best-of-all-time.comAll 50 lists

The top 50

Jazz albums on vinyl

Fifty researched picks for the jazz albums on vinyl, selected for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

How we chosePerformance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability. Rankings balance consensus with lasting ownership value and current buyability.
#1

Kind of Blue

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#2

A Love Supreme

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#3

Time Out

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#4

Mingus Ah Um

Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#5

The Shape of Jazz to Come

The Shape of Jazz to Come by Ornette Coleman is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#6

Bitches Brew

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#7

Somethin’ Else

Somethin’ Else by Cannonball Adderley is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#8

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#9

Maiden Voyage

Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#10

Head Hunters

Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#11

Moanin’

Moanin’ by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#12

Bright Size Life

Bright Size Life by Pat Metheny is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#13

Nefertiti

Nefertiti by Miles Davis is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#14

The Epic

The Epic by Kamasi Washington is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#15

Heavy Weather

Heavy Weather by Weather Report is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#16

The Köln Concert

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#17

Black Radio

Black Radio by Robert Glasper Experiment is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#18

Vesper

Vesper by Ambrose Akinmusire is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#19

Radio Music Society

Radio Music Society by Esperanza Spalding is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#20

Tiny Desk Concerts_ compilation aside, the studio document is _Trio Tapestry

Tiny Desk Concerts_ compilation aside, the studio document is _Trio Tapestry by Joe Lovano is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#21

Getz/Gilberto

Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz & João Gilberto is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#22

Black Codes (From the Underground)

Black Codes (From the Underground) by Wynton Marsalis is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#23

Blue Light ‘Til Dawn

Blue Light ‘Til Dawn by Cassandra Wilson is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#24

In the Wee Small Hours

In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#25

Standards, Vol. 1

Standards, Vol. 1 by Keith Jarrett Trio is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#26

Ella and Louis

Ella and Louis by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#27

Waltz for Debby

Waltz for Debby by Bill Evans Trio is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#28

Ellington at Newport

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#29

Night Train

Night Train by Oscar Peterson Trio is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#30

Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown

Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown by Sarah Vaughan is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#31

The Art of the Trio, Vol. 3: Songs

The Art of the Trio, Vol. 3: Songs by Brad Mehldau Trio is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#32

G-Man

G-Man by Sonny Rollins is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#33

Wish

Wish by Joshua Redman is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#34

Lush Life

Lush Life by Joe Henderson is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#35

Monk’s Dream

Monk’s Dream by Thelonious Monk is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#36

Approaching Standards

Approaching Standards by Hank Mobley is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#37

Chet Baker Sings

Chet Baker Sings by Chet Baker is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#38

Saxophone Colossus

Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#39

Clifford Brown and Max Roach

Clifford Brown and Max Roach by Clifford Brown and Max Roach is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#40

The Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1

The Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 by Thelonious Monk is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#41

Bird and Diz

Bird and Diz by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#42

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers by Horace Silver is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#43

Speak No Evil

Speak No Evil by Wayne Shorter is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#44

The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings

The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings by Louis Armstrong is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#45

Body and Soul and Other Classic Recordings

Body and Soul and Other Classic Recordings by Coleman Hawkins is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#46

Lady in Satin

Lady in Satin by Billie Holiday is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#47

The Blanton-Webster Band

The Blanton-Webster Band by Duke Ellington is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#48

Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert by Benny Goodman is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#49

Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Sunday at the Village Vanguard by Bill Evans Trio is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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#50

Blue Train

Blue Train by John Coltrane is a durable jazz album choice, recognized for performance, recording quality, influence and quality reissue availability.

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Research starting points

eJazzNews: 50 Best Jazz Albums ↗Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums ↗