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The Best Jazz Albums Ever!

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About The Best Jazz Albums List

My first Jazz epiphany occurred when I heard "Kind Of Blue" on the radio, a classic Miles Davis album that gave me the goosebumps. It's that light happy feeling you get when you've heard something truly beautiful but the sound is too amazing for your brain to comprehend. Before that point, the Jazz I occasionally overheard was the more contemporary dissonant "out-there" kind of material that required a well-trained ear to appreciate. And I was quite jaded over most of the formulaic garbage in the mainstream. So, I experienced something truly "religious." Like the first tourist to rediscover the ancient pyramids. Constructs built by geniuses left in a wasteland for future generations.

But the problem is that there is so much great jazz out there that anyone willing to learn about it has to sift through a lot of junk, surf through a lot of pages to find quality that meets high standards.

So, I've created this page in the hope that you will also have as pleasant an experience as I did. Authentic Jazz speaks to the heart because it is a fusion of culture, history, and raw skill. It is many things to many people and there is such a variety of Jazz that there is probably one that will catch your ear and make your heart flutter with excitement.

So, please do vote for what you think the best Jazz albums are, right here. Add great titles to the list or simply find the best Jazz albums to listen to. You can even grab the whole thing as an RSS feed or a widget for your blog. The "best" Jazz albums would probably be located at the top of the rankings list. However, that doesn't mean that it's also "the" best so check out some of our top recommendations below as well!

Anyways, I hope my "Best Jazz Albums" list brings or makes Jazz enthusiasts out of its readers. I hope that you come here with great ideas that you are willing to share so that anyone interested can learn more about how wonderful Jazz really is. Please do give me some pointers about Jazz in general because I want the lens to be a helpful resource. Any comments are appreciated. Add to or correct the list because your opinion matters. Thanks in advance for checking out my humble, but jazzy, patch in the vast internet.

Image: Pixomar / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Best Jazz Albums in Your Language

Some Great Jazz Albums

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Jazz Links, Community, and History

If you want to know more about Jazz or discover new Jazz genres, albums, artists, and songs, I've put together this list of links. Also, I've included a few links if you want to help get the word out.
A List of Jazz Genres
This link takes you to the wiki list of Jazz genres.
Amazon's 100 Best Jazz Albums of All Time
You'll notice some similarities and differences between my list and their list, but it's always a good idea to check lists for exactly what you want.
The best Jazz community online.
There are a lot of great people in this Jazz community (2.5 million or so!). You can find fellow musicians, jazz fans, jazz history buffs, and jazz recommendations. You get the idea. A truly profound resource for anyone on the lookout for great jazz.
A wiki article about jazz generally.
Skip to the wiki section you are interested once you are there.
Discover great jazz music you've never heard before.
If you haven't heard of Pandora, you should Google it or click on the link. I find this to be a profoundly helpful tool to discover both old and new music.Type in any of the artists listed on this page for a listen.
Submit this page to Stumbleupon
If you like this page, get the word out.
Give your thumbs up on Digg.com
If you like this page, get the word out. This is another great way to do that.

List of Best Jazz Albums

Vote for what you think should be the best jazz albums or add a new title & description!

You have to be a Squidoo member to vote or submit new albums to our list.

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Ella & Louis - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Every song in Ella and Louis makes me smile with nostalgia. more...8 points

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Time Out - Dave Brubeck

Time Out is highly recommended for any who are interested more...6 points

3

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Blue Train - John Coltrane

Blue Train is John Coltrane's first album as a leader. more...6 points

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My Favorite Things - John Coltrane

Coltrane's My Favorite Things with pianist McCoy Tyner more...5 points

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Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock

Maiden Voyage is an absolute classic from its period. more...5 points

6

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Kind Of Blue - Miles Davis

Kind Of Blue is the bible of 21st century Jazz. What more...4 points

7

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Mingus Ah Um - Charles Mingus

