10 Best Jazz Albums of All Time

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What are the best jazz albums to listen to if you want to fully understand and learn how to play this music?
Let's go over the top 10 you absolutely need to know.
For a larger list, check out our podcast episode on the top 25: www.learnjazzstandards.com/lj...
CHAPTER:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Album #1 (Early jazz)
03:15 Album #2 (Swing era)
05:40 Album #3 (Bebop era)
08:06 Album #4 (Hard bop)
09:47 Album #5 (Modal jazz)
11:34 Album #6 (Cool jazz)
12:41 Album #7 (Free jazz)
14:08 Album #8 (Post bop)
15:49 Album #9 (Fusion)
18:16 Album #10 (Modern jazz)
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[@jeffsmith3645]

As a young saxophonist, I was told to listen to Cannonball Adderley's "Somethin' Else". Worked for me.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Really important album!

[@nickgillies1357]

That’s an important album for any kind of musician. Fantastic line up also.

[@CadillacL]

I’m gonna check that out

[@MyIDIsNotAvailable]

It's my fav jazz album

[@sergio.ssantos]

I'm a giant Coltrane fanboy, but Mingus's "Black Saint and The Sinner Lady" is impressive and made a huge impact on me. It's like what Hendrix would do if he played jazz. What a ride.

[@williamsnyder1315]

I loved Mingus. So many great albums. But was he truly influential? Some folks are so unique that they carve a path totally their own. Thoughts, anyone?

[@agustinsanchez7218]

😊

[@henningk4484]

I would definitely mention Keith Jarrett. His solo improvisations are unique and some of the longer pieces are unbelievable in their improvisation. The Köln concert is a must. If you want to stretch a little to the other side of the pond I could imagine having Esbjorn Svensson Trio in there.

[@rodroller6634]

Kind of Blue, Giant Steps, Time Out. And as a dark horse, The Nightfly. The real cool Jazz starter collection.

[@CadillacL]

Brubeck’s Time Out & Coltrane’s Giant Steps for sure belongs on this list! Coltrane’s A Love Supreme deserves mention!

[@billdang3953]

Coltrane Plays The Blues also deserves mention.

[@CadillacL]

@@billdang3953 thank you, I’m gonna listen to it!

[@CadillacL]

@@billdang3953 thank you for the recommendation. I’m listening to it now.

[@AskAScreenwriter]

A Love Supreme is, in my humble opinion, not only one of the greatest JAZZ albums of all time, but one of the greatest MUSIC experiences of all time, on my personal list with Bach's Brandenburg concerti, Beethoven's 9th symphony, Led Zeppelin's 4th album ("symbols") and a few others that would be in my 'desert island' music collection.

[@neiles335]

Excellent video and very informative . Your explanation of the evolutionary timeline of Jazz was most enlightening. Thank you.

[@kritzoventer6611]

Thanks for this video, certainly expandes my own library. And one heck of a conversation starter! 😁

[@siemenpersyn4451]

Great video, I've had some trouble getting into pre-50's jazz so I appreciate you shining a light on those periods too.

[@kamrankerim636]

Very useful video. Thank your very much!

[@jazzbob7]

Great job giving a quick overview of Jazz History. The representative albums is a very good way of showing the history. I have never heard of the last artist. I need to listen to him.

[@michaeldain]

Thanks for the list. For fun I came up with my list. I was going for some alternate directions. Hard to argue top 10 style choices for a player vs a listener. Armstrong - Hot 5 and 7 Blanton Webster band- Ellington Love Supreme - Coltrane Ahmad’s Blues - Ahmad Jamal Quintet live at Massey Hall Koln Concert - Keith Jarrett Monks Music - Thelonious Monk Miles - Nefertiti Jimmy Guiffre 3 Miles- Kind of Blue

[@lawrenceszabo289]

"10 Best" can presented in different contexts. I like very much that you presented your "best" list in an historical context. Please, more presentations with an historical approach.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@warrenwilson7836]

Great topic and informative overview. Thanks.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@stookeyslaughter]

This a great and informative video. Actually educational as well.

