
“Passage” (Blue Note)
Johnathan Blake

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Kenny Barron

First place
John Scofield

Second place
Henry Threadgill

Third place
James Brandon Lewis

First place
Orchestre National de Jazz

Second place
Artemis

Second place
Rymden

Third place
James Brandon Lewis

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Tania Giannouli

Second place
Samara Joy

Third place
Kalia Vandever

Sam Rivers
“The Quest”
(Red Records)

Kenny Wheeler
“Gnu High”
(ECM)

Modern Art Trio
“Modern Art Trio”
(GleAM Records)

John Coltrane
“Blue Train: The Complete Masters”
(Blue Note)

First place
John Coltrane
“Evenings at the Village Gate”
(Impulse!)

Second place
Massimo Urbani
“30”
(Red Records)

Third place
Cedar Walton
“More Blues for Myself”
(Red Records)

Italian Jazz 2022

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“The Song Is You” (ECM)
Enrico Rava/Fred Hersch

Second place
“Musiche di Jonathan di Jonathan Coe” (Musica Jazz)
Jonathan Coe & Artchipel Orchestra

Third place
“Charlie’s Blue Skylight” (Dodicilune)
Roberto Ottaviano & Alexander Hawkins

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Roberto Ottaviano

Second place
Enrico Rava

Third place
Federico Calcagno

First place
Artchipel Orchestra

Second place
Gianluca Petrella
Cosmic Renaissance

Third place
Lydian Sound Orchestra

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)

First place
Mariasole De Pascali

First place
Alessandro Presti

Second place
Rosa Brunello

Second place
Federico Nuti

Third place
Jacopo Fagioli

International Jazz 2022

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Four” (Blue Note)
Bill Frisell Quartet

Second place
“Amaryllis/Belladonna” (Nonesuch)
Mary Halvorson

Third place
“Mesmerism” (Yeros7 Music 43)
Tyshawn Sorey Trio

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Charles Lloyd

Second place
Immanuel Wilkins

Third place
Mary Halvorson

First place
Thumbscrew

Second place
The Bad Plus

Third place
Bill Frisell Quartet

Third place
Christian McBride Inside Straight

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Caleb Wheeler Curtis

Second place
Zoh Amba

Second place
Gregg Belisle-Ch

Third place
Anna Webber

Joe Lovano

Ahmad Jamal
“The Complete Okeh Parrot & Epic Sessions”
(Fresch Sound)

Max Roach
“We Insist! Freedom Now Suite”
(Candid 70)

John Coltrane
“My Favorite Things – Deluxe Edition 60 Years”
(Rhino 61)

Charles Mingus
“The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s”
(Resonance)

Albert Ayler
“Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recording”
(Elemental)

Lennie Tristano
“Personal Recordings 1946/1970”
(Mosaic/Dot Time Records 82)

Italian Jazz 2021

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Next” (Abeat)
Claudio Fasoli

Second place
“Interwined Roots” (Parco della Musica)
NRG Bridges

Second place
“Play the Music of Bill Frisell, Vol. 1” (Hora)
Unscientific Italians

Third place
“Edizione Speciale” (ECM)
Enrico Rava

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Enrico Rava

Second place
Claudio Fasoli

Third place
Enrico Pieranunzi

First place
Unscientific Italians

Second place
Francesca Remigi Archipelagos

Third place
Federico Calcagno & The Dolphians

Third place
Fabrizio Bosso Quartet

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)

First place
Anais Drago

First place
Francesca Remigi

Second place
Nazareno Caputo

Second place
Enrico Morello

Third place
Daniela Spalletta

Third place
Jacopo Ferrazza

International Jazz 2021

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“The News” (ECM)
Andrew Cyrille

Second place
“Code of Being” (Intakt)
James Brandon Lewis

Second place
“Jesup Wagon” (Tao Forms)
James Brandon Lewis

Second place
“Uneasy” (ECM)
Vijay Iyer

Third place
“Poof” (PI)
Henry Threadgill & Zooid

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
James Brandon Lewis

Second place
Craig Taborn

Third place
Alexander Hawkins

First place
Vijay Iyer Trio

Second place
James Brandon Lewis Red Lily Quartet

Third place
Henry Threadgill Zooid

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Nate Smith

Second place
Jihye Lee

Third place
Anna Webber

Third place
Ava Mendoza

Nexus

Sun Ra
“Lanquidity”
(Strut)

Charles Mingus
“Mingus at Carnegie Hall”
(Atlantic/Rhino)

Maria Pia de Vito & Patrice Héral
“Fodder on my Wing”
(MPDV)

John Coltrane
“A Love Supreme Live in Seattle”
(Impulse!)

