200 Greatest Jazz Albums
Criteria: These Jazz Albums were chosen to showcase the artists musical vision through their originality, influence, instrumental quality and creative inspiration. This list does not include 'compilations', 'greatest hits', or 'live' albums... or albums by those artists who were primarily jazz vocalists.
Jazz has had the broadest perspective of all genre's in music since it's first note to the present day. It is for that reason that this list is presented in the same manner, with respect to all the myriad forms & interpretations of Jazz that exist today.
Jazz has had the broadest perspective of all genre's in music since it's first note to the present day. It is for that reason that this list is presented in the same manner, with respect to all the myriad forms & interpretations of Jazz that exist today.
Greatest Jazz Albums
1. Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
2. A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
3. Mingus Ah Um
Charles Mingus
4. Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
5. Time Out
Dave Brubeck
6. The Blues & The Abstract Truth
Oliver Nelson
7. The Incredible Jazz Guitar
Wes Montgomery
8. Song For My Father
Horace Silver
9. Out To Lunch
Eric Dolphy
10. The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Ornette Coleman
Miles Davis
2. A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
3. Mingus Ah Um
Charles Mingus
4. Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
5. Time Out
Dave Brubeck
6. The Blues & The Abstract Truth
Oliver Nelson
7. The Incredible Jazz Guitar
Wes Montgomery
8. Song For My Father
Horace Silver
9. Out To Lunch
Eric Dolphy
10. The Shape Of Jazz To Come
Ornette Coleman
11. Virtuoso
Joe Pass
12. Giant Steps
John Coltrane
13. In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
14. Somethin' Else
Cannonball Adderley
15. Idle Moments
Grant Green
16. Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
17. Sax Colossus
Sonny Rollins
18. Speak No Evil
Wayne Shorter
19. Inner Mounting Flame
Mahavishnu Orchestra
20. Sidewinder
Lee Morgan
21. Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
22. Black Codes (From The Underground)
Wynton Marsalis
23. Conference Of The Birds
Dave Holland
24. Monk's Dream
Thelonius Monk
25. Bright Size Life
Pat Metheny
26. Maiden Voyage
Herbie Hancock
27. My Favorite Things
John Coltrane
28. Milestones
Miles Davis
29. Percussion Bitter Sweet
Max Roach
30. Return To Forever
Chick Corea
31. Midnight Blue
Kenny Burrell
32. Birds Of Fire
Mahavishnu Orchestra
33. Go
Dexter Gordon
34. Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
35. And His Mother Called Him Bill
Duke Ellington
36. The Real McCoy
McCoy Tyner
37. Romantic Warrior
Return To Forever
38. Elegant Gypsy
Al DiMeola
39. Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
40. Moanin
Art Blakey
41. Night Hawk
Coleman Hawkins
42. Django
Modern Jazz Quartet
43. Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
Chick Corea
44. Bass On Top
Paul Chambers
45. Supersonic Jazz
Sun Ra
46. Bird & Diz
Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie
47. Blue Train
John Coltrane
48. The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
49. Mister Magic
Grover Washington Jr.
50. Spectrum
Billy Cobham
51. Bumpin'
Wes Montgomery
52. Miles Ahead
Miles Davis
53. Heavy Weather
Weather Report
54. Headhunters
Herbie Hancock
55. Where Have I Known You Before
Return To Forever
56. Empyrean Isles
Herbie Hancock
57. Cool Struttin'
Sonny Clark
58. The Great Summit
Duke Ellington/Louis Armstrong
59. Blues & Roots
Charles Mingus
60. Invitation To Openness
Les McCann
61. Rip, Rig & Panic
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
62. Soul Station
Hank Mobley
63. For Django
Joe Pass
64. Open Sesame
Freddie Hubbard
65. Pure Desmond
Paul Desmond
66. Ezz-thetics
George Russell