[@dinorockwell3196]

Great content and presentation!

Good set-list. Very difficult to pick up a top ten, but I think you made it. Greetings from Argentina.

[@rkaratsu]

Nice video! I guess for someone like me who grew up listening to rock (and pop in the 70s), albums like "Heavy Weather", "Spectrum", "Inner Mounting Flame" and "Headhunters" were examples of ones that opened my ears and probably more important made me curious enough to start to look at the connection people like Herbie Hancock or Wayne Shorter or Joe Zawinul had to the music that preceded (and influenced) them.

[@TheOldDylanGuy]

I think those all would be descendants of Bitches Brew IMO. I am a bigger fan of those you mentioned but they all start with Bitches Brew, or In A Silent Way which he didn’t mention, but I think having those AND Bitches Brew would be redundant.

[@patricksullivan4329]

I would nominate 'Louis and Ella' from 1956, they were backed by Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. 'Blue Rose', also from the mid '50, has Billy Strayhorn playing piano for a youthful Rosemary Clooney, joined by the Ellington Orchestra. 'Diggin Up Bones' has John, Martin and Bucky Pizzarelli, Rebecca Kilgore and other jazz musicians joining The West Texas Tumbleweeds for jazz treatments of country tunes. 'Old Sock', with Eric Clapton displaying a charming voice on some jazz standards. 'Happy Feet' with Emilie Claire Barlow doing some Canadian Scat.

[@paulnovakowski8358]

I agree with most of these selections. I think for early jazz, you need to listen to Sidney Bechet to get a broader perspective. The next era, Count Basie was a major contributor. And the Bebop era was Thelonious Monk. Monk along with Charlie Rouse brought it to another level. For the modern era, Wynton and Branford Marsalis kept things going. Black Codes From The Underground is a staple.When it goes to other side of more popular Jazz, David Sanborn was the king of modern Sax. I recently saw him with Bob James playing the songs from the album Double Vision. That is the one modern jazz album everyone should listen to.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey all, love the additions in the comments to this list of 10! We also have a podcast episode that goes over the top 25 jazz albums you need to know. Definitely give it a listen www.learnjazzstandards.com/ljs-podcast/25-jazz-albums-every-jazz-musician-needs-to-know/

[@markhighfill]

Everybody puts "Kind of Blue"on these lists.I really think the 5 albums, with the quintet that preceded it, get overlooked. I love Red Garland and Philly Joe Jones on those recordings. Best band ever!

[@thelonious-dx9vi]

The first record by that first quintet was the very first jazz record that I totally soaked up, to the point where I could hum all the solos, etc. Mega group, with young John and the great Paul Chambers as well.

[@s3xyn0sfera2]

The version of Salt Peanuts on Steamin' is what made me fall in love with bebop

[@guitargentmick-tv8424]

Kind of Blue needs to be everyones list …especially if they are trying to immerse themselves in jazz and don’t have any background in the genre. Like me! It really opened my ears and made other recordings…..more listenable to a kid.

[@normanndaba8823]

Bag’s Groove would be one of them 🎉

[@hvok99]

Love that the guitar in the video functions as a visual prop.

[@herveyav428]

Hey man, have been following þhis channel for sometime now... I really like your content, very informative for jazz musicians. Keep it up 🙂

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thank you!

[@tedpowers2045]

Coltrane’s Ballad album is awesome. Easily digestible as opposed to Giant Steps. Early swing players like Charlie Christian and Lester Young are great places to start

[@dickmiller5208]

Great video. Very informative.

[@malcolmlewis6014]

Mulligan meets Monk was one my favourites , tremendous Mulligan solos on that album.

