26 votes

Let's generate a list of fantastic jazz albums

Tags: jazz, albums

Hi, I am interested in creating a list of essential jazz albums for people who may be beginning to listen to the genre. My basic idea is that each person can contribute one album to the list. This has two caveats: one, you can only contribute once, and two, the album that you contribute cannot already be listed in the previous comments. If we can make this work, I will compile the results after one month based on the ranking of the albums by votes. Let's see what a bunch of ~s can do. Also, if you have suggestions for how this may be better organized, do let me know.

26 comments

  1. fishinginthecoy
    Link
    John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965)

    John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965)

    10 votes
  2. jefield
    Link
    Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (1967)

    Thelonious Monk - Straight, No Chaser (1967)

    9 votes
  3. Ghirahim
    Link
    Ornette Coleman - Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)

    Ornette Coleman - Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)

    7 votes
  4. roadrunner
    Link
    Duke Ellington - Ellington at Newport (1956) E: and dammit I have another one.

    Duke Ellington - Ellington at Newport (1956)

    E: and dammit I have another one.

    5 votes
  5. [2]
    Gabe_DeGrossi
    (edited )
    Link
    Probably my favourite famous jazz album: Time Out - Dave Brubeck (1959) E: Picked one

    Probably my favourite famous jazz album:

    • Time Out - Dave Brubeck (1959)

    E: Picked one

    5 votes
    1. jefield
      Link Parent
      If you had to pick one, though...

      If you had to pick one, though...

  6. Cleb
    Link
    Sun Ra - Space is the Place (1973)

    Sun Ra - Space is the Place (1973)

    4 votes
  7. [5]
    tomf
    (edited )
    Link
    These three albums are albums I go to on a daily basis. The entire discography of each is fantastic. Milt Jackson and John Coltrane - Bags and Trane (1959) In case someone else chooses Bags and...

    These three albums are albums I go to on a daily basis. The entire discography of each is fantastic.

    • Milt Jackson and John Coltrane - Bags and Trane (1959)

    In case someone else chooses Bags and Trane, these are my backups

    • Art Pepper with Chet Baker - Playboys (1966)
    • Duke Jordon - Flight to Denmark (1973)

    edit: retooled the order to fit the OPs request for a single album ♥

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      roadrunner
      Link Parent
      I had a whole list until I read the original post. OP asked for one entry of one album per person. I’m still terribly upset that I had to pick one, but I’m curious to see which of yours makes the cut.

      I had a whole list until I read the original post. OP asked for one entry of one album per person. I’m still terribly upset that I had to pick one, but I’m curious to see which of yours makes the cut.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        tomf
        Link Parent
        ha. I forgot about the 'just one' after I got going... if I had to choose one that would appeal to every jazz lover, it'd definitely be Milt Jackson's Bags and Trane. Its just one of those iconic...

        ha. I forgot about the 'just one' after I got going... if I had to choose one that would appeal to every jazz lover, it'd definitely be Milt Jackson's Bags and Trane. Its just one of those iconic records that hits home.

        I'll edit my post to fit the format :)

        1 vote
        1. jefield
          Link Parent
          I agree with you re: Bags and Trane. It will be interesting to see if either of your runner-ups is chosen.

          I agree with you re: Bags and Trane. It will be interesting to see if either of your runner-ups is chosen.

          1 vote
    2. jefield
      Link Parent
      Hi there. I want to address the one and one only component of this exercise. First, I want to see how our community deals with a constraint like this because it's extraordinarily constraining....

      Hi there. I want to address the one and one only component of this exercise. First, I want to see how our community deals with a constraint like this because it's extraordinarily constraining. Second, I want many people to have a chance to submit and contribute to the list. It seems to me that the first part allows the second to occur more readily. If we got to list our top three, five, ten albums, then I think we would have a lot of duplication and also many people may feel like there is no way they could ever find an album that was both worthy and more importantly not already listed. This has certainly happened to me in the past on other sites.