Mingus Ah Um features many lush songs that contain more...3 points

8

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A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is a masterpiece that was recorded in more...3 points

9

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Brilliant Corners - Thelonious Monk

Brilliant Corners is a great pleasure to listen to. more...3 points

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Hot Fives & Sevens - Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong: Hot Fives & Sevens is a period more...3 points

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Lady Day - Billie Holiday

Lady Day provides a generous collection of Billie Holiday's more...3 points

12

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Getz/Gilberto - Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto

Getz/Gilberto won the Grammy award in 1965. It created more...2 points

13

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Somethin' Else - Cannonball Adderly

Somethin' Else is an understatement when you consider more...2 points

14

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Giant Steps - John Coltrane

Giant Steps is an album for musicians and bridges two more...2 points

15

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Moanin' - Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

Moanin' was released by Blue Note Records in 1958 and more...2 points

16

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Waltz for Debby - Bill Evans Trio

Waltz for Debby shows how Evans can manipulate sounds more...2 points

17

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The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan

The Sidewinder is one of the higher quality Blue Note more...2 points

18

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Song for My Father - The Horace Silver Quintet

Song For My Father is a perfect album to get into jazz more...2 points

19

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Night Train - The Oscar Peterson Trio

Night Train is one of the best jazz piano albums out more...2 points

20

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Soul Station - Hank Mobley

In Soul Station, Hank Mobley performs calmly yet with more...2 points

21

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Meets the Rhythm Section - Art Pepper

In Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, we find Art more...2 points

22

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Sinatra At the Sands - Frank Sinatra

Sinatra At The Sands was recorded in 1966. It was the more...2 points

23

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Round About Midnight - Miles Davis

'Round About Midnight demonstrates Miles Davis' continued more...2 points

24

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Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus - Charles Mingus

Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus captures Mingus, more...2 points

25

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Complete Village Vanguard Recordings - Bill Evans

The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 is a more...1 point

26

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Ellington at Newport - Duke Ellington

Ellington At Newport 1956 (Complete) is a historic more...1 point

27

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Jazz at Massey Hall or The Greatest Concert Ever - Charlie Parker

Jazz at Massey Hall is an impressive gathering of talent more...1 point

28

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Concert by the Sea - Errol Garner

Concert By The Sea doesn't exclude the musician from more...1 point

29

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The Shape of Jazz to Come - Ornette Coleman

The Shape Of Jazz To Come is a wonderful album. This more...1 point

30

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Speak no Evil - Wayne Shorter

Speak No Evil is all about how five artists play in more...1 point

31

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The Savoy & Dial Studio Sessions - Charlie Parker

The Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings are the very more...1 point

32

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Incredible Jazz Guitar - Wes Montgomery

In Incredible Jazz Guitar, Wes Montgomery performs more...1 point

33

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Go! - Dexter Gordon

Go! is all about moving forward. Finishing at around more...1 point

34

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The Best of Chet Baker Sings - Chet Baker

If you like Michael Buble, check out Chet Baker. In more...1 point

35

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In a Silent Way - Miles Davis

In A Silent Way is an early example of ambient music, more...1 point

36

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Midnight Blue - Kenny Burrell

I love Midnight Blue. Kenny Burrell plucks heartstrings more...1 point

37

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Study in Brown - Clifford Brown & Max Roach

Study In Brown opens with "Cherokee," and, more...1 point

38

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The Real McCoy - McCoy Tyner

The Real McCoy lives up to its name. McCoy Tyner, Elvin more...1 point

39

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At Carnegie Hall - Thelonious Monk w/ John Coltrane

At Carnegie Hall is one of my personal favorites. It more...1 point

40

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The Best of the Song Books - Ella Fitzgerald

The Best Of The Song Books has some wonderful Ella more...1 point

41

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Our Man in Paris - Dexter Gordon