[@tombillard5264]

As an a.person whose only been into jazz for a few years , in my fifties its freakin awesome i have a hundred years or more of albums /performers to explore , all new to me, ill never get caught up but it will be fun

[@carltwidle9046]

I saw Miles Davis in concert in the 1980s. It was around the time of his Tutu album release. His back up band were very funky.

[@dwftube]

I will say that the Ornette Coleman is **hard work** so newbs be aware. The most 'fun' jazz album for me is Charles Mingus 'Mingus Ah Um'. It's got 'Good Bye Pork Pie Hat on it and is in the US National Recording Registry along with others from this list.

[@chelmrtz]

I love that album too!

[@jazzfan7491]

Great one. Mingus has so many terrific albums

[@nivrox95]

As a list of albums by jazz styles and development, it’s good Giant steps is there but if I would put a list of best albums for getting into jazz, Blue train would have the be on it! It’s probably my favorite jazz album, it’s just perfect and Moments notice is a masterpiece!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Blue Train is definitely an important album!

[@stevegullins9479]

This is wonderful. outlook on Jazz Music, I'm impressed with the way you give the student the history, of the different areas of Jazz Music. suggestion would teach more about Horace Silver when you talk about Hard Bop Art Blakey and Horace Silver invented, Hard Bop alone with Benny Golson.

[@tompetteruti250]

Paul Gonsalves and Bobby Hackett both studied guitar with my grandfather Joe Petteruti in Providence, RI during the 1930s at our family music store Twin City Music.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Wow that’s amazing Tom! Thanks for sharing that.

[@les4767]

I'm not sure which Nat "King" Cole album I'd recommend, but you should consider him a really important innovator in Jazz piano. He invented the left hand chord comp style. I'd also give a nod to French Jazz composer Claude Bolling and the album "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio" solely for the song "Baroque and Blue." It's a delightful mix of Jazz and Classical music that lifts the spirits. And, while it's not innovative or particularly inspirational comparatively to other better albums, Vince Guaraldi's "The Charlie Brown Christmas" album is extremely important for the simple reason it introduced and popularized Jazz music to a huge segment of the population that had never listened to Jazz before.

[@nikitacarter8753]

Solo Monk by Thelonius Monk. Free For All by Art Blakey. Karma by Pharoah Sanders.

[@1122redbird]

Excellent list. I know you were covering genres and applying an album to each. But man, if I were just listing great albums, would be hard to make a list with out Chet Baker's "Chet" (call that best ballads maybe) and Bill Evans' "Live at the Village Vanguard" (best live record). But great list and great explanations.

[@johnmc3862]

Return to forever, Weather report, John McLaughlin.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great ones John!

[@slowpawstevet3676]

my personal sphere of interest in Jazz is Art Blakey's Moanin album in fact most Blue Note era, Hard Bop and later Modal, post bop it seems. Thanks for a great lesson!

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

nice list

[@rorystorm4284]

Also, please check out Pat Metheny's first; Bright Size Life. Amazing record.

[@jimbrown5552]

Thanks again for sharing

[@knotwilg3596]

For a jazz guitar player, I would include Django Rheinhardt and Wes Montgomery, and if you venture from jazz into bossanova I would add Baden Powell. For a piano player, I would include Oscar Peterson and Thelonious Monk. Singers almost need to listen Ella Fitzgerald and dare I say Sinatra? The record that finally got me into jazz was "My favorite things" by Coltrane. The mellow accessibility of it broke my resistance against the intrinsic aggressiveness and intellectuality of the genre.

[@deveryshepardson3640]

As far as singers go I would have to include the incomparable Billie Holiday and many more. Nina Simone? Etta James??

[@normanhall8435]

@@deveryshepardson3640 Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling.

[@bertrandgeorgeon3992]

Django ? Naaaah."Minor swing", they said...