67. Point Of Departure
Andrew Hill
68. Living Legend
Art Pepper
69. Byrd In Flight
Donald Byrd
70. Life Time
Tony Williams
71. Solo Flight
Charlie Christian
72. Takin' Off
Herbie Hancock
73. Karma
Pharoah Sanders
74. Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
75. Study In Brown
Clifford Brown & Max Roach
76. Black Unity
Pharoah Sanders
77. Breezin'
George Benson
78. Solo Guitar
Ted Greene
79. Gateway
Dave Holland
80. Electric Guitarist
John McLaughlin
81. Infinity
McCoy Tyner
82. Play
Mike Stern
83. The Far East Suite
Duke Ellington
84. We Free Kings
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
85. Timeless
John Abercrombie
86. Secret Story
Pat Metheny
87. Out Of The Cool
Gil Evans
88. Swing, Swang, Swingin'
Jackie McClean
89. Upfront
David Sanborn
90. Hand Jive
John Scofield
91. Blues Dream
Bill Frisell
92. Return
Bill Connors
93. Mosaic
Art Blakey
94. Unit Structure
Cecil Taylor
95. Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section
Art Pepper
96. Snide Remarks
Bill Stewart
97. Thembi
Pharoah Sanders
98. Ask The Ages
Sonny Sharrock
99. Spaces
Larry Coryell
100. Unity
Larry Young
Joe Pass
12. Giant Steps
John Coltrane
13. In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
14. Somethin' Else
Cannonball Adderley
15. Idle Moments
Grant Green
16. Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
17. Sax Colossus
Sonny Rollins
18. Speak No Evil
Wayne Shorter
19. Inner Mounting Flame
Mahavishnu Orchestra
20. Sidewinder
Lee Morgan
21. Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
22. Black Codes (From The Underground)
Wynton Marsalis
23. Conference Of The Birds
Dave Holland
24. Monk's Dream
Thelonius Monk
25. Bright Size Life
Pat Metheny
26. Maiden Voyage
Herbie Hancock
27. My Favorite Things
John Coltrane
28. Milestones
Miles Davis
29. Percussion Bitter Sweet
Max Roach
30. Return To Forever
Chick Corea
31. Midnight Blue
Kenny Burrell
32. Birds Of Fire
Mahavishnu Orchestra
33. Go
Dexter Gordon
34. Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
35. And His Mother Called Him Bill
Duke Ellington
36. The Real McCoy
McCoy Tyner
37. Romantic Warrior
Return To Forever
38. Elegant Gypsy
Al DiMeola
39. Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
40. Moanin
Art Blakey
41. Night Hawk
Coleman Hawkins
42. Django
Modern Jazz Quartet
43. Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
Chick Corea
44. Bass On Top
Paul Chambers
45. Supersonic Jazz
Sun Ra
46. Bird & Diz
Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie
47. Blue Train
John Coltrane
48. The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
49. Mister Magic
Grover Washington Jr.
50. Spectrum
Billy Cobham
51. Bumpin'
Wes Montgomery
52. Miles Ahead
Miles Davis
53. Heavy Weather
Weather Report
54. Headhunters
Herbie Hancock
55. Where Have I Known You Before
Return To Forever
56. Empyrean Isles
Herbie Hancock
57. Cool Struttin'
Sonny Clark
58. The Great Summit
Duke Ellington/Louis Armstrong
59. Blues & Roots
Charles Mingus
60. Invitation To Openness
Les McCann
61. Rip, Rig & Panic
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
62. Soul Station
Hank Mobley
63. For Django
Joe Pass
64. Open Sesame
Freddie Hubbard
65. Pure Desmond
Paul Desmond
66. Ezz-thetics
George Russell
67. Point Of Departure
Andrew Hill
68. Living Legend
Art Pepper
69. Byrd In Flight
Donald Byrd
70. Life Time
Tony Williams
71. Solo Flight
Charlie Christian
72. Takin' Off
Herbie Hancock
73. Karma
Pharoah Sanders
74. Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
75. Study In Brown
Clifford Brown & Max Roach
76. Black Unity
Pharoah Sanders
77. Breezin'
George Benson
78. Solo Guitar
Ted Greene
79. Gateway
Dave Holland
80. Electric Guitarist
John McLaughlin
81. Infinity
McCoy Tyner
82. Play
Mike Stern
83. The Far East Suite
Duke Ellington
84. We Free Kings
