Essential Jazz Album Index
A genre-by-genre index of 240 curated albums. Editorial notes remain in the app.
Traditional Jazz / Dixieland
- The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens, Vol. 1Louis Armstrong · 1925
- King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, 1923King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band · 1923
- Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot PeppersJelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers · 1926
- Really the BluesSidney Bechet · 1940
- Bunk Johnson and His Superior Jazz BandBunk Johnson · 1942
- Kid Ory's Creole Jazz BandKid Ory · 1945
- Treasury of JazzEddie Condon · 1956
- Singin' the BluesBix Beiderbecke · 1927
- The Ragtime Band SessionsMuggsy Spanier · 1939
- Livery Stable BluesOriginal Dixieland Jass Band · 1917
- Jimmie Noone's Apex Club OrchestraJimmie Noone · 1928
- Satchmo at Symphony HallLouis Armstrong · 1947
- Turk Murphy's Jazz BandTurk Murphy · 1950
- George Lewis of New OrleansGeorge Lewis · 1955
- Yerba Buena Jazz BandLu Watters · 1946
- Papa Celestin and His Tuxedo Jazz BandPapa Celestin · 1954
Swing (Big Band)
- The Complete Atomic BasieCount Basie · 1958
- Ellington at NewportDuke Ellington · 1956
- Live at Carnegie Hall 1938Benny Goodman · 1938
- Begin the BeguineArtie Shaw · 1938
- Black, Brown and BeigeDuke Ellington · 1943
- For Dancers OnlyJimmie Lunceford · 1936
- Spinnin' the WebbChick Webb · 1937
- Minnie the MoocherCab Calloway · 1931
- Flying HomeLionel Hampton · 1942
- I'll Never Smile AgainTommy Dorsey · 1940
- Blowin' Up a StormWoody Herman · 1945
- CiribiribinHarry James · 1939
- Twelve Clouds of JoyAndy Kirk · 1936
- Tuxedo JunctionErskine Hawkins · 1939
- Confessin' the BluesJay McShann · 1941
- Wrappin' It UpFletcher Henderson · 1934
Vocal Jazz
- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song BookElla Fitzgerald · 1956
- Lady in SatinBillie Holiday · 1958
- Sarah Vaughan with Clifford BrownSarah Vaughan · 1954
- After MidnightNat King Cole · 1956
- In the Wee Small HoursFrank Sinatra · 1955
- Mel Tormé Swings Shubert AlleyMel Tormé · 1960
- Anita O'Day at Mister Kelly'sAnita O'Day · 1958
- Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday ClassicsCarmen McRae · 1962
- The Audience with Betty CarterBetty Carter · 1980
- Sing a Song of BasieLambert, Hendricks & Ross · 1957
- Dinah JamsDinah Washington · 1954
- Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams SingsJoe Williams with Count Basie · 1955
- The MessengerKurt Elling · 1995
- The Look of LoveDiana Krall · 2001
- Blue Light 'Til DawnCassandra Wilson · 1993
- Breakin' AwayAl Jarreau · 1981
Bebop
- Jazz at Massey HallCharlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie · 1953
- Groovin' HighDizzy Gillespie · 1945
- The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1Bud Powell · 1951
- Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1Thelonious Monk · 1947
- Bird and DizCharlie Parker · 1952
- Fat Girl: The Savoy SessionsFats Navarro · 1947
- Klook's CliqueKenny Clarke · 1956
- Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell/J.J. JohnsonSonny Stitt · 1949
- The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1J.J. Johnson · 1953
- FontainebleauTadd Dameron · 1956
- Al Haig TrioAl Haig · 1954
- Wizard of the VibesMilt Jackson · 1952
- Long Tall DexterDexter Gordon · 1947
- The New Oscar Pettiford SextetOscar Pettiford · 1953
- The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 2Bud Powell · 1953
- Dizzy Gillespie at NewportDizzy Gillespie · 1957
Latin Jazz
- Afro-Cuban JazzDizzy Gillespie & Chano Pozo · 1954