[@joelaffolter2392]

Armstrong-Bechet-Ellington-Parker-Coltrane-Monk-Miles. Are 'universal' This is in 'synthesis', with this we already go far.Always subject to caution when we do this 'kind of thing', it is my choice by observation, there are other possibilities in addition, but in less I ask to see.Concerning the recordings you can 'type' in all these names you will never be disappointed.Thanks for the video

[@diggeroldmate8122]

Thank the lord for this video. So hard getting 'standard' recordings for learning this genre.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@pbasswil]

Aargh!! The only 'Best' jazz album is the one you, personally, find yourself playing over & over again. This is art, folks. It's bad enough when people make top ten lists of their favorite sports stars; but at least in that field they can attempt to justify their picks with their scoring & win stats-of-choice. In the arts, all you can do is cite sales numbers, or prices fetched by visual works, etc. 'Best' in the arts is all a left-brain after-the-fact construction (usually proclaimed by non-artists). Explore the rich bounty of all eras of jazz, and decide what _YOU_ like - nothing else matters.

[@normanhall8435]

The commentator was just getting the ball bouncing. He spurred comments and opinions like yours. It's fun and informative.

[@pbasswil]

@@normanhall8435 The discussion may be fun, but Bests and Top Ten lists and G.O.A.T.s etc drive me batty. It's like: we've been brain-washed to think we need some kind of rational structure in order to _justify_ our tastes and attractions and sensibilities - _aargh!_ And vice-versa: In this culture, when we really like something, we feel compelled to pronounce it The Best, in some fashion, as if just personally enjoying it is somehow incomplete.

[@13xenos]

Thank you for this share

[@Learnjazzstandards]

No worries

[@billmurphy3510]

Understandable that there are only 10 spots and you can't include everything but Clifford Brown deserves a mention at least in some way. Don't know if he has a complete album that has that much influence as those here but his playing definitely is up there in terms of quality and influence.

[@Aizern]

Good video! In fusion I would like to add Heavy Weather from Weather Report or Light as a Feather from Chick Corea. I love those albums.

[@thomasgoodisson8877]

Spot on my friend.

[@andreshombriamate745]

I think that Clifford Brown is more influential than Lee Morgan in modern jazz trumpet. My personal favourite among his albums is "C. Brown and M.Roach at Basin Street ", (with Sonny Rollins on tenor), but if you wanted to include a Messenger´s recording, a good choice is "A night at Birdland" with Blakey and Brown.

[@imhardforhardbop]

Lee Morgan is my favorite jazz musician but I would agree with this. I think if Clifford Brown didn’t pass away young, he would have surpassed Lee Morgan and definitely would’ve competed Miles for the top spot.

[@Jesse615]

One thing I find so intriguing is that 'Trane influenced as many, if not more, guitarists, particularly rock/pop guitarists, than sax players. The Byrds' Roger McGuinn has mentioned that the intro solo and solo in Eight Miles High was inspired by Coltrane.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

True!

[@user-et7rw5ii1m]

Thank you

[@robstevens9590]

Great list! I guess history will show if #10 should be on the list.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

True!

[@tatedavis2016]

I’ll go ahead and rattle off some jazz albums that have helped me be a better drummer: Sonny Stitt- Blows The Blues John Coltrane- Crescent John Coltrane- Black Pearls Joe Henderson- In Japan Joe Henderson- Power To The People Freddie Hubbard- Red Clay Ornette Coleman- The Empty Foxhole Sonny Rollins- Saxophone Colossus Sonny Rollins- Tenor Madness Lee Morgan- Cornbread

[@tkotaylor758]

Great video...and info...would like to mention Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters....Return to Forevers Whwew have ive known you before...Weather Reports Sweetnighter....Billy Cobhams Spectrum....also artists Wes Montgomery...John McLachlan. ..I know these lists are opinion based and salute to you job well done...

