The best jazz albums of all time
The top 3 according to 795 votes from people: Kind of Blue — Miles Davis · A Love Supreme — John Coltrane · Mingus Ah Um — Charles Mingus. (Updated Apr 3, 2025.)
The albums that appear on every list of the best jazz records, from Miles Davis to Herbie Hancock.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 20
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1
Kind of Blue — Miles Davis
1959. Modal jazz and the best-selling jazz record ever.
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2
A Love Supreme — John Coltrane
1965. A spiritual suite in four parts.
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3
Mingus Ah Um — Charles Mingus
1959. Gospel, blues and swing with plenty of bite.
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4
Blue Train — John Coltrane
1957. His great hard bop album for Blue Note.
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5
Time Out — The Dave Brubeck Quartet
1959. Odd time signatures that became a hit, with "Take Five".
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6
The Shape of Jazz to Come — Ornette Coleman
1959. Free jazz shows its face.
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7
Moanin' — Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
1958. Hard bop with church roots.
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8
Ellington at Newport — Duke Ellington
1956. The concert that revived his orchestra.
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9
Somethin' Else — Cannonball Adderley
1958. With Miles Davis as a guest.
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10
Saxophone Colossus — Sonny Rollins
1956. Textbook improvisation, with "St. Thomas".
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11
Bitches Brew — Miles Davis
1970. The doorway to electric fusion.
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12
Ella and Louis — Ella Fitzgerald y Louis Armstrong
1956. Two voices and a handful of standards.
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13
Getz/Gilberto — Stan Getz y João Gilberto
1964. Bossa nova conquers the world.
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14
Sunday at the Village Vanguard — Bill Evans Trio
1961. A trio in conversation, recorded live.
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15
Head Hunters — Herbie Hancock
1973. Jazz meets funk, and a best-seller.
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16
Lady in Satin — Billie Holiday
1958. Her worn voice with strings.
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17
The Köln Concert — Keith Jarrett
1975. An improvised solo piano concert that sold millions.
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18
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady — Charles Mingus
1963. A suite for small band, almost a ballet.
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19
Giant Steps — John Coltrane
1960. The most feared chord changes in jazz.
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20
Speak No Evil — Wayne Shorter
1966. Mysterious compositions on Blue Note.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (9)
Kind of Blue arriba del todo, como debe ser. Es el disco con el que empecé en el jazz
Buena selección para quien empieza. Yo añadiría algo de Chet Baker
Head Hunters en una lista de jazz... ya empezamos con la fusión
pues es de lo mejor que se ha hecho, el jazz no es solo bebop
El Köln Concert lo pongo cada domingo por la mañana. Gran lista
Echo de menos Waltz for Debby de Bill Evans, aunque esté el del Village Vanguard
Es que son de las mismas sesiones de 1961, por eso imagino que solo meten uno
Falta Monk!! Brilliant Corners por lo menos
Getz/Gilberto tan abajo me duele un poco