Our Man In Paris is one of the first albums that I more...1 point

42

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The Genius of the Electric Guitar - Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman

On The Genius Of The Electric Guitar, Charlie Christian more...1 point

43

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Extended Play: Live at Birdland - Dave Holland Quintet

Extended Play - Live At Birdland is unlike conference more...1 point

44

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Eternal - Branford Marsalis Quartet

Eternal is a classic mellow ballad album. What to listen more...1 point

45

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Nocturne - Charlie Haden

Nocturne is a love affair of 1940's era jazz. Stylish, more...1 point

46

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Subconscious-Lee - Lee Konitz

Check out Tristano students at their absolute best. more...1 point

47

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Out to Lunch - Eric Dolphy

Not for Jazz newbies, Out To Lunch is a fine vintage more...0 points

48

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Jaco Pastorius - Jaco Pastorius

Jaco Pastorius is a diverse collection of masterful more...0 points

49

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Back At The Chicken Shack - Jimmy Smith

In Back At The Chicken Shack, Jazz organist Jimmy Smith more...0 points

50

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A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 - Art Blakey Quintet

A Night At Birdland, Vol. 1 kicks with relentless hard more...0 points

51

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The Best of Thelonious Monk: The Blue Note Years - Thelonious Monk

The Best of Thelonious Monk: The Blue Note Years contains more...0 points

52

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All For You - Diana Krall

All For You is a Diana Krall tribute to Nat King Cole. more...0 points

53

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Sonny Side Up - Gillespie, Rollins & Stitt

Sonny Side Up is an album that is still smoking decades more...0 points

54

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Conference of the Birds - Dave Holland Quartet

Conference Of The Birds shows how jazz evolved through more...0 points

55

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Black Codes - Wynton Marsalis

Black Codes is a high point of 80's jazz. This album more...0 points

56

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Blue Light 'Til Dawn - Cassandra Wilson

In Blue Light 'Til Dawn, Cassandra displays a postmodern more...0 points

57

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These are the Vistas - The Bad Plus

These Are The Vistas doesn't fit traditional jazz molds more...0 points

58

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Day is Done - Brad Mehldau Trio

Day Is Done is a favorite. Brad Mehldau performs an more...0 points

59

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Footprints Live! - Wayne Shorter

Footprints - Live puts Wayne Shorter on the best jazz more...0 points

60

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Strange Liberation - Dave Douglas

Strange Liberation is Dave Douglas in Miles. The tracks more...0 points

61

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Soul of Things - Thomasz Stanko Quartet

Soul Of Things is best played with a glass of wine more...0 points

62

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Careless Love - Madeleine Peyroux

Careless Love is an instant classic. Peyroux's voice more...0 points

63

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Changing Places - Tord Gustavsen Trio

Changing Places is subtle, quiet, and rich. It requires more...0 points

64

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Momentum - Joshua Redman Elastic Band

Momentum is fun, funky, progressive fusion. Names like more...0 points

65

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Live at the House of Tribes - Wynton Marsalis

On Live at The House Of Tribes, Marsalis wails to a more...0 points

66

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Last Option - 8 Bold Souls

Last Option sounds of Mingus and Ellington with an more...0 points

67

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Ivey Divey - Don Byron

Clarinetist Don Byron is at his best in Ivey-Divey more...0 points

68

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Faces & Places - Joe Zawinul

World Jazz album Faces & Places contains multiple more...0 points

69

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The Way Up - Pat Methany Group

68 minutes with The Way Up challenges the ear with more...0 points

70

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Wake Up! (To What's Happening) - Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts

Wake Up! (to what's happening): a widely varied, all-over-the-map more...0 points

71

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Up For It - Keith Jarrett

In Up For It,the Keith Jarrett trio show their musical more...0 points

72

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Loverly - Cassandra Wilson

Loverly demonstrates Cassandra's versatility in jazz more...0 points

73

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Garden of Eden - Paul Motian Band