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
85. Timeless
John Abercrombie
86. Secret Story
Pat Metheny
87. Out Of The Cool
Gil Evans
88. Swing, Swang, Swingin'
Jackie McClean
89. Upfront
David Sanborn
90. Hand Jive
John Scofield
91. Blues Dream
Bill Frisell
92. Return
Bill Connors
93. Mosaic
Art Blakey
94. Unit Structure
Cecil Taylor
95. Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section
Art Pepper
96. Snide Remarks
Bill Stewart
97. Thembi
Pharoah Sanders
98. Ask The Ages
Sonny Sharrock
99. Spaces
Larry Coryell
100. Unity
Larry Young
101. Blowin' Session
Johnny Griffin
102. The Elektric Band
Chick Corea
103. 1+1
Wayne Shorter & Herbie Hancock
104. Hub Tones
Freddie Hubbard
105. A Fickle Sonance
Jackie McLean
106. This One's For Blanton
Duke Ellington & Ray Brown
107. Our Man In Paris
Dexter Gordon
108. I Can See Your House From Here
Pat Metheny & John Scofield
109. Straight No Chaser
Thelonious Monk
110. Chet
Chet Baker
111. The Trio
Billy Bean
112. Sketches Of Spain
Miles Davis
113. Extrapolation
John McLaughlin
114. Caliente
Gato Barbieri
115. Aurora
Jean-Luc Ponty
116. The Next Step
Kurt Rosenwinkel
117. Ascension
John Coltrane
118. The Akoustic Band
Chick Corea
119. Green Street
Grant Green
120. Zawinul
Joe Zawinul
121. Jazz In Silhouette
Sun Ra
122. Undercurrents
Bill Evans & Jim Hall
123. Thrust
Herbie Hancock
124. Soapsuds
Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden
125. School Days
Stanley Clarke
126. Workout
Hank Mobley
127. Crossing
Oregon
128. Matador
Grant Green
129. El Hombre
Pat Martino
130. No Mystery
Return To Forever
131. Quiet
John Scofield
132. As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Pat Metheny
133. Out There
Eric Dolphy
134. Cabin Fever
Lenny Breau
135. Room For Squares
Hank Mobley
136. Characters
John Abercrombie
137. Arbour Zena
Keith Jarrett
138. You Must Believe In Spring
Bill Evans
139. Quartet
Gerry Mulligan
140. If Summer Had It's Ghosts
Bill Bruford
141. Letter From Home
Pat Metheny
142. Joes Blues
Joe Pass & Herb Ellis
143. Gateway
John Abercrombie & Dave Holland
144. Tenor Madness
Sonny Rollins
145. Trio 99-00
Pat Metheny
146. Starfish & The Moon
Bill Evans
147. Tales From The Hudson
Michael Brecker
148. The Clown
Charles Mingus
149. Crossings
Tom Saviano
150. The Sixteen Men Of Tain
Allan Holdsworth
151. Oh!
John Scofield
152. Prime Directive
Dave Holland
153. Avenue Blue
Jeff Golub
154. Time Is Of The Essence
Michael Brecker
155. Two Of A Mind
Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond
156. Magic Touch
Stanley Jordon
157. Seven & Seven
George Van Eps & Howard Alden
158. One Of A Kind
Bill Bruford
159. Their Time Was The Greatest
Louis Bellson
160. Whims Of Chambers
Paul Chambers
161. Sketchbook
John Patitucci
162. Stolen Moments
Lee Ritenour
163. Night Dreamer
Wayne Shorter
164. Barefoot Boy
Larry Coryell
165. Moonlighting
The Rippingtons
166. Hearsay
David Sanborn
167. Tom Cat
Tom Scott
168. Gateway 2
John Abercrombie & Dave Holland
169. A Go Go
John Scofield
170. Enigmatic Ocean
Jean-Luc Ponty
171. Sonny Side Up
Sonny Rollins
172. Is What It Is
Mike Stern
173. Blowin' The Blues Away
Horace Silver
174. Step It
Bill Connors
175. Eastern Sounds
Yusef Lateef
176. Configuration
Sam Rivers
177. Round Midnight
Kenny Burrell
178. Hawk Flies High
Coleman Hawkins
179. Party Time
Arnett Cobb
180. Soliloquy
George Van Eps
181. Third Floor Richard
Ed Bickert
182. Inner Urge
Joe Henderson & McCoy Tyner
183. Left of Cool
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
184. Feels Good To Me
Bill Bruford
185. Alone Together
Joseph Patrick Moore
186. King Of The Tenors
Ben Webster
187. Captain Fingers
Lee Ritenour
188. Haunted Heart
Charlie Haden
189. Multikulti
Don Cherry
190. Freedom Book
Booker Ervin
191. Between The Lines
Mike Stern
192. Nocturnal
Charlie Haden
193. A Show Of Hands
