The Jazz List
This Jazz List was complied from the published works of many of the major jazz critics by a man named Stan Anson.
It was published around 1999. And then lost to the internet, to the regret of jazz lovers everywhere.
To compile this list was a gigantic amount of work and Stan Anson did a beautiful job. The complete list is 40 pages long and rates more or less every worthwhile jazz album of the 20th Century.
Eventually I hope to have it all up and working properly here, but for now this page only gives the highest rated albums of the century, as rated by jazz critics from the following sources:
Sources:
These are all fine critical guides, once you get hooked on wonderful jazz, check them out.
- Simon Adams, Jazz: A Crash Course (London: Simon & Schuster, 1999).
- Ronald Atkins (ed), Jazz: The Ultimate Guide - From New Orleans to the New Jazz Age (London: Carlton Books, 1995).
- Alan Axelrod, The Complete Idiots Guide to Jazz (New York: Alpha Books, 1999).
- Howard J. Blumenthal, The Jazz CD Listener's Guide(New York: Billboard Books/Watson-Guptill, 1998).
- Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestely et al, Jazz: The Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides/Penguin, 1995).
- Roy Carr (ed), Jazz on CD (London: Mitchell Beazley, 1995).
- Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, 3rd edn (London: Penguin, 1996) and 4th edn (London: Penguin, 1998).
- John Fordham, Jazz on CD: The Essential Guide, 3rd edn (London: Kyle Cathie, 1995).
- Max Harrison, Alun Morgan, Ronald Atkins, Michael James and Jack Cooke, Modern Jazz: The Essential Records (London: Aquarius Books, 1975).
- Barry Kernfield (ed), The Blackwell Guide to Recorded Jazz, 2nd edn (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1995).
- Len Lyons, The 101 Best Jazz Albums: A History of Jazz on Records (New York: William Morrow, 1980).
- Tom Piazza, The Guide to Classic Recorded Jazz (Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1995)
- Keith Shadwick, Jazz: Legends of Style (Gordon, NSW: Universal International, 1998).
- Keith Shadwick (ed), The Gramophone Jazz Good CD Guide, 2nd edn (London: Gramophone Publications, 1997).
- Dick Sutro, Jazz for Dummies (Foster City, California: IDG Books, 1998).
- John Swenson (ed), The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide (New York: Random House, 1985)
- Neil Tesser, The Playboy Guide to Jazz (New York: Plume, 1998)
Stan Anson Says:
The recordings are ranked by the number of recommendations they receive. There are currently 12,281 recordings on the complete jazz list, of which 4,739 (39 per cent) get two or more recommendations.
By popular demand here are the most frequently recommended CDs from the all-time list in rank order. The minimum qualification is seven recommendations.
Lee Vidor Says:
If you are new to jazz:
Simply starting at the top of the list with the highest rated albums isn't the wisest way to begin. Jazz is a universe, you should try to find a well reviewed artist who has a sound which appeals to you. Different jazz artists have very different aesthetic/musical intentions. It's not like rock.
Also you need to train your ear to hear jazz. Which takes a little time. But will happen. The rhythms are more complex than in rock, in fact you might even define jazz as complex rhythm. But you'll swing before long!
I think I'd recommend people new to jazz to begin with Billie Holiday. Hear her sing and listen to her backing musicians play. They are all world class musicians. Then look up the backing musicians' albums.. Lester Young, Ben Webster.. And explore.
The Quintessential Billie Holiday albums below on the list are discontinued. They are now remastered as: Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944). As a fantastic 10 disc box set, and also on some individual compilation cds drawn from it. The box set is much cheaper in Europe than in the US.
All-time - Top jazz picks
Score -- Artist -- Title -- Label
17 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Free Jazz [1960] -- Atlantic
17 -- Coltrane, John -- A Love Supreme [1964] -- Impulse!