- Dance ManiaTito Puente · 1958
- Getz/GilbertoStan Getz & João Gilberto · 1964
- Soul SauceCal Tjader · 1965
- KenyaMachito & His Afro-Cubans · 1957
- Watermelon ManMongo Santamaria · 1963
- Afro-Cuban Jazz SuiteChico O'Farrill · 1950
- The Composer of Desafinado, PlaysAntonio Carlos Jobim · 1963
- Jazz SambaStan Getz & Charlie Byrd · 1962
- Sun of Latin MusicEddie Palmieri · 1974
- Cal Tjader Plays the Contemporary Music of Mexico and BrazilCal Tjader · 1962
- Live at BirdlandTito Rodríguez · 1959
- TogetherRay Barretto · 1969
- Spanish GreaseWillie Bobo · 1965
- Palo CongoSabu Martinez · 1957
- Bien Sabroso!Poncho Sanchez · 1983
Cool Jazz / West Coast Jazz
- Birth of the CoolMiles Davis · 1957
- Time OutDave Brubeck · 1959
- Chet Baker SingsChet Baker · 1954
- The Original Quartet with Chet BakerGerry Mulligan Quartet · 1953
- Lennie TristanoLennie Tristano · 1955
- Subconscious-LeeLee Konitz · 1949
- West Coast JazzStan Getz · 1955
- Take TenPaul Desmond · 1963
- Cool and CrazyShorty Rogers · 1953
- My Fair LadyShelly Manne & His Friends · 1956
- The Jimmy Giuffre 3Jimmy Giuffre · 1957
- DjangoModern Jazz Quartet · 1956
- Meets the Rhythm SectionArt Pepper · 1957
- Chico Hamilton QuintetChico Hamilton · 1955
- Something CoolJune Christy · 1954
- Down HomeZoot Sims · 1960
Hard Bop
- Moanin'Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · 1958
- Song for My FatherHorace Silver · 1964
- Saxophone ColossusSonny Rollins · 1956
- Clifford Brown and Max RoachClifford Brown & Max Roach · 1954
- Somethin' ElseCannonball Adderley · 1958
- CandyLee Morgan · 1958
- Ready for FreddieFreddie Hubbard · 1961
- Soul StationHank Mobley · 1960
- Let Freedom RingJackie McLean · 1962
- Whistle StopKenny Dorham · 1961
- Night DreamerWayne Shorter · 1964
- Page OneJoe Henderson · 1963
- This Here Is Bobby TimmonsBobby Timmons · 1960
- Meet the JazztetArt Farmer & Benny Golson · 1960
- Byrd in HandDonald Byrd · 1959
- Blue's MoodsBlue Mitchell · 1960
Soul Jazz
- The Sermon!Jimmy Smith · 1959
- The SidewinderLee Morgan · 1964
- Swiss MovementLes McCann & Eddie Harris · 1969
- The In CrowdRamsey Lewis Trio · 1965
- That's Where It's AtStanley Turrentine · 1962
- Idle MomentsGrant Green · 1963
- Boss GuitarWes Montgomery · 1963
- The HoneydripperBrother Jack McDuff · 1961
- Black Talk!Charles Earland · 1969
- On BroadwayReuben Wilson · 1968
- Trust in MeHouston Person · 1968
- Hip SoulShirley Scott · 1961
- Talk That TalkJohnny Hammond Smith · 1965
- Boss TenorGene Ammons · 1960
- Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at "The Club"Cannonball Adderley · 1966
- Soul MessageRichard Groove Holmes · 1965
Modal Jazz
- Kind of BlueMiles Davis · 1959
- My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane · 1961
- A Love SupremeJohn Coltrane · 1965
- The Real McCoyMcCoy Tyner · 1967
- Africa/BrassJohn Coltrane · 1961
- MilestonesMiles Davis · 1958
- Everybody Digs Bill EvansBill Evans · 1958
- Adam's AppleWayne Shorter · 1966
- Elvin!Elvin Jones · 1962
- KarmaPharoah Sanders · 1969
- Journey in SatchidanandaAlice Coltrane · 1971
- Eastern SoundsYusef Lateef · 1961
- At the Pershing: But Not for MeAhmad Jamal · 1958
- Breaking Point!Freddie Hubbard · 1964
- Tender MomentsMcCoy Tyner · 1967
- EvolutionGrachan Moncur III · 1963
Free Jazz (Avant-Garde)
- The Shape of Jazz to ComeOrnette Coleman · 1959
- Free Jazz: A Collective ImprovisationOrnette Coleman · 1961
- AscensionJohn Coltrane · 1966
- Spiritual UnityAlbert Ayler · 1964
- Unit StructuresCecil Taylor · 1966
- Out to LunchEric Dolphy · 1964