Victor Wooten
194. Page One
Joe Henderson
195. Ju Ju
Wayne Shorter
196. Combustication
Medeski, Martin & Wood
197. Blue & Sentimental
Ike Quebec
198. Thonk
Michael Manring
199. Journey To Love
Stanley Clarke
200. Plectrist
Billy Bauer
Johnny Griffin
102. The Elektric Band
Chick Corea
103. 1+1
Wayne Shorter & Herbie Hancock
104. Hub Tones
Freddie Hubbard
105. A Fickle Sonance
Jackie McLean
106. This One's For Blanton
Duke Ellington & Ray Brown
107. Our Man In Paris
Dexter Gordon
108. I Can See Your House From Here
Pat Metheny & John Scofield
109. Straight No Chaser
Thelonious Monk
110. Chet
Chet Baker
111. The Trio
Billy Bean
112. Sketches Of Spain
Miles Davis
113. Extrapolation
John McLaughlin
114. Caliente
Gato Barbieri
115. Aurora
Jean-Luc Ponty
116. The Next Step
Kurt Rosenwinkel
117. Ascension
John Coltrane
118. The Akoustic Band
Chick Corea
119. Green Street
Grant Green
120. Zawinul
Joe Zawinul
121. Jazz In Silhouette
Sun Ra
122. Undercurrents
Bill Evans & Jim Hall
123. Thrust
Herbie Hancock
124. Soapsuds
Ornette Coleman & Charlie Haden
125. School Days
Stanley Clarke
126. Workout
Hank Mobley
127. Crossing
Oregon
128. Matador
Grant Green
129. El Hombre
Pat Martino
130. No Mystery
Return To Forever
131. Quiet
John Scofield
132. As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
Pat Metheny
133. Out There
Eric Dolphy
134. Cabin Fever
Lenny Breau
135. Room For Squares
Hank Mobley
136. Characters
John Abercrombie
137. Arbour Zena
Keith Jarrett
138. You Must Believe In Spring
Bill Evans
139. Quartet
Gerry Mulligan
140. If Summer Had It's Ghosts
Bill Bruford
141. Letter From Home
Pat Metheny
142. Joes Blues
Joe Pass & Herb Ellis
143. Gateway
John Abercrombie & Dave Holland
144. Tenor Madness
Sonny Rollins
145. Trio 99-00
Pat Metheny
146. Starfish & The Moon
Bill Evans
147. Tales From The Hudson
Michael Brecker
148. The Clown
Charles Mingus
149. Crossings
Tom Saviano
150. The Sixteen Men Of Tain
Allan Holdsworth
151. Oh!
John Scofield
152. Prime Directive
Dave Holland
153. Avenue Blue
Jeff Golub
154. Time Is Of The Essence
Michael Brecker
155. Two Of A Mind
Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond
156. Magic Touch
Stanley Jordon
157. Seven & Seven
George Van Eps & Howard Alden
158. One Of A Kind
Bill Bruford
159. Their Time Was The Greatest
Louis Bellson
160. Whims Of Chambers
Paul Chambers
161. Sketchbook
John Patitucci
162. Stolen Moments
Lee Ritenour
163. Night Dreamer
Wayne Shorter
164. Barefoot Boy
Larry Coryell
165. Moonlighting
The Rippingtons
166. Hearsay
David Sanborn
167. Tom Cat
Tom Scott
168. Gateway 2
John Abercrombie & Dave Holland
169. A Go Go
John Scofield
170. Enigmatic Ocean
Jean-Luc Ponty
171. Sonny Side Up
Sonny Rollins
172. Is What It Is
Mike Stern
173. Blowin' The Blues Away
Horace Silver
174. Step It
Bill Connors
175. Eastern Sounds
Yusef Lateef
176. Configuration
Sam Rivers
177. Round Midnight
Kenny Burrell
178. Hawk Flies High
Coleman Hawkins
179. Party Time
Arnett Cobb
180. Soliloquy
George Van Eps
181. Third Floor Richard
Ed Bickert
182. Inner Urge
Joe Henderson & McCoy Tyner
183. Left of Cool
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
184. Feels Good To Me
Bill Bruford
185. Alone Together
Joseph Patrick Moore
186. King Of The Tenors
Ben Webster
187. Captain Fingers
Lee Ritenour
188. Haunted Heart
Charlie Haden
189. Multikulti
Don Cherry
190. Freedom Book
Booker Ervin
191. Between The Lines
Mike Stern
192. Nocturnal
Charlie Haden
193. A Show Of Hands
Victor Wooten
194. Page One
Joe Henderson
195. Ju Ju
Wayne Shorter
196. Combustication
Medeski, Martin & Wood
197. Blue & Sentimental
Ike Quebec
198. Thonk
Michael Manring
199. Journey To Love
Stanley Clarke
200. Plectrist
Billy Bauer
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Edited By: Rick Varner
Last Updated: 2014-03-27Newly added names are in Red