Jazz albums for beginners: where to start
The top 3 according to 193 votes from people: A Love Supreme — John Coltrane · Time Out — The Dave Brubeck Quartet · Kind of Blue — Miles Davis. (Updated Jul 17, 2025.)
The records that guides for newcomers recommend again and again: easy to love on first listen and a door into everything else.
Top 18
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1
A Love Supreme — John Coltrane
1965. A four-part spiritual suite.
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2
Time Out — The Dave Brubeck Quartet
1959. Odd time signatures you can hum, including "Take Five".
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3
Kind of Blue — Miles Davis
1959. The best-selling jazz album ever and the obvious first step.
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4
Blue Train — John Coltrane
1957. Hard bop on Blue Note.
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5
Getz/Gilberto — Stan Getz & João Gilberto
1964. Bossa nova and "The Girl from Ipanema".
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6
Waltz for Debby — Bill Evans Trio
1962. Piano trio recorded live at the Village Vanguard.
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7
The Sidewinder — Lee Morgan
1964. A catchy soul-jazz title track that became a hit.
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8
Monk's Dream — Thelonious Monk
1963. Monk's quirky melodies at their most accessible.
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9
Song for My Father — Horace Silver
1965. A bossa-tinged groove that sticks.
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10
Mingus Ah Um — Charles Mingus
1959. Gospel, blues and big-band energy in one record.
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11
Maiden Voyage — Herbie Hancock
1965. Modal jazz about the sea.
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12
Saxophone Colossus — Sonny Rollins
1956. Includes the calypso "St. Thomas".
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13
Moanin' — Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
1958. Bold, rhythmic and full of swing.
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14
Ella and Louis — Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
1956. The friendliest way into vocal jazz.
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15
Somethin' Else — Cannonball Adderley
1958. With Miles Davis and a famous "Autumn Leaves".
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16
Head Hunters — Herbie Hancock
1973. Jazz-funk with "Chameleon".
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17
Lady in Satin — Billie Holiday
1958. Her late, heartbreaking voice with strings.
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18
The Shape of Jazz to Come — Ornette Coleman
1959. The first step towards free jazz.
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 (1)
Started with Kind of Blue like everyone, but Time Out is the one that actually got me hooked