- The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1Sun Ra · 1965
- Fire MusicArchie Shepp · 1965
- Complete CommunionDon Cherry · 1966
- For AltoAnthony Braxton · 1969
- SoundRoscoe Mitchell · 1966
- Liberation Music OrchestraCharlie Haden · 1969
- Three for SheppMarion Brown · 1966
- Fuchsia Swing SongSam Rivers · 1964
- Science FictionOrnette Coleman · 1972
- Spirits RejoiceAlbert Ayler · 1965
Post-Bop
- Speak No EvilWayne Shorter · 1966
- Maiden VoyageHerbie Hancock · 1965
- Point of DepartureAndrew Hill · 1965
- NefertitiMiles Davis Quintet · 1968
- E.S.P.Miles Davis Quintet · 1965
- Miles SmilesMiles Davis Quintet · 1967
- Empyrean IslesHerbie Hancock · 1964
- Life TimeTony Williams · 1964
- DialogueBobby Hutcherson · 1965
- Blackstone LegacyWoody Shaw · 1970
- Now He Sings, Now He SobsChick Corea · 1968
- The All Seeing EyeWayne Shorter · 1965
- UnityLarry Young · 1965
- Inner UrgeJoe Henderson · 1964
- ContoursSam Rivers · 1965
- MatadorGrant Green · 1965
Jazz Fusion
- Bitches BrewMiles Davis · 1970
- Heavy WeatherWeather Report · 1977
- Head HuntersHerbie Hancock · 1973
- The Inner Mounting FlameMahavishnu Orchestra · 1971
- Return to ForeverReturn to Forever · 1972
- Romantic WarriorReturn to Forever · 1976
- Weather ReportWeather Report · 1971
- Emergency!Tony Williams Lifetime · 1969
- ExtrapolationJohn McLaughlin · 1969
- In a Silent WayMiles Davis · 1969
- Jaco PastoriusJaco Pastorius · 1976
- Pat Metheny GroupPat Metheny Group · 1978
- School DaysStanley Clarke · 1976
- SpectrumBilly Cobham · 1973
- The Aura Will PrevailGeorge Duke · 1975
- Elegant GypsyAl Di Meola · 1977
Smooth Jazz
- WinelightGrover Washington Jr. · 1980
- Breezin'George Benson · 1976
- TouchdownBob James · 1978
- DuotonesKenny G · 1986
- Morning DanceSpyro Gyra · 1979
- VoyeurDavid Sanborn · 1981
- Living Inside Your LoveEarl Klugh · 1976
- Feels So GoodChuck Mangione · 1977
- RitLee Ritenour · 1981
- FourplayFourplay · 1991
- Sweet ThingBoney James · 1997
- Beat StreetRick Braun · 1995
- Just Between UsNorman Brown · 1992
- Reference PointAcoustic Alchemy · 1990
- Dave KozDave Koz · 1990
- Najee's ThemeNajee · 1986
Acid Jazz / Nu Jazz
- Hand on the TorchUS3 · 1993
- Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)Digable Planets · 1993
- CombusticationMedeski Martin & Wood · 1998
- Groove CollectiveGroove Collective · 1994
- The Low End TheoryA Tribe Called Quest · 1991
- Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1Guru · 1993
- The Brand New HeaviesThe Brand New Heavies · 1990
- Emergency on Planet EarthJamiroquai · 1993
- PositivityIncognito · 1993
- In Pursuit of the 13th NoteGalliano · 1994
- TouristSt. Germain · 2000
- KhmerNils Petter Molvaer · 1997
- In BetweenJazzanova · 2002
- Do You Want More?!!!??!The Roots · 1995
- High LifeCorduroy · 1993
- The AntidoteRonny Jordan · 1992
Other
- The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles Mingus · 1963
- Space Is the PlaceSun Ra and His Arkestra · 1973
- Nina Simone at Town HallNina Simone · 1959
- Sunday at the Village VanguardBill Evans Trio · 1961
- Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus · 1959
- The Inflated TearRahsaan Roland Kirk · 1968
- The Köln ConcertKeith Jarrett · 1975
- Chamber Music SocietyEsperanza Spalding · 2010
- Black RadioRobert Glasper · 2012
- The EpicKamasi Washington · 2015
- Black Codes (From the Underground)Wynton Marsalis · 1985
- The Art of the Trio, Vol. 3: SongsBrad Mehldau · 1998
- GiveThe Bad Plus · 2004
- Christian aTunde AdjuahChristian Scott aTunde Adjuah · 2012
- Break StuffVijay Iyer · 2015
- Brian Blade FellowshipBrian Blade · 1998