I have a question

Sootsunderland · Jun 25, 2020

What are some of the best jazz albums of all time?

Ed Driscoll · Jun 25, 2020

Sootsunderland said:
What are some of the best jazz albums of all time?

In what genre? Prior to the arrival of the Beatles, jazz was the popular music of America, and encompasses everything from the swing bands of Benny Goodman to the bebop of Dizzy Gillespie. Look at all the sub-genres of jazz that Miles Davis explored: bop, cool jazz, the sophisticated orchestral arrangements of Gil Evans on his albums Porgy and Bess and Sketches of Spain, to the modal jazz of Kind of Blue, to jazz rock fusion on Bitches Brew and the much more accessible Jack Johnson.

(And incidentally, all of those albums would qualify as some of the best jazz albums of all time. But starting with the dissonance of Bitches Brew might be diving into the deep end a bit too soon.)

Bertogne · Jun 25, 2020

ED is absolutely right. If you have spotify or apple music or even pandora then just start experimenting to see what trips yer trigger.
This is a good but very broad list: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/erikfish/best_jazz_albums_of_all_time___22_lists_combined/

Ed Driscoll · Jun 25, 2020

Bertogne said:
ED is absolutely right. If you have spotify or apple music or even pandora then just start experimenting to see what trips yer trigger.
This is a good but very broad list: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/erikfish/best_jazz_albums_of_all_time___22_lists_combined/

That's a great list. The only person on that list I couldn't handle is Ornette Coleman. I borrowed The Shape of Jazz to Come from the college library's record collection, and just went :bigal

But this stuff is quite personal. I found Coltrane's Love Supreme to be a knockout, played it to the second guitarist in my college rock group, and he hated it -- saying something like, "This is music for mass murderers to listen to." :hee

mikesr1963 · Jun 26, 2020

Everyone has an opinion on this so here's mine. There are 4 superior jazz albums and they are:

Charles Mingus: Mingus Ah Um

The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue

Ornette Coleman: The Shape of Jazz to Come

fakejake · Jun 26, 2020

My recommendation would be almost anything by John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, plus Miles Davis up to the late 60ies.

LeonC · Jun 26, 2020

I agree with others who've pointed out that jazz is a huge label that covers a great deal of territory. That said, here are some of my personal favorites.

- Everyone Likes Hampton Hawes
- Red Clay - Freddie Hubbard
- Midnight Blue - Kenny Burrell
- Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock
- Triple Treat - Monty Alexander (with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown)
- Jazz Samba - Charlie Byrd

Enjoy!

J T · Jun 26, 2020

Weather Report - Heavy Weather

ourmaninthenorth · Jun 26, 2020

Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings - Richard Cook & Brian Morton.

https://images.app.goo.gl/SwwHWt4Pbt3D7jdc8

Start on page 1...don't worry if you don't like any of it...there's another 1600 pages to go at.

Then you can decide what's best.

I asked the same question 40 years ago, still haven't found the answer, but I did find a lifetime of the greatest music ever to have hit my ears.

:salude:salude

gakees · Jun 26, 2020

Joe Pass - Intercontinental or anything by Joe Pass for that matter.

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