Selecting the best jazz record is subjective and depends on personal preferences. However, some influential and highly acclaimed jazz albums include Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue," John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," and Duke Ellington's "Ellington at Newport."
Whether you're brand new to jazz and are looking for some recommendations, or if you're an aficionado checking how many you've already added to your collection, here are 20 of the most celebrated jazz albums throughout history...
1 - Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue" (1959)
"Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis is widely regarded as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. Released in 1959, it features Davis alongside legendary musicians such as John Coltrane and Bill Evans, exploring modal jazz in a ground breaking way. Its compositions include the iconic "So What" and "Blue in Green."
2 - John Coltrane - "A Love Supreme" (1965)
"A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane is a seminal jazz masterpiece. Released in 1965, it's a spiritual journey expressed through Coltrane's saxophone, exploring themes of spirituality, devotion, and redemption. With its innovative compositions and improvisations, this album remains a testament to Coltrane's musical genius and spiritual quest.
3 - Stan Getz & João Gilberto - "Getz/Gilberto" (1964)
"Getz/Gilberto," released in 1964, is a groundbreaking album that epitomises the bossa nova craze of the 1960s. The collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto, along with contributions from composer Antônio Carlos Jobim and vocalist Astrud Gilberto, resulted in an enchanting blend of jazz and Brazilian music.
With its iconic tracks like "The Girl from Ipanema," the album remains a timeless classic.
4 - Alice Coltrane - "Journey in Satchidananda" (1971)
A personal favourite of Holly from Atlas Records, "Journey in Satchidananda," released in 1971, showcases the spiritual essence of Alice Coltrane's music. Drawing inspiration from Indian classical music and jazz, Coltrane's compositions on this album transport listeners to meditative and ethereal worlds.
5 - Dave Brubeck - "Time Out" (1959)
"Time Out," released in 1959 by Dave Brubeck, revolutionised jazz with its innovative use of unusual time signatures. The album's iconic track "Take Five" became a jazz standard and is one of the best-known jazz compositions of all time.
6 - Billie Holiday - "Lady in Satin" (1958)
7 - Ella Fitzgerald - "Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook" (1956)
8 - Nina Simone - "I Put a Spell on You" (1965)
9 - Sarah Vaughan - "Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown" (1955)
10 - Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - "Ellington At Newport" (1956)
11 - Herbie Hancock - "Maiden Voyage" (1965)
12 - Kamasi Washington - "The Epic" (2015)
13 - Louis Armstrong - "Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy" (1954)
14 -Thelonious Monk - "Brilliant Corners" (1957)
15 - Ornette Coleman - "The Shape of Jazz to Come" (1959)
16 - Charles Mingus - "Mingus Ah Um" (1959)
17 - Chick Corea - "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" (1968)
18 - Cassandra Wilson - "Blue Light 'Til Dawn" (1993)
19 - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - "Moanin'" (1958)
20 - Wayne Shorter - "Speak No Evil" (1964)
Do you own any of these iconic jazz albums, or is there another one that you think should've made this list?
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