In Garden Of Eden, Paul Motian's Electric Be Bop Band more...0 points

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Viaticum - Esbjorn Svensson Trio

Viaticum contains tense, contemporary jazz sound with more...0 points

75

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Beyond - Joshua Redman

In Beyond, Redman shines with his own fully developed more...0 points

76

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Give - The Bad Plus

Give gives. Not exactly resembling Ornette Coleman, more...0 points

77

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On the Rising of the 64 Paths - Steve Coleman & Five Elements

The apt title of On the Rising of the 64 Paths evokes more...0 points

78

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Smile - Jacky Terrasson

Smile, you'll enjoy this. Pianist Terrasson explores more...0 points

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Soul on Soul - Dave Douglas

Soul on Soul explores Mary-Lou Williams' compositions more...0 points

More Favorites

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Recent Best Jazz Albums

Most of what is in the Best Jazz Album List is missing out on a lot of the talent that is out there right now. So, I've put this shorter list up for you. Feel free to add to it or vote up or down.

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Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian - Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, & Paul Motian present more...2 points

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Historicity - Vijay Iyer

Jazz piano greatness. more...1 point

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Connections - Jon Crowley

Connections was released in 2009. Crowley plays his more...1 point

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East-West - Bill Frisell

In East-West, Frisell displays his unique talent and more...1 point

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Purpose Built - Michael Janisch

A rising star in the UK. Listen to the samples and more...0 points

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Never Stop - The Bad Plus

Never Stop has The Bad Plus sound that its fans are more...0 points

Contributing to the List of Best Jazz Albums

Please do add your own favorite jazz albums for others to vote on! I can't possibly know about every great album out there. Why leave it up to one man when there are loads of you Jazz lovers out there just itching to recommend your fave. I manually approve each submission, so your suggestions might take some time to be published here. In the spirit of jazz free-mindedness, all submissions of any genre are welcome, so make sure to correct me if I've missed some great albums. To save time in sorting through your submissions, please search (CTRL+F) for the title before adding so I don't get duplicates.

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Recent Favorite Jazz Albums

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Best Jazz Albums Duel

What do you think about Jazz? Make your choice...

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Jazz is Awesome!

amicaduo says:

I am a classical musician who also happens to enjoy playing jazz - both styles are equally great - as Amica Duo we crossover both of these styles

elcubano says:

Didn't like Miles Davis. Then I heard "Kind of Blue". Oh man what a great album. Just started listening to Oscar Peterson. What great music after a long day of dealing with the stuff that goes on at work.

theeoriginal1 says:

nothing relaxes me after a long day like some good Jazz music.

billsolano says:

Jazz is always at the top of my list, great lens

SallyForth says:

I love jazz. I like a wide range of music, but jazz is my favorite. I especially love singing live jazz with a jazz combo. There is nothing better than that, although singing jazz karaoke is a close second. :-)

NimaB says:

Wait! I think you left MY father out! Shame on you..., just teasing. But seriously, I think growing up surrounded by jazz has had a huge influence on my first preference. still I listen to everything from Evanescence to Etta J. to Nine Inch Nails. But my first love is jazz no doubt about it!

polkmn says:

Well, listen to the jazz make me peaceful.

says:

I quite like Jazz, its nice music and you can tell people who play it have a big passion for it. Nice lens too, very interesting and informative

naheedahsan says:

jazz is simply awesome..... and i just love it...

Vallygems1 says:

Have a wide choice in music but Jazz is right up their at the top

BlueTrane says:

Jazz is my bread 'n buttuh!

elijazz says:

Jazz is one of America's contribution to the arts. To me, it's an essential part of everyday life.

Samrsmiley says:

Love it. Great list. Glad to see some off the beaten path stuff. Good work

redleafloans says:

Great list of jazz albums. Some of them I haven't heard yet. I guess now is the time...:) Thank you so much for sharing this information.

tcorbs says:

I love Jazz, go Esparenza Spalding!