[@henrytberry]

I was surprised how much I agreed with this list. I didn't have a quibble with any of the first seven selections, and only disagreed with the choice of Giant Steps because I would have put Blue Train there, but then it's my favorite jazz album by anybody. Giant Steps may be more representative of Coltrane's development, but Blue Train is just better to listen to, if for nothing else because of Lee Morgan. Coltrane supposedly said that it was his favorite of the albums he did as a leader, and I wonder where he would have ranked Kind of Blue among albums he was on. (I don't really count the Hot Five and Hot Seven collection as an album, because then arguably it would be in there with Blue Train, and maybe even have the edge.) I'm not crazy about Bitches Brew, or about late Miles Davis in general; that's partly because I never cared much for fusion, and I also thought that Davis became increasingly contemptuous of his audience during his latter period. I have seen Kurt Rosenwinkel at the Vanguard a few times and you are right, he's terrific. So nine out of ten - I'm not arguing that Giant Steps isn't a great choice - isn't bad.

[@Charlie-xx2wj]

My jazz preferences are: * New Orleans Jazz Band * Sactchmo and Ella * Stan Kenton Band * Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson * Duke Ellington Big Band "The A Train" * Nat King Cole Trio * Bill Evans Trio * Ramsey Lewis Quintet * Art Tatum in "Tea for Two (1937)" * Oscar Peterson * Marianne McPartland in "Birdland" * Chet Baker in "Let's Get Lost" * Frank Sinatra * Tony Bennett * Bobby Darin "Mack the Knife" * The Modern Jazz Quartet * Stan Getz in "Girl from Ipanema" * Gilbreto Jobim "Bossa Nova" * Blues Brother band

[@TurambarRO]

Great podcast. Thanks! However, significant misses Thelonious Monk - Monk’s Music (1957) Charles Mingus - Ah Um (1959) Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder (1964) Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz / Gilberto (1964) Weather Report - Heavy Weather (1977) Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson Live! (1986)

[@damianbiondo812]

Yeah, there are just SO MANY damned fine jazz albums. Getz/Gilberto is on my list of 10 "Desert Island" albums. So is Giant Steps and Kind of Blue.

[@randybailin4902]

A Love Supreme really should be on any top 10 list of best jazz albums. It's an experience unlike any other.

[@nogoogleplus]

Love the channel👍 Is that a Victor Baker 14” guitar you have there?

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thank you! It's a Victor Baker custom-made. You can find more details in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r56ViZV3i6lse8U

[@jimcollins8010]

Benny Carter, Future Definitions. Jazz's greatest arranger and a wonderful composer and voice on alto.

[@JasonElliot]

Deep Song is an incredible album!

[@beerybill]

"Best" is subjective. A quote attributed to Monk runs something like music has to be pleasing to the ear.

[@MarkRodeSculpture]

Really enjoy the Inner Circle. Very in formative video Brent. Thanks. I will seek out those I don't have.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thanks, Mark!

[@billclarke3773]

Mexican Green by the Tubby Hayes Quartet 1967. My favourite jazz record.

[@MrHobo71]

A top ten list is hard. I'd have put Sun Ra on there somewhere, dropped the last guy from the eighties. Maybe use on of Sun Ra's seventies records like space is the place.

[@petepoulos]

Does anyone consider Man from Two Worlds by Chico Hamilton, Gary McFarland and Bill Evans at Town Hall, Art Pepper Meets The Rythym Section for starters?

[@freddixon2902]

My pick for modern jazz is Grover Washington Jr Mister magic.

[@hansgjerstad8895]

Duke Ellington's 'New Orleans suite' is an often overlooked gem btw..

[@ummagumma7826]

What do you think of Coltrane's Ascension and if you like/love it how often do you listen start to finish?

[@rafamartinez7130]

Hi, after the 60' quite difficult to chose. But in my humbling opinion the most relevant fussion is with latin music. Bosanova has huge influence. You also have Santana from Mexico, and many caribean musicians, difficult to chose one...