17 -- Davis, Miles -- Kind of Blue [1959] -- Columbia
17 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Brilliant Corners [1956] -- Riverside/OJC
17 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Saxophone Colossus [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
16 -- Coltrane, John -- Giant Steps [1959] -- Atlantic
16 -- Davis, Miles -- Bitches Brew [1969] [2CD] -- Columbia
16 -- Hancock, Herbie -- Maiden Voyage [1965] -- Blue Note
16 -- Parker, Charlie -- Jazz at Massey Halll, 15 May 1953: The Quintet -- Debut/OJC
16 -- Taylor, Cecil -- Unit Structures [1966] -- Blue Note
16 -- Waller, Thomas Fats -- Turn on the Heat: The Fats Waller Piano Solos 1927-41 [2CD] -- RCA Bluebird
15 -- Basie, Count -- Original American Decca Recordings 1937-39 [3CD] -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
15 -- Coltrane, John -- Blue Train [1957] -- Blue Note
15 -- Davis, Miles -- In a Silent Way [1969] -- Columbia
15 -- Dolphy, Eric -- Out to Lunch! [1964] -- Blue Note
15 -- Goodman, Benny -- Live at Carnegie Hall 1938 [2CD] -- Columbia
15 -- Montgomery, Wes -- Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery [1960] -- Riverside/OJC
15 -- Rollins, Sonny -- A Night at the Village Vanguard 1957 Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
14 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Shape of Jazz to Come [1959] -- Atlantic
14 -- Davis, Miles -- Birth of the Cool [1949-50] -- Capitol
14 -- Davis, Miles -- Porgy and Bess [1958] -- Columbia
14 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Waltz for Debby [1961] -- Riverside/OJC
14 -- Garner, Erroll -- Concert by the Sea [1955] -- Columbia
14 -- McLaughlin, John -- Inner Mounting Flame [1971] -- Columbia
14 -- Mingus, Charles -- Black Saint and the Sinner Lady [1962] -- Impulse!
14 -- Mingus, Charles -- Pithecanthropus Erectus [1956] -- Atlantic
14 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Genius of Modern Music Vol. 1 [1947-48] -- Blue Note
14 -- Powell, Bud -- Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
14 -- Rollins, Sonny -- A Night at the Village Vanguard 1957 Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
13 -- Beiderbecke, Bix -- Bix Beiderbecke Vol. 1: Singin' the Blues 1927 -- Columbia
13 -- Blakey, Art -- A Night at Birdland with the Art Blakey Quintet Vol. 1 [1954] -- Blue Note
13 -- Brubeck, Dave -- Time Out [1959] -- Columbia
13 -- Coleman, Ornette -- At the Golden Circle Stockholm Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
13 -- Davis, Miles -- Miles Ahead [1957] -- Columbia
13 -- Davis, Miles -- Miles Smiles [1966] -- Columbia
13 -- Davis, Miles -- Sketches of Spain [1959] -- Columbia
13 -- Ellington, Duke -- Blanton-Webster Band 1940-42 [3CD] -- RCA Bluebird
13 -- Evans, Gil -- Out of the Cool [1960] -- Impulse!
13 -- Haden, Charlie -- Liberation Music Orchestra [1969] -- Impulse!
13 -- Mingus, Charles -- New Tijuana Moods [1957] -- RCA Victor
13 -- Mobley, Hank -- Soul Station [1960] -- Blue Note
13 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Genius of Modern Music Vol. 2 [1947-52] -- Blue Note
13 -- Nelson, Oliver -- Blues and the Abstract Truth [1961] -- Impulse!
13 -- Shorter, Wayne -- Speak no Evil -- Blue Note
13 -- Silver, Horace -- Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers [1954] -- Blue Note
12 -- Adderley, Julian Cannonball -- Somethin' Else [1958] -- Blue Note
12 -- Coltrane, John -- Complete Africa/Brass Sessions 1961 [2CD] -- Impulse!
12 -- Coltrane, John -- Major Works of John Coltrane (Ascension) [1965] -- Impulse!
12 -- Coltrane, John -- My Favourite Things [1960] -- Atlantic
12 -- Ellington, Duke -- Ellington at Newport 1956 -- Columbia
12 -- Ellington, Duke -- Far East Suite [1966] -- RCA Bluebird
12 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Sunday at the Village Vanguard [1961] -- Riverside/OJC
12 -- Getz, Stan -- Getz/Gilberto -- Verve
12 -- Getz, Stan -- Jazz Samba -- Verve
12 -- Hancock, Herbie -- Head Hunters [1973] -- Columbia
12 -- Hawkins, Coleman -- Body and Soul 1939-56 -- RCA Bluebird
12 -- Hill, Andrew -- Point of Departure [1964] -- Blue Note
12 -- Jarrett, Keith -- Köln Concert -- ECM
12 -- Mingus, Charles -- Blues and Roots [1959] -- Atlantic
12 -- Mingus, Charles -- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus [1960] -- Candid
12 -- Mingus, Charles -- Mingus Ah Um [1959] -- Columbia
12 -- Morgan, Lee -- Sidewinder [1963] -- Blue Note
12 -- Parker, Charlie -- Charlie Parker on Dial: The Complete Sessions 1946-47 [4CD/6LP] -- Warner Bros [Spotlite/Stash/Jazz Classics]
12 -- Pepper, Art -- Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section [1957] -- Contemporary/OJC
12 -- Roach, Max -- We Insist! Freedom now Suite -- Candid
12 -- Shepp, Archie -- Fire Music [1965] -- Impulse!
