The Definitive List: Top 100 Jazz CDs Every Collector Should Own
For jazz aficionados and newcomers alike, navigating the vast landscape of recorded music can be daunting. With decades of innovation and countless artists contributing to the genre, knowing where to start – or what to add to your collection – can feel overwhelming. This curated list of the top 100 jazz CDs aims to provide a comprehensive guide to some of the most essential and influential recordings in jazz history. From groundbreaking improvisations to timeless standards, these albums represent the diverse tapestry of jazz, showcasing its evolution and enduring appeal.
This isn’t just a list of popular albums; it’s a carefully considered selection, taking into account historical significance, artistic merit, and lasting impact. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just beginning your jazz journey, these top 100 jazz CDs offer a rich and rewarding listening experience.
The Pioneers: Early Jazz and Swing Era
The foundation of jazz lies in its early pioneers. These artists shaped the genre and laid the groundwork for future generations. These top 100 jazz CDs couldn’t exist without these building blocks.
- Louis Armstrong – Hot Fives & Sevens: Essential recordings from the trumpet virtuoso and vocalist.
- Jelly Roll Morton – Jelly Roll Morton: The Complete Library of Congress Recordings: A treasure trove of early jazz history and Morton’s insightful commentary.
- Duke Ellington – The Blanton-Webster Band: Showcasing Ellington’s compositional genius and the band’s unparalleled swing.
- Count Basie – The Complete Decca Recordings: Capturing the essence of the Basie Orchestra’s infectious rhythm.
- Benny Goodman – The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert: A landmark performance that helped popularize swing music.
The Bebop Revolution
Bebop marked a radical shift in jazz, emphasizing improvisation, complex harmonies, and virtuosic playing. These top 100 jazz CDs represent the peak of this revolutionary era. The bebop revolution shaped much of what came later.
- Charlie Parker – Bird and Diz: A collaboration between two bebop giants, Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
- Dizzy Gillespie – Groovin’ High: Showcasing Gillespie’s innovative trumpet playing and Afro-Cuban influences.
- Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners: Monk’s unique compositional style and unorthodox piano playing are on full display.
- Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1: Powell’s virtuosity and melodic inventiveness solidified his place as a bebop icon.
- Dexter Gordon – Go!: A quintessential hard bop album featuring Gordon’s commanding tenor saxophone.
Cool Jazz and Beyond
Cool jazz offered a more relaxed and introspective alternative to bebop, while other artists explored new sonic territories. Many of these albums are considered among the top 100 jazz CDs for their innovative approaches.
- Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool: A seminal album that defined the cool jazz sound.
- Dave Brubeck Quartet – Time Out: Featuring the iconic “Take Five” and other innovative time signatures.
- Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto: A landmark album that popularized bossa nova.
- Chet Baker – Chet Baker Sings: Baker’s melancholic vocals and trumpet playing created a unique and enduring sound.
- Modern Jazz Quartet – Django: Combining classical influences with jazz improvisation.
Hard Bop and Soul Jazz
Hard bop and soul jazz infused bebop with blues, gospel, and R&B influences, creating a more accessible and groove-oriented sound. These albums are frequently cited when discussing the top 100 jazz CDs.
- Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Moanin’: A classic hard bop album featuring Lee Morgan’s iconic trumpet solo.
- Horace Silver – Song for My Father: Silver’s catchy melodies and funky rhythms made him a soul jazz pioneer.
- Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else: Featuring Miles Davis as a sideman, this album is a hard bop masterpiece.
- John Coltrane – Blue Train: Coltrane’s only album as a leader for Blue Note Records, showcasing his evolving sound.
- Sonny Rollins – Saxophone Colossus: Rollins’ masterful improvisation and powerful tone are on full display.
Modal Jazz and Avant-Garde
Modal jazz and avant-garde pushed the boundaries of jazz harmony and structure, exploring new sonic possibilities. These experimental albums often appear on lists of the top 100 jazz CDs because of their boldness and innovation.
- Miles Davis – Kind of Blue: A groundbreaking album that popularized modal jazz.
- John Coltrane – A Love Supreme: A spiritual and deeply personal statement from Coltrane.
- Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come: Coleman’s free jazz explorations challenged conventional notions of harmony and melody.
- Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um: Mingus’ eclectic compositions and passionate playing made him a unique voice in jazz.
- Eric Dolphy – Out to Lunch!: Dolphy’s avant-garde explorations pushed the boundaries of jazz improvisation.
The Vocalists
Jazz vocalists brought a unique emotional depth and storytelling ability to the genre. Many of these singers have albums that appear on any list of the top 100 jazz CDs.
- Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues: Holiday’s poignant vocals and heartbreaking stories are unforgettable.
- Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book: Fitzgerald’s impeccable phrasing and vocal virtuosity are unmatched.
- Sarah Vaughan – Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown: Vaughan’s rich voice and Brown’s lyrical trumpet playing create a magical combination.
- Frank Sinatra – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!: Sinatra’s swinging vocals and masterful phrasing made him a pop icon.
- Nina Simone – I Put a Spell on You: Simone’s powerful voice and politically charged lyrics made her a force to be reckoned with.
Fusion and Beyond
Jazz fusion blended jazz with rock, funk, and other genres, creating a new and exciting sound. The top 100 jazz CDs sometimes include fusion albums that expanded the definition of jazz.
- Miles Davis – Bitches Brew: A controversial but influential album that helped launch the fusion movement.
- Weather Report – Heavy Weather: Combining jazz improvisation with rock instrumentation and electronic effects.
- Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters: Hancock’s funky and innovative fusion album became a commercial success.