      • Oh look, I'd love to list my favourite album...
      • Uh-oh, the first three posts already list a comprehensive guide to the genre by instrument.

      The other part of the constraint is that it will allow us to gain a sense of how quickly people are joining, reading, and responding to this particular list-building exercise.

      2 votes
  8. [2]
    boredop
    Link
    Only one? I could give you a hundred without breaking a sweat! (And if we ever have a ~music.jazz subgroup, we'll need to keep a list like that handy for when we start getting the daily "I'm new...

    Only one? I could give you a hundred without breaking a sweat! (And if we ever have a ~music.jazz subgroup, we'll need to keep a list like that handy for when we start getting the daily "I'm new to jazz, what should I listen to?" posts.)

    But I digress. Here's a good one:

    2 votes
    1. jefield
      Link Parent
      Great choice. I agree, one is difficult. Please see my comment above to understand my rationale.

      Great choice. I agree, one is difficult. Please see my comment above to understand my rationale.

  9. [3]
    EWOL
    Link
    Here four or my favorite Jazz album Miles Davis - Kind of Blue Bill Evans - Interplay Charles Mingus - Pithecanthropus Erectus The Bad Plus - We Are The Vista

    Here four or my favorite Jazz album

    Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
    Bill Evans - Interplay
    Charles Mingus - Pithecanthropus Erectus
    The Bad Plus - We Are The Vista

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      jefield
      Link Parent
      But if you could only pick one, which one would it be? I think Kind of Blue has already been chosen.

      But if you could only pick one, which one would it be? I think Kind of Blue has already been chosen.

      1 vote
      1. EWOL
        Link Parent
        There Are The Vista by The Bad Plus would be my choice, and it fits nicely the contemporary jazz spot.

        There Are The Vista by The Bad Plus would be my choice, and it fits nicely the contemporary jazz spot.

        1 vote
  10. mcpeen
    Link
    The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York (1962) In my opinion, the Cannonball Adderley Sextet is the most swingin' band of the bop / hard-bop era - even more so than Miles' first quintet (don't...

    The Cannonball Adderley Sextet in New York (1962)

    In my opinion, the Cannonball Adderley Sextet is the most swingin' band of the bop / hard-bop era - even more so than Miles' first quintet (don't @ me). I've spent a ton of hours on YouTube checking out performances of this group, and I think it's some of the most joyous stuff on the planet. Got to meet Louis Hayes a few times too.

    2 votes
  11. Boobs
    Link
    Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference

    Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference

    1 vote
  12. Chopincakes
    Link
    Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby All of the albums suggested here are fantastic, but this has got to be my favorite jazz album of all time.

    Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby

    All of the albums suggested here are fantastic, but this has got to be my favorite jazz album of all time.

    1 vote
  13. tildez
    Link
    Tim Berne – The Sublime And. Science Friction Live (2003)

    Tim Berne ‎– The Sublime And. Science Friction Live (2003)

  14. [3]
    arghdos
    Link
    Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi I would say the obvious Headhunters, but the album pales in comparison to some of the live takes you can find out there

    Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi

    I would say the obvious Headhunters, but the album pales in comparison to some of the live takes you can find out there

    1. [2]
      jefield
      Link Parent
      I am unfamiliar with this album, going to check it out today.

      I am unfamiliar with this album, going to check it out today.

      1 vote
      1. arghdos
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        It's a great one from Herbie -- much more in the vein of In a Silent Way than Headhunters would be just a few years later. Some serious Sun Ra space-vibes, influences of...

        It's a great one from Herbie -- much more in the vein of In a Silent Way than Headhunters would be just a few years later. Some serious Sun Ra space-vibes, influences of afro-rhythms/funk/electronics and a dynamite group (it was essentially Eddie Henderson's appearance in the jazz world) put it in a special place in Herbie's discography

  15. jenz
    Link
    Late to the party, but you can't miss this: Jan Johansson - Jazz På Svenska (1964)

    Late to the party, but you can't miss this:

    Jan Johansson - Jazz På Svenska (1964)