12 -- Silver, Horace -- Song for My Father [1964] -- Blue Note
12 -- Tatum, Art -- Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces 1953-55 [7CD/13LP] -- Pablo/OJC
12 -- Weather Report -- Heavy Weather [1977] -- Columbia
11 -- Ayler, Albert -- Spiritual Unity -- ESP
11 -- Blakey, Art -- A Night at Birdland with the Art Blakey Quintet Vol. 2 [1954] -- Blue Note
11 -- Christian, Charlie -- Genius of the Electric Guitar 1939-41 -- Columbia
11 -- Ellington, Duke -- Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 -- Prestige
11 -- Ellington, Duke -- Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick and Vocalion Recordings of Duke Ellington 1926-31 [3CD] -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
11 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Conversations with Myself [1963] -- Verve
11 -- Goodman, Benny -- Original Trio and Quartet Sessions Vol. 1: After You've Gone 1935-37 -- RCA Bluebird
11 -- Gordon, Dexter -- Go! [1962] -- Blue Note
11 -- Hancock, Herbie -- Takin' Off [1962] -- Blue Note
11 -- Hawkins, Coleman -- Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster [1957] -- Verve
11 -- Henderson, Fletcher -- A Study in Frustration: The Fletcher Henderson Story 1923-38 [3CD/4LP] -- Columbia
11 -- Herman, Woody -- Keeper of the Flame: The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Four Brothers Band 1948-49 -- Capitol
11 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 3: 1936-37 -- Columbia
11 -- Johnson, JJ -- Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
11 -- Mingus, Charles -- Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus [1963] -- Impulse!
11 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane [1957] -- Jazzland/OJC
11 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Jelly Roll Morton Centennial: His Complete Victor Recordings 1926-39 [5CD] -- RCA Bluebird
11 -- Mulligan, Gerry -- Best of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker 1952-53 -- Pacific Jazz
11 -- New Orleans Rhythm Kings -- New Orleans Rhythm Kings and Jelly Roll Morton 1922-23 -- Milestone
11 -- Parker, Charlie -- Charlie Parker Story [1945] -- Savoy
11 -- Powell, Bud -- Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
11 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Freedom Suite [1958] -- Riverside/OJC
11 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Way Out West [1957] -- Contemporary/OJC
11 -- Shaw, Artie -- Begin the Beguine 1938-41 -- RCA Bluebird
11 -- Tristano, Lennie -- Lennie Tristano/The New Tristano [1955/1960] -- Atlantic [Rhino]
10 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington: The Complete Collaborations [1961] -- Roulette [Mobile Fidelity]
10 -- Brown, Clifford -- Brownie: The Complete EmArcy Recordings of Clifford Brown 1954-56 [10CD] -- EmArcy
10 -- Carter, Betty -- Audience with Betty Carter [1980] [2CD] -- Bet-Car [Verve]
10 -- Coleman, Ornette -- At the Golden Circle Stockholm Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
10 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Beauty is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1959-61 [6CD] -- Atlantic
10 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Change of the Century [1959] -- Atlantic
10 -- Coltrane, John -- Live at the Village Vanguard 1961 -- Impulse!
10 -- Corea, Chick -- Light as a Feather -- PolyGram
10 -- Corea, Chick -- Now He Sings, Now He Sobs -- Blue Note
10 -- Davis, Miles -- Milestones [1958] -- Columbia
10 -- Dolphy, Eric -- Far Cry [1960] -- New Jazz/OJC
10 -- Dolphy, Eric -- Outward Bound [1960] -- New Jazz/OJC
10 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Portrait in Jazz [1959] -- Riverside/OJC
10 -- Fitzgerald, Ella -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook [1956-57] [3CD] -- Verve
10 -- Getz, Stan -- Focus [1961] -- Verve
10 -- Goodman, Benny -- Birth of Swing 1935-36 [3CD] -- RCA Bluebird
10 -- Gordon, Dexter -- Doin' Allright [1961] -- Blue Note
10 -- Gray, Wardell -- Wardell Gray Memorial Vol. 1: 1949-53 -- Prestige/OJC
10 -- Griffin, Johnny -- A Blowing Session [1957] -- Blue Note
10 -- Henderson, Joe -- Inner Urge -- Blue Note
10 -- Herman, Woody -- Thundering Herds 1945-47 -- Columbia
10 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 2: 1936 -- Columbia
10 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 4: 1937 -- Columbia
10 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 5: 1937-38 -- Columbia
10 -- Jarrett, Keith -- Belonging -- ECM
10 -- Johnson, James P -- Snowy Morning Blues 1930-44 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
10 -- Kirk, Rahsaan Roland -- Rip, Rig and Panic/Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith [1965/1967] -- Mercury
10 -- Mingus, Charles -- Mingus at Antibes [1960] -- Atlantic
10 -- Modern Jazz Quartet -- Django [1953] -- Prestige/OJC
