Its interesting how jazz tastes seem to be dividing into micro-climates that don't always overlap. One one hand there are those enjoying the new British stuff, more rooted in a fusion of UK and Caribbean dance culture and on the other those who like their jazz a bit more cerebral. The US reviewers tend to the latter, liking often more established artists, more intricately composed knotty themes and more avant garde approaches ( and old school chops). Fordham, whose reviews I like, seems to be in the latter camp. Dave Kelly who reviews for the Observer seems even more traditional and often seems to exist in a time before 1967.
I'm not sure where I sit tbh, liking both. I read a piece in All About Jazz that pretty much defined jazz as music in the American tradition. For me its' more about instrumental craft and prowess, improvisation and that spontaneous interplay between musicians: it doesn't necessarily have to have that direct connection to the tradition.
Some of the British stuff ( GoGoPenguin are an example) seem to copy the form of a jazz trio with a heavy focus on groove but, as far as I can tell, have little if any improvisation. They've taken what EST or Nic Baertsch do but without the improvisation and interplay. I like their stuff but I'm not sure how far it's jazz.
It is, as ever, a broad church but it was interesting how Fordham's list had none of he new British stuff a lot of us have been enjoying this year. Lots of it sounds worth seeking out though.
PS - Richard Williams, who has his list here:
2021: The best bits | thebluemoment.com
seems to have a much broader overview of things.
And, as either Ellington or Armstrong said, “There are only two kinds of music—good music and bad music”