January 2017
 **Cover: Dizzy, Ella, Buddy & Monk
 The Year that Changed the Course of Jazz History 
 By John McDonough, Ted Panken, James Hale 
 The year 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the first jazz recording. It also marks the centennial of an amazing group of jazz legends: pianist Thelonious Monk, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, vocalist Ella Fitzgerald and drummer Buddy Rich. 
 **Best Albums of 2016
 The Year in Album Reviews 
 By DownBeat 
 DownBeat presents a recap of the 5-, 4½- and 4-star album reviews from the past year. We also include one page devoted to descriptions of the 5-star masterpieces of 2016, including albums by Lucian Ban, Carla Bley, Bill Charlap, Eli Degibri, David Krakauer and Matt Wilson.
 Blindfold Test
 **Christian McBride was tested for the “Blindfold Test.”
 •    Dave Holland/Kenny Barron : “Segment” from The Art Of Conversation (Impulse!) 
 •    Ron Carter: “Blues Farm” from Blues Farm (Sony) 
 •    Stanley Clarke: “"Come On"” from The Toys Of Men (Heads Up) 
 •    Victor Wooten: “Medley” from A Show Of Hands (Vix Records) 
 •    Wadada Leo Smith & John Lindberg: “Feathers And Earth, Pt. II” from Celestial Weather (TUM) 
 •    Thundercat: “Oh Sheit, It's X” from Apocalypse (Brainfeeder) 
 •    Derrick Hodge: “Don Blue” from The Second (Blue Note)