10 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Complete Blue Note Recordings 1947-57 [4CD] -- Blue Note
10 -- Parker, Charlie -- Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve 1946-54 [10CD] -- Verve
10 -- Powell, Bud -- Complete Blue Note and Roost Recordings 1949-58 [4CD] -- Blue Note
10 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Bridge [1962] -- RCA Victor
10 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Sonny Rollins+Four [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
10 -- Russell, George -- Ezz-thetics [1961] -- Riverside/OJC
10 -- Shorter, Wayne -- Juju -- Blue Note
10 -- Tatum, Art -- Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces 1954-56 [6CD/9LP] -- Pablo/OJC
10 -- Tatum, Art -- Original Decca Recordings Vol. 2: Classic Early Solos 1934-37 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
10 -- Vaughan, Sarah -- Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown [1954] -- EmArcy
10 -- Weather Report -- I Sing the Body Electric [1971-72] -- Columbia
10 -- Webster, Ben -- King of the Tenors [1953] -- Verve
10 -- Webster, Ben -- Soulville [1957] -- Verve
10 -- Young, Lester -- President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio [1952] -- Verve
9 -- Armstrong, Louis -- California Concerts 1951/1955 [4CD] -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
9 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong Collection Vol. 1: The Hot Fives 1925-26 -- Columbia
9 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong Collection Vol. 3: The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens 1927-28 -- Columbia
9 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong Collection Vol. 4: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines 1927-28 -- Columbia
9 -- Art Ensemble of Chicago -- Nice Guys [1978] -- ECM
9 -- Art Ensemble of Chicago -- Urban Bushmen [1980] -- ECM
9 -- Ayler, Albert -- In Greenwich Village [2CD] -- Impulse!
9 -- Basie, Count -- Complete Atomic Mr Basie [1957] -- Roulette
9 -- Bechet, Sidney -- Jazz Classics Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
9 -- Carter, Benny -- Jazz Giant -- Contemporary/OJC
9 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Something Else!!!! [1958] -- Contemporary/OJC
9 -- Corea, Chick -- Return to Forever -- ECM
9 -- Davis, Miles -- A Tribute to Jack Johnson [1970] -- Columbia
9 -- Davis, Miles -- ESP [1965] -- Columbia
9 -- Davis, Miles -- Filles de Kilimanjaro [1968] -- Columbia
9 -- Davis, Miles -- Workin' [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
9 -- Dolphy, Eric -- Out There [1960] -- New Jazz/OJC
9 -- Eldridge, Roy -- After You've Gone: The Original Amercian Decca Recordings 1936-46 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
9 -- Ellington, Duke -- Black, Brown and Beige 1944-46 [3CD] -- RCA Bluebird
9 -- Ellington, Duke -- Duke Ellington and John Coltrane [1962] -- Impulse!
9 -- Ellington, Duke -- Duke's Men Vol. 1: Small Groups 1934-38 [2CD] -- Columbia
9 -- Ellington, Duke -- Such Sweet Thunder [1957] -- Columbia
9 -- Getz, Stan -- Sweet Rain [1967] -- Verve
9 -- Gillespie, Dizzy -- Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1937-49 [2CD] -- RCA Bluebird
9 -- Gordon, Dexter -- Our Man in Paris [1963] -- Blue Note
9 -- Gray, Wardell -- Wardell Gray Memorial Vol. 2: 1950-52 -- Prestige/OJC
9 -- Haden, Charlie -- Ballad of the Fallen -- ECM
9 -- Henderson, Joe -- Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn [1992] -- Verve
9 -- Henderson, Joe -- State of the Tenor: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 1 -- Blue Note
9 -- Holiday, Billie -- Complete Original Amercian Decca Recordings [2CD] -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
9 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 6: 1938 -- Columbia
9 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 9: 1940-42 -- Columbia
9 -- Jamal, Ahmad -- Live at the Pershing 1958: But Not for Me -- Argo [Chess/Vogue/Affinity]
9 -- Konitz, Lee -- Subconscious-Lee [1949] -- Prestige/OJC
9 -- Land, Harold -- Fox -- Contemporary/OJC
9 -- Little, Booker -- Out Front -- Candid
9 -- Marsalis, Wynton -- In This House, On This Morning [2CD] -- Columbia
9 -- Marsalis, Wynton -- Wynton Marsalis -- Columbia
9 -- McKinney's Cotton Pickers -- Band Don Redman Built 1928-30 -- RCA Bluebird
9 -- McLean, Jackie -- Let Freedom Ring [1962] -- Blue Note
9 -- McLean, Jackie -- One Step Beyond [1963] -- Blue Note
9 -- McShann, Jay -- Blues from Kansas City 1941-43 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
9 -- Metheny, Pat -- Song X -- Geffen/Warner Bros
9 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Monk's Music [1957] -- Riverside/OJC
9 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall [1959] -- Riverside/OJC
9 -- Morgan, Lee -- Search for the New Land [1964] -- Blue Note
9 -- Navarro, Fats -- Complete Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron on Blue Note and Capitol 1947-49 [2CD] -- Blue Note