[@deveryshepardson3640]

This list could include many more of Miles Davis’ albums. Sketches of Spain, in a Silent Way, etc etc etc.

[@davidfarlinger4088]

I've never heard of the expression "modern jazz" used for music that is after 1985. I have read a lot about jazz and "modern jazz" has always referred to the music from 1945 to 1960 such as bebop, hard bop and cool jazz. Also post-bop is a style of playing and composition developed by Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock in the 1960's It's kind of impossible to list what are the greatest jazz albums but these come to mind: Miles Smiles, Charlie Parker, the Savoy Recordings, Duke Ellington Masterpieces Vol. 2, Mingus Ah Um, Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard, Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil, Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Monk's Dream, Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch, Keith Jarrett's Facing You and John Abercrombie's Timeless. In early recordings there are often different iterations of "Albums" since they are compiling recordings from the era before the advent of the long playing LP record (1953) and these were often recompiled onto CD recordings. Now the concept of the album may be fading away as we rely more on playlists, apple music compilations and just surfing around to watch videos and old film footage,

[@Muzik20]

Crucial albums missing: Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream Charles Mingus - Ah Um Charles Mingus - The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Cecil Taylor - Jazz Advance Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Lee Morgan - Search for the New Land

[@reedbass5644]

I'm surprised that Basie and Monk aren't included! Also, Pat Metheny is missing: he's the biggest influence on modern jazz guitarists, including Rosenwinkle

[@willemmoller6736]

agree with you on all 10 choices, all essential to know what jazz is about. as for the last one, I could argue a Snarky Puppy album just because their music is so diverse and incorporates so many sounds and styles that typify modern jazz, but I do love Kurt's playing, so . . . good job

[@ernestdenov3599]

I have all of those albums except the Louis Armstrong and Ornette Coleman ones. I never could get into Ornette's thing. Still, not bad! I've been playing jazz for over 40 years, although the bulk of my income comes from playing pop music. Unfortunately, it's pretty difficult to make a living playing jazz for most practitioners.

[@Eric-ff4bf]

Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool, Thelonious Monk's Straight No Chaser also worth studying.

[@ugaais]

Miles Davis Kind of Blue and Seven Steps to Heaven

[@zootmojo]

You cite "Satin Doll" and "Take the 'A' Train" in reference to Duke Ellington. Both were written by Billy Strayhorn. The Newport album is fine, but it by no means represents the best of Ellington. His music from the end of the '30s and into the '40s is supreme, and for a late work you can't do better than "The Far East Suite," which does include collaborations with Strayhorn.

[@otisdylan9532]

This is a well-chosen set of artists to represent jazz history. The only disagreement that I have is that I would have chosen Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band to represent Ellington. It's Ellington at his absolute peak, and it's a truer representation of swing than the Newport album, which was recorded 10 years after the swing era was over.

[@bigearl33]

I nominate, Lee Morgan - 'The Sidewinder" ... amongst others

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great album!

[@tedpowers2045]

I listened to Wayne Shorter blue note stuff like Speak No Evil. Has Lee Morgan who was a monster

[@victorcowboywest]

My list: 'Now Is The Time ' Sonny Rollins, 'A Day In The Like: Wes Montgomery

[@daveyewart4289]

Tuba skinny cannot be overlooked😢😢

[@nickwills1212]

Dear​ Bill​ Murphy.​ I​ couldn't​ agree more.​ Clifford​ was​ a​ marvel and​ far​ outshone Miles​ as​ a​ player.​ His​ death​ at​ age​ 26​ was​ a​ tragedy for​ all​ music​ not​ just​ jazz.​ He​ played​ trumpet​ with​ the​ brio and​ verve that​ no​ one​ had​ since Louis.​ He​ was​ great​ also​ in​ a​ band​ support​ing​ and​energizing singer​s​ like​ Sarah​ Vaughan​ and​ Helen​ Merrill.​ Great​ CB Album​s​ include in​ Paris, with​ Max​ Roach​ and, my​ favourite, A​ Night​ At​ Bird​land​ with​ Art​ Blakey.​ CB​ was​ a​ talent​ed​ composer​ too.​ Had​ he​ lived, we​ might​ have​ seen a​ resurgence of​ popularity of​ jazz​ and​ avoided much​ of​ the​ fusion misdirection​and​ down​right​ trash.

