Berklee Artists Who Made 2020s Best Music Despite hitting the music industry hard with the pandemic, 2020 couldnt stop great music. Listen to some of the years best music created by Berklee artists, producers, and songwriters.
By
Bryan Parys
January 19, 2021
There are few things left to say about 2020 that havent been said over and over. Most of us never want to hear the word unprecedented ever again, for example, even if the word continues to accurately describe the events of a turbulent year, punctuated as it was by a global pandemic, social injustice, and political turmoil. Which is why its that much more impressive to note while the world was on pause, music continued to play. People turned to music not just as a reprieve from doomscrolling, but as a way to unite, to redefine, to protest, and to heal.
As in previous years, Berklee alumni were behind much of the music that made end-of-year lists by top-tier media outlets. From pop to jazz, Latin music to indie, listen to a sampling of some of the years best music created by Berklee artists, producers, and songwriters. Scroll further to read more about who was involved.
Credits Ingrid Andress 13
Associated Press: Top Albums of 2020, no. 3, Lady Like
Billboard: Best Country Albums, no. 9, Lady Like
Gustavo Borner 89
Billboard: Best 25 Latin Albums of 2020, La Conquista del Espacio (Fito P ez), album producer, recording engineer, and mixer
Stephen Bray 78
Billboard: 100 Best Songs of 2020, no. 38, Black Parade (Beyonc ), songwriter
Bill Frisell 77
Downbeat: The Year's Top-Rated Albums (5.0 stars), Valentine
Keith Jarrett 67
The New York Times: Best Jazz Albums, no. 7, Budapest Concert
Gabriela Jimeno B.M. 13 (Ela Minus)
Pitchfork: Best Songs, no. 100, dominique
Paste: Best Albums, no. 31, acts of rebellion
Enrique Larreal 04
Billboard: Best 25 Latin Albums of 2020, Pausa (Ricky Martin), album recording engineer,
Adrianne Lenker B.M. 12
The New Yorker: Best Music of 2020, no. 2, songs and instrumentals
NPR: Best Songs, no. 6, anything
NPR: Best Albums, no. 29, songs
Pitchfork: Best Songs, no. 19, anything
Pitchfork: Best Albums, no. 11, songs and instrumentals
Paste: Best Albums, no. 9, songs
Vulture: Best Albums, no. 2, songs and instrumentals
Rudresh Mahanthappa B.M. 92
Boston Globe: Top Jazz Albums of 2020, Hero Trio
Natalie Maines 95 (The Chicks)
NPR: Best Songs, no. 26, Gaslighter
Pitchfork: Best Songs, no. 60, Gaslighter
Consequence of Sound: Best Albums, no. 38, Gaslighter
Rolling Stone: Best Songs, no. 10, Gaslighter
Billboard: 100 Best Songs, no. 19, Gaslighter
Billboard: Best Country Albums, no. 7, Gaslighter
Michelle Mancini 08
Billboard: Best 25 Latin Albums of 2020, Cumbiana (Carlos Vives), album mastering engineer
Justin Moshkevich 07
Billboard: Best 25 Latin Albums of 2020, La Conquista del Espacio (Fito P ez), album mastering engineer
Rapha l Pannier B.M. 13
NPR: Best Debut Album (Jazz Critic Poll), no. 3, Faune
Slate: Best Jazz Albums, no. 9, Faune
Jeff Parker 90
NPR: Best Songs, no. 53, Go Away
Brooklyn Vegan: 15 Great Jazz Albums of 2020, Suite for Max Brown
The New York Times: Best Jazz Albums, no. 5, Dimensional Stardust (Exploding Star Orchestra), guitar on The Careening Prism Within
Xenia Rubinos B.M. 06
NPR: Best Songs, no. 48, I Fell in Love Helado Negro, featuring Xenia Rubinos
Pitchfork: Best Songs, no. 74, I Fell in Love Helado Negro, featuring Xenia Rubinos
Tiwa Savage 07
Associated Press: Top Albums of 2020, no. 7, Celia
Time: Albums of the Year, no. 10, Celia
NPR: Best Songs, no. 95, Dangerous Love DJ Tunez & D3an Remix
John Scofield 73
Boston Globe: Top Jazz Albums of 2020, Swallow Tales
The Guardian: Best Jazz Albums, no. 4, Swallow Tales
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah B.M. 04
Stereogum: Best Jazz Albums, no. 9, Axiom
Downbeat: The Year's Top-Rated Albums, Axiom
Spin: Best Songs, no. 30, Guinnevere
Brooklyn Vegan: 15 Great Jazz Albums of 2020, Axiom
Sarah Tudzin B.M. 14 (Illuminati Hotties)
Stereogum: Best Albums, no. 45, FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One Youve Been Waiting For
Paste: Best Rock Albums, FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One Youve Been Waiting For
Miguel Zen n B.M. 98
Downbeat: The Year's Top-Rated Albums (5.0 stars), Cristal (Guillermo Klein y Los Guachos), alto saxophone
NPR: Best Debut Album (Jazz Critic Poll), no. 3, Faune (Rapha l Pannier Quartet), alto saxophone
Slate: Best Jazz Albums, no. 9, Faune (Rapha l Pannier Quartet), alto saxophone
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Berklee Artists Who Made 2020s Best Music Despite hitting the music industry hard with the pandemic, 2020 couldnt stop great music. Listen to some of the years best music created by Berklee artists, producers, and songwriters.