9 -- Navarro, Fats -- Fats Navarro Featured with the Tadd Dameron Band 1948 -- Milestone
9 -- Pass, Joe -- Virtuoso -- Pablo
9 -- Powell, Bud -- Jazz at Massey Hall, 15 May 1953: The Trio -- Debut/OJC
9 -- Redman, Joshua -- Wish -- Warner Bros
9 -- Roach, Max -- Deeds, Not Words -- Riverside/OJC
9 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Tenor Madness [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
9 -- Shorter, Wayne -- Adam's Apple [1966] -- Blue Note
9 -- Sun Ra -- Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Vol. 1: Other Worlds [1965] [aka Cosmic Equation] -- ESP
9 -- Taylor, Cecil -- Jazz Advance [1955] -- Transition [Blue Note]
8 -- Adderley, Julian Cannonball -- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at the Club -- Capitol
8 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Hot Fives and Sevens Vol. 1 -- JSP
8 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Hot Fives and Sevens Vol. 2 -- JSP
8 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong Collection Vol. 2: The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens 1926-27 -- Columbia
8 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Louis Armstrong Plays WC Handy [1954] -- Columbia
8 -- Barnet, Charlie -- Drop Me Off in Harlem 1942-46 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
8 -- Beiderbecke, Bix -- Bix Beiderbecke Vol. 2: At the Jazz Band Ball 1927-28 -- Columbia
8 -- Blakey, Art -- Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk [1957] -- Atlantic
8 -- Blakey, Art -- Moanin' [1958] -- Blue Note
8 -- Bley, Carla -- Escalator over the Hill [2CD] -- ECM Watt
8 -- Bley, Paul -- Open, to Love -- ECM
8 -- Brubeck, Dave -- Jazz at Oberlin [1954] -- Fantasy/OJC
8 -- Brubeck, Dave -- Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective 1946-91 [4CD] -- Columbia
8 -- Carter, Benny -- Further Definitions/Additions to Further Definitions [1961/1966] -- Impulse!
8 -- Cherry, Don -- Complete Communion -- Blue Note
8 -- Coleman, Ornette -- This is Our Music [1960] -- Atlantic
8 -- Coleman, Ornette -- Tomorrow is the Question! [1959] -- Contemporary/OJC
8 -- Coltrane, John -- Impressions: Live at the Village Vanguard 1961 -- Impulse!
8 -- Coltrane, John -- Meditations [1965] -- Impulse!
8 -- Criss, Sonny -- Portrait of Sonny Criss -- Prestige/OJC
8 -- Dameron, Tadd -- Fontainbleau [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
8 -- Davis, Miles -- Complete Concert 1964: My Funny Valentine+Four and More [2CD] -- Columbia
8 -- Davis, Miles -- Cookin' [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
8 -- Davis, Miles -- Nefertiti [1967] -- Columbia
8 -- Davis, Miles -- Steamin' [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
8 -- Dolphy, Eric -- At the Five Spot, 16 July 1961 Vol. 1 -- New Jazz/OJC
8 -- Eckstine, Billy -- No Cover, No Minimum [1960] -- Roulette
8 -- Ellington, Duke -- Back to Back: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges Play the Blues [1959] -- Verve
8 -- Ellington, Duke -- Fargo North Dakota 7 November 1940 [2CD] -- Vintage Jazz Classics
8 -- Ellington, Duke -- Money Jungle -- Blue Note
8 -- Ellington, Duke -- Side by Side: Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges [1958-59] -- Verve
8 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Explorations [1961] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Evans, Gil -- Individualism of Gil Evans [1963-64] -- Verve
8 -- Farmer, Art -- Portrait of Art [1958] -- Contemporary/OJC
8 -- Fitzgerald, Ella -- Complete Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks 1956-64 [16CD] -- Verve
8 -- Giuffre, Jimmy -- 1961 [combines Thesis/Fusion] [2CD] -- ECM
8 -- Giuffre, Jimmy -- Jimmy Giuffre 3 [1956] -- Atlantic
8 -- Gonsalves, Paul -- Gettin' Together [1960] -- Jazzland/OJC
8 -- Hancock, Herbie -- Empyrean Isles [1964] -- Blue Note
8 -- Hawkins, Coleman -- Hollywood Stampede 1945-47 -- Capitol
8 -- Henderson, Joe -- Blue Note Years 1963-90 [4CD] -- Blue Note
8 -- Henderson, Joe -- Page One [1963] -- Blue Note
8 -- Henderson, Joe -- State of the Tenor: Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
8 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 1: 1933-35 -- Columbia
8 -- Holland, Dave -- Conference of the Birds [1972] -- ECM
8 -- Hubbard, Freddie -- Breakin' Point [1964] -- Blue Note
8 -- Johnson, JJ -- Eminent Jay Jay Johnson Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
8 -- Kelly, Wynton -- Kelly Blue [1959] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Kenton, Stan -- New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm [1952] -- Capitol
8 -- Kenton, Stan -- Retrospective 1943-68 [4CD] -- Capitol
8 -- Kirk, Rahsaan Roland -- Inflated Tear -- Atlantic
8 -- Konitz, Lee -- Live at the Half Note 1959 [2CD] -- Verve
8 -- Lambert, Hendricks and Ross -- Sing a Song of Basie -- Impulse!