[@billmurphy3510]

For sure - his takes on The song is you from Paris are unique. What is even more impressive is that when you study him you see that some of his lines are very simple scale runs which everyone practices but can't include so easily and effortlessly in his playing. His music just flows in a way that it very unique - it can be liked even by people that don't like jazz. This whole evolution not only fusion but the modern playing - playing outside, melodic cells, pentatonic patterns I just can't get and I try every couple of years. I appreciate their technique but it just does not have that melodic element to it for me. Older jazz was primarily music. Now it is turned to be primarily jazz and not so much just an evolution of pop songs where it all started.

[@nickwills1212]

@@billmurphy3510I agree, Bill. What I love perhaps the most (?) about jazz is the amazing variety of sounds that a jazz instrument can produce. Classical devotees never seem to mention this. I love Gervase de Peyer playing Mozart's clarinet music, but then I can sit back, enjoy (and laugh!) at the wonderful sounds produced by Pee Wee Russell! Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman don't sound the same. Hawkins, Webster, Rollins, Getz, all so different in sound. Nobody sounds like Bix. And only Louis had that youthful golden tone that CB had. When people talk about the Bell on a trumpet I immediately think of Clifford, certainly not of Miles. Miles was clever to exploit so successfully the Harmon mute and I love albums like 'Workin' and 'Steamin'. I love his early work and his Carnegie Hall concert. Technique, of course, is no substitute for musicality and 'soul'. Love Art Tatum and I guess you'll love Otis Spann. I'm a great believer that great songs have shaped much of what is wonderful in all music for more than 100 years. Classical music has under appreciated this and suffered accordingly. So has 'fusion' or whatever people want to call it. Jazz singers today are rarely jazz singers. I almost never hear a good one. They all claim to have learned from Sarah and Billie and Ella - very few have, I think. I heard Samara Joy for the first time recently. A good jazz voice, inflection, swing, musicality, good feeling for lyrics BUT her backing group sounded like something from the 1940s! Have these jazz producers never listened to Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Rowles, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis etc. etc. ?

[@normanhall8435]

Helen Merrill, what a great singer and she has been forgotten. I have many of her records and love her style.

[@dhannysvallejocevallos6059]

A modern and an absolute great jazz band is phronesis and they have a lot of great songs like walking dark or Abraham's new gift. you should check this band out, I believe you should like it.

[@umbertoalbarella1645]

your list makes sense and you present it very well. Of course, I disagree, but that is natural. My list is not in chronological order but here you are: Davis, Miles Kind of blue Ellington, Duke Complete Columbia and RCA Victor sessions with Ben Webster Coltrane, John The complete 1961 Village Vanguard tapes Parker, Charlie Complete Dial masters Mingus, Charles Ah um Evans, Bill The complete Village Vanguard recordings Monk, Thelonious Genius of modern music volume 2 Dolphy, Eric Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot volume 1 Taylor, Cecil Jumpin' punkins Coleman, Ornette Beauty is a rare thing - the complete Atlantic recordings

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thank you for sharing your choices. I appreciate it!

[@codymusial1706]

Instead of Duke Ellington for the swing era, the long solos are not characteristic of the era. I would definitely listen to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall. It is much more representative of the music that was popular during the day. Also many musicians that played with Benny Goodman also started their own swing orchestras like Gene Krupa and Bunny Berigan. For bebop I really enjoy Anita O'Day and Hendricks, Lambert and Ross. Specifically the album The Hottest New Group In Jazz.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Goodman is definitely another important one for the swing era

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Miles & Coltrane - "Kind of Blue" 1959 = Trust Me !!!