I enjoy other music more than Jazz.

desertdarlene says:

I like some jazz, but I like other music, too.

CountrySunshine says:

Jazz is ok, and there are some great tunes & artists out there. But I still prefer other genres

Elhamstero says:

I try hard to like jazz, but often find there's just "too many notes".

stevewdewitt says:

I like the blues a little more

FreelancinFran says:

I usually prefer other genres but this list was awesome!

stacyman says:

I'm a rock and roll man myself but my wife likes jazz.

cwkerns says:

My musical styles and likes are very diverse, I do enjoy Jazz, classical and other styles of music, my favorite and my forte however is Southern Gospel Music.

jtaw says:

Very Nice Lens!

kl2534 says:

I have to be in the right mood to really enjoy this kind of music but the information here covers alot of ground I haven't gotten to yet. Thanks

scruffymind says:

I like Jazz occassionally but it is not my primary music genre

Resjes says:

Jazz is great - just not my typical genre of music.

TopTenLists says:

superb list. I have to be in the right mood to enjoy jazz but even I recognise a lot of these legends.

juliebirch says:

I have a wide variety of taste. I enjoy Jazz to listen to, but tend to play more R & B at home

sugunalinus says:

I especially like the saxophone, because i know how difficult it is to use that since i tried. The authority with which leads the jazz music is fantastic.

greenspirit says:

When it's time for jazz, I love it best. When it's time for something else, I love that best also. Bluette by Dave brubeck is just the best thing sometimes.

 
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Reader Feedback

  • evaemilie Apr 23, 2012 @ 10:00 am | delete
    Lots of ideas for new albums to explore ;)
  • theeoriginal1 Feb 28, 2012 @ 12:27 pm | delete
    I'm really liking this lens....straight to the point and some great lists of albums....thanks.
  • TrialError Feb 27, 2012 @ 11:50 am | delete
    That's a pretty good list with some I don't know. I'll have to check them out. Thanks.
  • Khali64 Feb 27, 2012 @ 3:28 am | delete
    Great lens and great music. I am not familiar with some of the songs on your lists, so I can't wait to check them out.
  • themanistheonlyman Feb 24, 2012 @ 9:16 pm | delete
    I definitely have to agree that Time Out is a great album
  • SallyForth Feb 22, 2012 @ 1:32 am | delete
    Thank you for a great lens on the best jazz albums! You definitely have the great ones listed here.
  • NimaB Feb 18, 2012 @ 6:34 pm | delete
    This is a well thought out and a very informative lens, can't wait to hear more of the albums on your list! FANTASTIC and THANKS!
  • TenPoundTenor Feb 13, 2012 @ 2:23 pm | delete
    Lreat list. Love it.
  • desertdarlene Jan 30, 2012 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    I like your lens, very informative and gives me lots of information for the next jazz album I might want to buy of download.
  • RandomChuck Jan 29, 2012 @ 11:05 pm | delete
    Had a quick listen to A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. I've always enjoyed jazz; need to get more of it. Thanks for making this lens.
  • stylesuxx Jan 19, 2012 @ 7:10 pm | delete
    I like the album list a lot, some stuff in there I did not knew about.
  • Hypersapien Jan 18, 2012 @ 12:23 pm | delete
    Great selections! I applaud your taste in music!
  • polkmn Jan 13, 2012 @ 8:13 am | delete
    I must update my playlists. :)
  • CountrySunshine Jan 9, 2012 @ 7:54 pm | delete
    Takes me back to my college days when I took "History of Jazz". Very good, and complete listing of all the best!
  • naheedahsan Dec 28, 2011 @ 7:31 am | delete
    i like Dave Brubeck.........
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Mktgru

Nate lives in Seattle where he spends countless hours in his quest to write quality content. He loves jazz, weightlifting, and cultivating bonsai.

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