8 -- Lunceford, Jimmie -- Original Decca Recordings Vol. 1: Stomp it Off 1934-35 -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
8 -- Marsalis, Wynton -- Citi Movement (Griot New York) [2CD] -- Columbia
8 -- Marsalis, Wynton -- Hot House Flowers -- Columbia
8 -- McLean, Jackie -- Bluesnik [1961] -- Blue Note
8 -- McRae, Carmen -- Carmen Sings Monk [1988] -- RCA Novus
8 -- McRae, Carmen -- Great American Songbook: Live 1972 [2CD] -- Atlantic
8 -- Mingus, Charles -- Changes One [1974] -- Atlantic
8 -- Mitchell, Roscoe -- Sound [1966] -- Delmark
8 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Misterioso [1958] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Thelonious Alone in San Francisco [1959] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Thelonious Himself [1957] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Montgomery, Wes -- Full House [1952] -- Riverside/OJC
8 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Jelly Roll Morton 1923 to 1926 -- Milestone
8 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 4: Winin' Boy Blues -- Rounder
8 -- Original Dixieland Jazz Band -- Seventy-Fifth Anniversary 1917-21 -- RCA Bluebird
8 -- Pastorius, Jaco -- Jaco Pastorius -- Epic
8 -- Pepper, Art -- Art Pepper+Eleven: Modern Jazz Classics [1959] -- Contemporary/OJC
8 -- Pepper, Art -- Smack Up [1960] -- Contemporary/OJC
8 -- Peterson, Oscar -- Night Train [1962] -- Verve
8 -- Roach, Max -- Percussion Bitter Sweet -- Impulse!
8 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Complete Prestige Recordings 1951-56 [7CD] -- Prestige/OJC
8 -- Shaw, Woody -- Moontrane [1974] -- Muse [32 Jazz]
8 -- Shepp, Archie -- Four for Trane [1964] -- Impulse!
8 -- Sun Ra -- Jazz in Silhouette [1958] -- Evidence
8 -- Sun Ra -- Other Planes of There [1964] -- Evidence
8 -- Tatum, Art -- Tatum Group Masterpieces Vol. 1: Benny Carter -- Pablo/OJC
8 -- Tatum, Art -- Tatum Group Masterpieces Vol. 8: Ben Webster -- Pablo/OJC
8 -- Tyner, McCoy -- Real McCoy [1967] -- Blue Note
8 -- Venuti, Joe -- Violin Jazz 1927-34 -- Yazoo
8 -- Waller, Thomas Fats -- Fats Waller and His Rhythm: The Last Years 1940-43 [3CD] -- RCA Bluebird
8 -- Weber, Eberhard -- Colours of Chloë [1973] -- ECM
8 -- Williams, Tony -- Emergency! [1969] -- Verve
8 -- Wilson, Cassandra -- Blue Light 'til Dawn -- Blue Note
8 -- Zorn, John -- Spy vs. Spy [1989] -- Elektra Musician
7 -- Abrams, Muhal Richard -- Blu Blu Blu [1991] -- Black Saint
7 -- Abrams, Muhal Richard -- Levels and Degrees of Light [1967] -- Delmark
7 -- Ammons, Gene -- Boss Tenor [1960] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Armstrong, Louis -- Satch Plays Fats [1955] -- Columbia
7 -- Ayler, Albert -- Spirits Rejoice -- ESP
7 -- Baker, Chet -- Let's Get Lost: The Best of Chet Baker Sings 1953-56 -- Pacific Jazz
7 -- Bechet, Sidney -- Jazz Classics Vol. 2 -- Blue Note
7 -- Bechet, Sidney -- Sidney Bechet: The Bluebird Sessions 1932-43 [5CD] -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Beiderbecke, Bix -- Bix and Tram Vol. 1: 1927 -- JSP
7 -- Beiderbecke, Bix -- Bix Lives! 1927-30 -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Blakey, Art -- A Night in Tunisia [1960] -- Blue Note
7 -- Blakey, Art -- Free for All [1964] -- Blue Note
7 -- Blythe, Arthur -- In Concert: Metamorphosis/The Grip [1977] -- India Navigation
7 -- Brooks, Tina -- True Blue -- Blue Note
7 -- Burton, Gary -- A Genuine Tong Funeral [1967] -- RCA Victor [One Way]
7 -- Carter, Benny -- 3, 4, 5: The Verve Small Group Sessions -- Verve
7 -- Cherry, Don -- Symphony for Improvisers [1966] -- Blue Note
7 -- Christian, Charlie -- Live Sessions at Minton's Playhouse -- Jazz Anthology [Musidisc/Saga]
7 -- Christy, June -- Something Cool [1953-55] -- Capitol
7 -- Clark, Sonny -- Leapin' and Lopin' [1961] -- Blue Note
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Ballads [1963] -- Impulse!
