Incredibly inspiring to see all the lists of people’s favorite jazz records made between 1973 and 1990. There’s an excellent wrap up at Ethan Iverson’s site. He’s collected many different lists and provided links to others who have done the same. It’s a testament to how strong the era was, and how many overlooked gems were created.

Maybe this is the only way this history can be told. Many have commented on the lack of critical consensus from this point forward, and perhaps critics aren’t the ones who can tell this story. Whether that’s true or not these lists are an important start to understanding the period.

I talked to Ethan the other day and we agreed on how powerful this would be as a permanent, listener-created archive. Any takers? If you have the time and inclination to work on this “great decade project” please write to either of us.