Best Jazz Albums

Best Jazz Albums... hmmmm... this can be a confusing subject. Well, what did you think? So much of this great old music sounds like CRAP!

Only because it was not recorded with wonderful equipment. They didn't have access to that good stuff back then baby!

But you wonder... how can it be called "great" music? Well if you listen carefully, you will hear revolutionary sounds! I'm not talking canons and musket gun shots! I don't mean fife drums either old chap! This aint the revolutionary war I'm diggin you with!

Jazz created a whole NEW way of listening to music... And those old albums hold the key. If you listen with an open mind you will hear it.

My list starts with the "diamonds in the rough". These cats did not have time to be discovered or get recorded with great equipment. I'm sure many of them were "high" or drunk... or even hung over!

But they created something special. Check these cats out and be amazed!

Billie Holiday had a wonderful voice and style of singing. Her best albums are:

Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday Columbia 1933-1944

The Complete Billie Holiday Verve 1945-1959

Billie Holiday — The Complete Decca Recordings Verve 1944-1950

Billie Holiday — Giants of Jazz Time-Life

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Billie Holiday Compilation Cd!

Charlie Parker was a special talent in jazz. He was named "Bird" because he could soar on the saxaphone! His best albums are:

Live at Townhall w. Dizzy (1945, first released in 2005)

Bird and Diz Carnegie Hall (1947)

Bird on 52nd Street (1948)

Jazz at the Philharmonic (1949)

Charlie Parker All Stars Live at the Royal Roost (1949)

Charlie Parker with Strings (1950, first released in 1981)

One Night in Birdland (1950)

Jazz at Massey Hall (1953)

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Charlie Parker Compilation Cd!

Miles Davis was the most influential musician in Jazz! This cat brought Jazz to the highest level! His best albums are:

'Round About Midnight (1955-1956)

Birth of the Cool (1949 and 1950)

Miles Ahead (1957)

Milestones (1958)

Porgy and Bess (1958)

Kind of Blue (1959) RIAA: 3x Platinum

Sketches of Spain (1960) RIAA: Gold

Bitches Brew (1970) (also released as a quadraphonic LP) RIAA: Platinum

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Miles Davis Compilation Cd!

Chet Baker was a cool jazz trumpeter who gave jazz a "cool" look and sound. His best albums are:

Let's Get Lost: The Best Of Chet Baker Sings

Chet Baker Plays It Cool

Complete 1952 Fantasy & Pacific Jazz Sessions

Embraceable You (1995)

Chet Is Back! [RCA Victor Gold Series]

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Chet Baker Compilation Cd!

John Coltrane Was a wonderful saxaphone player who brought a "spiritual" quality to jazz music! His best albums are:

A Love Supreme

Favourite Things

Plays The Blues

Giant Steps

Blue Train

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import John Coltrane Compilation Cd!

Donald Byrd was an adventurous horn player who changed styles with originality and FUNK! His best albums are:

Donald Byrd: Slow Drag

Donald Byrd: Fuego

Places & Spaces

Donald Byrd Electric Byrd

Donald Byrd: Blackjack

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Donald Byrd Compilation Cd!

Ella Fitzgerald was a classy lady who made jazz swing with her way of singing! Her best albums are:

All That Jazz

Ella and Louis Again

Ella/Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook

Mack the Knife: The Complete Ella in Berlin

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Ella Fitzgerald Compilation Cd!

Stan Getz was a talented and original musician who brought alot of style to jazz! His best albums are:

Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz Plays

Nobody Else But Me

People Time

Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio: The Silver Collection

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import John Coltrane Compilation Cd!

Herbie Hancock is a creative pianist who always pushes the boundaries of where jazz and music can go! Here are his best albums:

Maiden Voyage

Mwandishi

Head Hunters

Future Shock

Thrust

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Herbie Hancock Compilation Cd!

Charles Mingus was an original jazz composer and musician who made jazz into an art form with his compositions! His best albums are:

Mingus Ah Um

The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady

Blues and Roots

Money Jungle

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Oh Yeah

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Charles Mingus Compilation Cd!

Thelonious Monk was perhaps the most creative visionary pianist in jazz! His best albums are:

Straight No Chaser

The Best Of (The Blue Note Years)

Monk's Music

At Carnegie Hall

Underground

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Thelonious Monk Compilation Cd!

Sarah Vaughnhad a wonderful voice and a one-of-a-kind way of singing a tune!Her best albums are:

Swingin' Easy

Sarah Vaughan W/ Clifford Brown

After Hours

Golden Hits

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Sarah Vaughn Compilation Cd!

Sonny Stitt was a saxaphone player who played everywhere and non-stop! He was a true jazz pioneer! His best albums were:

Stitt Plays Bird

In A Sentimental Mood

Compact Jazz: The Verve Years

Personal Appearance (1957)

Only The Blues (1957)

You can also click on the album above to purchase a special Import Sonny Stitt Compilation Cd!

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