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Coltrane Plays the Blues [1960] -- Atlantic
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Crescent [1964] -- Impulse!
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Interstellar Space [1967] -- Impulse!
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Soultrane [1958] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Coltrane, John -- Traneing In [1957] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Corea, Chick -- Hymn to the Seventh Galaxy -- Verve
7 -- Davis, Miles -- Miles in the Sky [1968] -- Columbia
7 -- Davis, Miles -- Relaxin' [1956] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Davis, Miles -- Round About Midnight [1955] -- Columbia
7 -- Dolphy, Eric -- At the Five Spot, 16 July 1961 Vol. 2 -- New Jazz/OJC
7 -- Eldridge, Roy -- Roy and Diz [1954] -- Verve
7 -- Ellington, Duke -- New Orleans Suite [1969-70] -- Atlantic
7 -- Ellington, Duke -- OKeh Ellington 1927-30 [2CD] -- Columbia
7 -- Evans, Bill (1929-80) -- Everybody Digs Bill Evans [1958] -- Riverside/OJC
7 -- Fitzgerald, Ella -- Cole Porter Songbook Vol. 1 [1956] -- Verve
7 -- Fitzgerald, Ella -- Cole Porter Songbook Vol. 2 [1956] -- Verve
7 -- Fitzgerald, Ella -- George and Ira Gershwin Songbook [1959] [4CD] -- Verve
7 -- Freeman, Chico -- Spirit Sensitive -- India Navigation
7 -- Getz, Stan -- At the Shrine [1954] -- Verve
7 -- Getz, Stan -- Girl from Ipanema: The Bossa Nova Years 1962-64 [4CD] -- Verve
7 -- Gillespie, Dizzy -- Dizzy Gillespie and His Big Band in Concert 1948 -- GNP Crescendo
7 -- Gillespie, Dizzy -- Gillespiana/Carnegie Hall Concert [1960/1961] -- Verve
7 -- Gillespie, Dizzy -- Shaw 'Nuff: Dizzy Gillespie and His Sextets and Orchestra 1945-46 -- Musicraft
7 -- Goodman, Benny -- Benny Goodman Sextet Featuring Charlie Christian 1939-41 -- Columbia
7 -- Goodman, Benny -- Original Trio and Quartet Sessions Vol. 2: Avalon 1937-39 -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Hampton, Lionel -- All-Star Groups Vol. 1: Hot Mallets! 1937-39 -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Hancock, Herbie -- Mwandishi: The Complete Warner Brothers Recordings 1969-72 [2CD] -- Warner Bros
7 -- Hemphill, Julius -- Fat Man and the Hard Blues [1991] -- Black Saint
7 -- Henderson, Joe -- So Near, So Far (Musings for Miles) -- Verve
7 -- Hill, Andrew -- Shades [1986] -- Soul Note
7 -- Hines, Earl -- Earl Hines Plays Duke Ellington Vol. 1 [1971-75] [2CD] -- New World
7 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 7: 1938-39 -- Columbia
7 -- Holiday, Billie -- Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol. 8: 1939-40 -- Columbia
7 -- Hubbard, Freddie -- Red Clay [1970] -- CTI
7 -- Ibrahim, Abdullah -- Water from an Ancient Well -- Tiptoe
7 -- Jacquet, Illinois -- Flying Home: Best of the Verve Years [1950s] -- Verve
7 -- Johnson, Budd -- Let's Swing [1960] -- Swingville/OJC
7 -- Jordan, Louis -- Let the Good Times Roll: Anthology 1938-53 [2CD] -- Decca [MCA/GRP]
7 -- Kirk, Rahsaan Roland -- Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk [10CD] -- Mercury
7 -- Konitz, Lee -- Lee Konitz Duets [1967] -- MIlestone/OJC
7 -- Lacy, Steve -- School Days: Live 1963 -- hatART
7 -- Lateef, Yusef -- Live at Pep's [1964] -- Impulse!