Lee Morgan
“The Complete Live at the Lighthouse”
(Blue Note)

Bill Evans
“Behind the Dikes”
(Elemental)

Italian Jazz 2020

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Resonance & Rhapsodies” (Dodicilune)
Roberto Ottaviano

Second place
“New Things” (Parco della Musica)
New Things

Third place
“Hide Show Yourself!” (Parco della Musica)
Danilo Gallo

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Enrico Pieranunzi

Second place
Roberto Ottaviano

Third place
Franco D’Andrea

First place
Federica Michisanti Horn Trio

Second place
Roberto Ottaviano Eternal Love

Third place
Enrico Rava Special Edition

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)

First place
Federico Calcagno

Ferdinando Romano

Second place
Francesco Fratini 

Michelangelo Scandroglio

Third place
Mirco Cisilino

International Jazz 2020

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Valentine” (Blue Note)
Bill Frisell

“Data Lords” (Artistshare)
Maria Schneider

Second place
“The Fantastic Mrs. 10” (Intakt)
Tim Berne’s Snakeoil

Third place
“Budapest Concert” (ECM)
Keith Jarrett

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Tim Berne

Second place
Ambrose Akinmusire

Third place
Bill Frisell

First place
Tim Berne’s Snakeoil

Second place
Rymden

Third place
Rob Mazurek’s Exlpoding Star

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Immanuel Wilkins

Second place
Junius Paul

Third place
Kris Davis

Franco d’Andrea

Ellington/ Mingus / Roach
“Money Jungle”
(Resonance)

Art Pepper
“Promise Kept: The Complete Artists House Recording”
(Omnitone)

Nina Simone
“Fodder On My Wing”
(Verve)

Thelonious Monk
“Palo Alto”
(Impulse!)

Ella Fitzgerald
“The Lost Berlin Tapes”
(Verve)

Sonny Rollins
“Rollins in Holland”
(Resonance)

Italian Jazz 2019

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Roma” (ECM)
Enrico Rava / Joe Lovano

Second place
“Wabi Sabi” (Leo)
Enrico Fazio

Third place
“Two Ships In The Night” (Audissea)
Dino Betti Van Der Noot

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Enrico Rava

Second place
Franco D’Andrea

Third place
Marco Colonna

First place
Lydian Sound Orchestra

Second place
Enrico Rava Special Edition

Third place
Tower Jazz Composer Orchestra

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)

First place
Roberto De Nittis

Second place
Jacopo Ferrazza

Third place
Luca Alemanno

International Jazz 2019

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Characters on a Wall” (ECM)
Louis Sclavis

Second place
“The People I Love” (PI)
Steve Lehman

Third place
“Arrival” (Rune Grammofon)
Fire! Orchestra

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Bill Frisell

Second place
Fred Hersch

Third place
Joe Lovano

First place
Art Ensemble Of Chicago

Second place
Fred Hersch Trio

Third place
Miguel Zenon Quartet

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Joel Ross

Second place
Jaimie Branch

Third place
Makaya McCraven

Gary Burton

Eric Dolphy
“Musical Prophet”
(Resonance)

Keith Tippett
“The Unlonely Raindancer”
(Discus)

Mick Goodrick
“In Pas(s)ing”
(ECM)

Bley-Peacock-Motian
“When Will The Blues Leave”
(ECM)

John Coltrane
“Blue World”
(Impulse!)

Luca Flores
“Innocence”
(Auand)

Italian Jazz 2018

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Intervals 1” (Parco della Musica)
Franco D’Andrea

Second place
“Pipe Dream” (Cam Jazz)
Pipe Dream

Third place
“No Eyes” (Warner)
Emanuele Cisi

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Franco D’Andrea

Second place
Fabrizio Bosso

Third place
Emanuele Cisi

First place
Lydian Sound Orchestra

Second place
Double Cut

Third place
Franco D’Andrea Octet

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Federica Michisanti

Second place
Giampiero Locatelli

Third place
Cecilia Sanchietti

International Jazz 2018

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Origami Harvest” (Blue Note)
Ambrose Akinmusire