[@jazzbeau507]

Learning Jazz standards....listen to Felix Grant 1945-1993 in Washington, DC, mostly on WMAL...

[@deannesbitt2079]

What about the great Wes Montgomery. What a musician!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Definitely an important jazz figure Dean!

[@trevorgreen1764]

Yes! Smokin' At The Halfnote!

[@nickwills1212]

Even​ sadder.​ Clifford​ killed​ in​ a​ road​ accident​ at​ age​ 25.​ Want​ to​ know​ how​ fellow​ trumpeters regard CB? Listen​ to​ Roy​ Hargrove's marvellous and​ emotional live​ tribute​ on​ Benny​ Golson's 'I​ Remember​ Clifford'. We​ should​ all​ remember!

[@SurcosdeJazz]

Nice selection! I like the idea of selecting according jazz eras or styles. Would you let me comment your video in my channel? It is about jazz records precisely.

[@williamnemecek6608]

One of the best is the Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert from January 16,1938

[@orangerooster73]

I prefer Headhunters or Manchild from Herbie hancock over bitches brew for Fusion but hard to pick just one.

[@SJ-ke9gq]

Interesting selection. Thankyou. ....Sun Ra / Arkestra .????👾👽🚀🪐

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Sun Ra is def an important musician worth mentioning!

[@milesconstable4132]

I guess it’s tough to separate amazing musicians, like Theloneous Monk, from the innovative, influential ones, like Miles Davis. I love Monk’s amazing keyboard work, but I have no idea if he influenced others.

[@normanhall8435]

I heard Bill Evans say he was influenced by Monk. Monk was unique for sure.

[@j-2312]

Ich habe gerne die 10 besten Alben gesehen, allerdings, wo ist der Chet Baker???

[@arnelarsen4379]

Hi - your are an expert here for sure - but have you considered Maria Schneider (with 7 Grammy-wins). To me her 2020 2CD-release "Data Lords (A Story Of Two Worlds ...) by The Maria Schneider Orchestra, maybe is one of the greatest albums of all time. Her 2015 release "The Thompson Fields" is in my opinion almost also "up there".

[@KrisVComm]

For the fusion…just feel like you could’ve put in something other than Miles again. What about Weather Report, Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc.? I mean…Miles for Fusion? Heck, even the Yellowjackets would be totally acceptable

[@Learnjazzstandards]

All you mentioned are definitely important as well!

[@KrisVComm]

@@Learnjazzstandards I keep seeing these "Top 10" lists and notice that most of them stop short of the late 1970s and 1980s. While the origination of Jazz and its early development is fundamental, there can be no doubt that a modern renaissance took place in the era I just mentioned. With the advent of modern instrumentation came a fresh resurgence of creativity unlike anything else. Would be really cool to see a list of "must haves" which feature more modern legends (smooth Jazz excluded, of course LOL). I think there are even places of importance for groups like The (Dixie) Dregs and more fire-breathing "Fusion". I mean, as a sax player, who would I rather emulate in today's world? Charlie Parker, or Michael Brecker? Just sayn...

[@61hink]

10 is just an unworkably small number I guess. I would have liked to have seen Sonny Rollins' "Saxophone Collosus". That said, sax always seems over-represented in these lists. Gary Burton or Wes Montgomery or Stephane Grappelli or Billie Holiday would have been good choices but there are at least 20 or 30 others as well. Another thought, the leader always gets the credit - Bill Evans was amazing but people only mention Miles.

[@yttean98]

If I remember correctly Wynton Marsalis said that Jazz had reached its pinnacle. Do you agree? Wynton Marsalis is not mentioned here why? Looks like he is not that influential. BTW I seldom listen to his playing and am not really familiar with many of the songs he composed. Past masters are the best and almost all of them are blacks. BTW this video gives some useful info, thanks.