7 -- Lewis, George (1900-68) -- Trios and Bands -- American Music
7 -- Manne, Shelly -- At the Blackhawk Vol. 1 -- Contemporary/OJC
7 -- Manne, Shelly -- At the Blackhawk Vol. 2 -- Contemporary/OJC
7 -- Manne, Shelly -- At the Blackhawk Vol. 4 -- Contemporary/OJC
7 -- Marsalis, Branford -- Scenes in the City [1983] -- Columbia
7 -- Marsalis, Branford -- Trio Jeepy [1988] -- Columbia
7 -- McCann, Les -- Swiss Movement: Live at Montreux 1969 -- Atlantic
7 -- McLaughlin, John -- Extrapolation [1969] -- PolyGram
7 -- McLean, Jackie -- New Soil [1959] -- Blue Note
7 -- Mingus, Charles -- Clown [1957] -- Atlantic
7 -- Modern Jazz Quartet -- Concorde [1955] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Modern Jazz Quartet -- MJQ 40 1952-88 [4CD] -- Atlantic
7 -- Monk, Thelonious -- Thelonious Monk Trio [1952-54] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 1: Kansas City Stomp -- Rounder
7 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 2: Anamule Dance -- Rounder
7 -- Morton, Jelly Roll -- Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 3: The Pearls -- Rounder
7 -- Mulligan, Gerry -- Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster [1959] -- Verve
7 -- Murray, David -- Ming -- Black Saint
7 -- Nelson, Oliver -- Straight Ahead [1961] -- New Jazz/OJC
7 -- Parker, Charlie -- Legendary Dial Masters 1946-47 Vol. 1 -- Spotlite [Stash]
7 -- Parker, Charlie -- Legendary Dial Masters 1946-47 Vol. 2 -- Spotlite [Stash]
7 -- Peterson, Oscar -- Oscar Peterson Trio+One [1964] -- EmArcy
7 -- Powell, Bud -- Complete Bud Powell on Verve 1949-56 [5CD] -- Verve
7 -- Quebec, Ike -- Blue and Sentimental [1961] -- Blue Note
7 -- Roach, Max -- To the Max! [2CD] -- Enja
7 -- Rogers, Shorty -- Short Stops [1953] -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Newk's Time [1957] -- Blue Note
7 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Quartets Featuring Jim Hall [1962] [combines The Bridge/What's New?] -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Rollins, Sonny -- Work Time [1955] -- Prestige/OJC
7 -- Sanders, Pharoah -- Karma [1969] -- Impulse!
7 -- Sanders, Pharoah -- Tauhid -- Impulse!
7 -- Scofield, John -- Still Warm [1985] -- Gramavision
7 -- Shaw, Artie -- Complete Gramercy Five Sessions 1940-45 -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Silver, Horace -- Blowin' the Blues Away [1959] -- Blue Note
7 -- Silver, Horace -- Cape Verdean Blues [1965] -- Blue Note
7 -- Silver, Horace -- Finger Poppin' [1959] -- Blue Note
7 -- Silver, Horace -- Horace Silver Trio [1952-53] -- Blue Note
7 -- Smith, Jimmy -- Sermon [1957-58] -- Blue Note
7 -- Sun Ra -- Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy/Art Forms for Dimensions Tomorrow [1961-63] -- Evidence
7 -- Sun Ra -- Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Vol. 2: The Sun Myth [1965] -- ESP
7 -- Sun Ra -- Magic City [1965] -- Evidence
7 -- Surman, John -- Amazing Adventures of Simon Simon [1981] -- ECM
7 -- Tatum, Art -- Complete Capitol Recordings Vol. 1 1949/1952 -- Capitol
7 -- Taylor, Cecil -- Conquistador! [1966] -- Blue Note
7 -- Taylor, Cecil -- Looking Ahead! [1958] -- Contemporary/OJC
7 -- Teagarden, Jack -- That's a Serious Thing [compilation] -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Tyner, McCoy -- Supertrios -- Milestone
7 -- Tyner, McCoy -- Turning Point -- Birdology [Verve]
7 -- Vaughan, Sarah -- Swingin' Easy -- EmArcy
7 -- Waller, Thomas Fats -- Fats Waller and His Rhythm: The Middle Years Part 1 1936-38 [3CD] -- RCA Bluebird
7 -- Weather Report -- Mysterious Traveller [1973-74] -- Columbia
7 -- Webster, Ben -- Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson [1959] -- Verve
7 -- Webster, Ben -- See You at the Fair [1964] -- Impulse!
7 -- World Saxophone Quartet -- WSQ [1980] -- Black Saint
7 -- Young, Lester -- Lester Young and the Jazz Giants 1956 -- Verve
7 -- Young, Lester -- Lester Young Trio -- Verve
7 -- Young, Lester -- Pres and Teddy [1956] -- Verve
All-time jazz CD recommendations pages
Last updated December 1999. Stan Anson 1998-1999.