Second place
“Emanon” (Blue Note)
Wayne Shorter

Third place
“Lebroba” (ECM)
Cyrille / Smith / Frisell

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Wayne Shorter

Second place
Bill Frisell

Third place
Henry Threadgill

First place
Steve Coleman & Five Elements

Second place
Wayne Shorter Quartet

Third place
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
David Virelles

Second place
Julian Lage

Third place
Théo Ceccaldi

Gianluigi Trovesi

Art Ensemble Of Chicago
“And Associated Ensembles”
(ECM)

Claudio Fasoli
“Land / Bodies”
(Playaudio / Azzurra Music)

Duke Ellington
“Meets Coleman Hawkins”
(Poll Winners)

John Coltrane
“Both Directions At Once”
(Impulse!)

Miles Davis & John Coltrane
“The Final Tour”
(Sony Music)

Mike Westbrook
“The Last Night At The Old Place”
(Cadillac)

Italian Jazz 2017

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Sideralis” (Dodicilune)
Roberto Ottaviano

Second place
“Qui sonts les notes d’antan” (Stradivarius)
Dino Betti van der Noot

Third place
“Traditions Today” (Parco Della Musica)
Franco D’Andrea

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Claudio Fasoli

Second place
Franco D’Andrea

Third place
Roberto Ottaviano

First place
Artchipel Orchestra

Second place
Franco D’Andrea Trio
XY Quartet

Third place
Pino Minafra Minafric

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Gabriele Mitelli

Second place
Federica Michisanti

Third place
Jacopo Ferrazza

International Jazz 2017

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Far From Over” (ECM)
Vijay Iyer Sextet

Second place
“Daylight Ghosts” (ECM)
Craig Taborn

Third place
“Morphogenesis” (PI)
Steve Coleman

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Vijay Iyer

Second place
Craig Taborn

Third place
Wadada Leo Smith

First place
Vijay Iyer Sextet

Second place
Tim Berne’s Snakeoil

Third place
Snarky Puppy
Mary Halvorson Octet

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Tyshawn Sorey

Second place
Jazzmeia Horn

Third place
Eve Risser

Gary Burton

Ornette Coleman
“Ornette At 12 / Crisis”
(Real Gone Music)

Dave Holland
“Conference Of the Birds”
(ECM)

Rava, Fasoli, D’Andrea
“Icon”
(Musica Jazz)

Thelonious Monk
“Les Liasons Dangereuses”
(Sam Records / Saga)

Duke Ellington
“A Intimate Piano Session”
(Storyville)

Bill Evans
“Another Time: The Hilversum Concert”
(Resonance)

Italian Jazz 2016

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Ida Lupino” (Parco della Musica)
Guidi / Petrella / Sclavis / Cleaver

Second place
“Trio Music vol.II” (Parco della Musica)
Franco D’Andrea Piano Trio

Third place
“Music for Lonely Souls (Beloved by Nature)” (Almar Records)
Lydian Sound Orchestra

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Franco D’Andrea

Second place
Tino Tracanna

Third place
Luca Aquino

First place
Lydian Sound Orchestra

Second place
Francesco Bearzatti Tinissima Quartet

Third place
Tino Tracanna & Acrobats

(Gian Mario Maletto Award)
First place
Filippo Vignato

Second place
Gabriele Mitelli

Third place
Zoe Pia

International Jazz 2016

(Arrigo Polillo Award)
First place
“Old Locks and Irregular Verbs” (PI)
Henry Threadgill

Second place
“In Movement” (ECM)
Jack  DeJohnette

Third place
“Into The Silence” (ECM)
Avishai Cohen

(Pino Candini Award)
First place
Henry Threadgill

Second place
Vijay Iyer

Third place
Wadada Leo Smith

First place
The Bad Plus

Second place
Henry Threadgill Enseble Double Up

Third place
Fire! Orchestra

(premio Gian Mario Maletto)
First place
Mette Henriette
Jonathan Finlayson

Second place
Mette Rasmussen

Third place
James Brandon Lewis

Lee Konitz

    Albert Ayler Quartet
   “European Radio Studio Recordings 1964”
(Hatology)

   John Coltrane
  “A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters”
(Impulse!)

Peter Erskine Trio
“At It Was”
(ECM)

Bill Evans
“Some Other Time: The lost Session from the Black Forest”
(Resonance Records)

Miles Davis Quintet
         “Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series Vol.5”
(Columbia Legacy)

Charlie Parker
“Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes”
(Verve)