- Mahavishnu Orchestra – The Inner Mounting Flame: John McLaughlin’s virtuosic guitar playing and spiritual explorations.
- Return to Forever – Romantic Warrior: Chick Corea’s complex and melodic fusion compositions.
Modern Masters
Contemporary jazz artists continue to push the boundaries of the genre, creating innovative and exciting music. The top 100 jazz CDs list wouldn’t be complete without some modern additions.
- Wynton Marsalis – Standard Time, Vol. 1: Marsalis’ commitment to tradition and his virtuosity on the trumpet.
- Brad Mehldau Trio – Art of the Trio, Vol. 1: Mehldau’s introspective and lyrical piano playing.
- Diana Krall – When I Look in Your Eyes: Krall’s sultry vocals and elegant piano playing.
- Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio: Blending jazz with hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music.
- Esperanza Spalding – Chamber Music Society: Spalding’s innovative compositions and virtuoso bass playing.
Expanding Your Collection: More Essential Listening
This list is just a starting point. The world of jazz is vast and diverse, and there’s always something new to discover. Explore different subgenres, listen to lesser-known artists, and don’t be afraid to take risks. The top 100 jazz CDs are a foundation, but the real journey is in finding your own favorites.
To round out this list of the top 100 jazz CDs, here are some additional recommendations spanning various eras and styles:
- Sidney Bechet – The Legendary Sidney Bechet
- Fats Waller – Ain’t Misbehavin’
- Coleman Hawkins – Body and Soul
- Lester Young – The Kansas City Sessions
- Charlie Christian – Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian
- Art Tatum – Piano Starts Here
- Erroll Garner – Concert by the Sea
- Oscar Peterson – Night Train
- Wes Montgomery – The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
- Bill Evans – Waltz for Debby
- Keith Jarrett – The Köln Concert
- Pat Metheny Group – Still Life (Talking)
- Joe Henderson – Page One
- Freddie Hubbard – Ready for Freddie
- Wayne Shorter – Speak No Evil
- Andrew Hill – Point of Departure
- Jackie McLean – Bluesnik
- Grant Green – Idle Moments
- Kenny Burrell – Midnight Blue
- Lee Morgan – The Sidewinder
- Hank Mobley – Soul Station
- Donald Byrd – Places and Spaces
- Jimmy Smith – The Sermon!
- Stanley Turrentine – Sugar
- Horace Parlan – Us Three
- Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’
- Kenny Dorham – Una Mas
- Clifford Brown – Clifford Brown with Strings
- Max Roach – Percussion Bitter Sweet
- Elvin Jones – Coltrane Time
- Tony Williams – Emergency!
- Sam Rivers – Fuchsia Swing Song
- Anthony Braxton – For Alto
- Cecil Taylor – Unit Structures
- Sun Ra – Space Is the Place
- Albert Ayler – Spiritual Unity
- Archie Shepp – Fire Music
- Pharoah Sanders – Karma
- Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
- Betty Carter – The Audience with Betty Carter
- Carmen McRae – Carmen Sings Monk
- Anita O’Day – Anita O’Day Swings Cole Porter with Billy May
- Mel Tormé – Tormé Meets the British
- Johnny Hartman – John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
- Shirley Horn – Here’s to Life
- Cassandra Wilson – Blue Light ’til Dawn
- Kurt Elling – The Gate
- Harry Connick Jr. – When Harry Met Sally…
- Michael Bublé – Call Me Irresponsible
- Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
- Madeleine Peyroux – Careless Love
- Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit
- Vijay Iyer – Historicity
- Jason Moran – Modernistic
- The Bad Plus – These Are the Vistas
- Brian Blade Fellowship – Perceptual
- Chris Potter Underground – Follow the Red Line
- Miguel Zenón – Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook
- Ambrose Akinmusire – When the Heart Emerges Glistening
- Terence Blanchard – A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina)
- Christian McBride – The Movement Revisited: A Musical Portrait of Four Icons
- Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana – Mehliana: Taming the Dragon
- Snarky Puppy – We Like It Here
- Robert Cray – Strong Persuader
- Etta James – At Last!
- Muddy Waters – Folk Singer
- B.B. King – Live in Cook County Jail
- Charles Brown – Blues & Sentimental
- T-Bone Walker – T-Bone Blues
- John Lee Hooker – The Healer
- Howlin’ Wolf – Moanin’ in the Moonlight
- Son House – Father of Delta Blues
- Blind Willie McTell – Statesboro Blues
- Lead Belly – Midnight Special
- Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings
- Bessie Smith – The Empress of the Blues
- Ma Rainey – Mother of the Blues
- Louis Jordan – Let the Good Times Roll: The Anthology 1938-1951
- Big Joe Turner – Boss of the Blues
- Wynonie Harris – Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town
- Ruth Brown – Miss Rhythm
- LaVern Baker – Blues Ballads
- Ray Charles – The Genius of Ray Charles
- Sam Cooke – Night Beat
- Otis Redding – Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
- Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
- Wilson Pickett – In the Midnight Hour
- Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman
- Etta James – Tell Mama
- Irma Thomas – Wish Someone Would Care
- Mavis Staples – We’ll Never Turn Back
- Aaron Neville – Warm Your Heart
- Dr. John – Gumbo
- Allen Toussaint – Life, Love and Faith
- The Meters – Rejuvenation
- Professor Longhair – Crawfish Fiesta
Ultimately, the best way to build your jazz collection is to listen widely and discover what resonates with you. This list of the top 100 jazz CDs is a valuable resource, but it’s just the beginning of a lifelong journey of musical exploration. Happy listening!
[See also: Jazz Music History]
[See also: Best Jazz Albums of the 1950s]
[See also: Modern Jazz Artists to Watch]
