I collected over 37 lists of the best jazz albums of all time from books, magazines and websites and combined them into one meta-list.  The results are below: all the albums on two or more of the original source lists, organized by rank, that is, with the albums on the most lists at the top.

For each entry I have provided: the name of the album; the name of the artist; any alternative names of the album; alternate albums with the same or similar material; the date or dates of recording (and the date the album was released, if different); an image of the album cover; the styles of jazz represented on the album (thanks to allmusic.com for these designations); and a list of the musicians on the album along with the instruments they played. (In some cases, to save space, I have listed only the most well-known musicians playing on the album.)

To see a version of this meta-list organized chronologically, go here.

On 37 Lists
Kind of Blue (1959) – Miles Davis

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto sax); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Bill Evans (piano); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums)

On 31 Lists
A Love Supreme (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – John Coltrane

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (saxophones); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums; percussion); McCoy Tyner (piano)

On 27 Lists
Out to Lunch! (1964) – Eric Dolphy

Styles: Post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet; flute; alto sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Richard Davis (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

On 26 Lists
Time Out (1959) – The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Styles: Cool jazz, West Coast jazz
Musicians: Dave Brubeck (piano); Paul Desmond (alto sax); Eugene Wright (bass); Joe Morello (drums)

Speak No Evil (rec. 1964, rel. 1966) – Wayne Shorter

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

On 23 Lists
Saxophone Colossus (1956) – Sonny Rollins

Styles: Hard bop
Musicians: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); Max Roach (drums)

Blue Train (rec. 1957, rel. 1958) – John Coltrane

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (tenor sax); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Kenny Drew (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Somethin’ Else (1958) – Cannonball Adderley

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto sax); Miles Davis (trumpet); Hank Jones (piano); Sam Jones (bass); Art Blakey (drums)

The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 (rec. 1961, rel. 2005) – Bill Evans

Alternates:
Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
Waltz for Debby (rec. 1961, rel. 1962)
Styles: Post-bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Bill Evans (piano); Scott LaFaro (bass); Paul Motian (drums)

The Sidewinder (rec. 1963, rel. 1964) – Lee Morgan

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Lee Morgan (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Barry Harris (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Bitches Brew (rec. 1969, rel. 1970) – Miles Davis

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock
Selected musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (soprano sax); Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet); Joe Zawinul (electric piano); Chick Corea (electric piano); John McLaughlin (electric guitar); Dave Holland (bass); Harvey Brooks (electric bass); Lenny White (drums); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Billy Cobham (drums)

On 22 lists
The Shape of Jazz To Come (1959) – Ornette Coleman

Alternate: Beauty Is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (rec. 1959-1961; rel. 1993)
Styles: Free jazz, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Ornette Coleman (alto sax); Don Cherry (cornet); Charlie Haden (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

On 21 lists
The Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (rec. 1925-1929) – Louis Armstrong

Album options:
1. Hot Fives & Sevens (JSP)
2. The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings, Vol. 1-4 (Legacy/Columbia)
3. The Best of Louis Armstrong: The Best of the Hot Fives and Hot Seven Recordings (Columbia/Legacy)
4. 25 Greatest Hot Fives & Sevens (Living Era/ASV)
Styles: New Orleans jazz, Dixieland, trad jazz
Selected musicians: Louis Armstrong (cornet, trumpet, vocals); Johnny Dodds (clarinet); Johnny St. Cyr (banjo); Kid Ory (trombone); Lil Hardin Armstrong (piano); Pete Briggs (tuba); Baby Dodds (drums); Earl Hines (piano); Fred Robinson (trombone); Jimmy Strong (clarinet, tenor sax); Zutty Singleton (drums); Mancy Carr (banjo)

Maiden Voyage (1965) – Herbie Hancock

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Herbie Hancock (piano); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); George Coleman (tenor sax); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

On 20 lists
The Complete Savoy and Dial Studio Recordings (rec. 1945-1948) – Charlie Parker

Alternate: The Complete Savoy and Dial Master Takes (rec. 1945-1948)
Style: Bebop
Selected musicians: Charlie Parker (alto and tenor sax); Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Miles Davis (trumpet); Dodo Marmarosa (piano); Curley Russell (bass); Max Roach (drums); Howard McGhee (trumpet); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); Erroll Garner (piano); Red Callender (bass); Barney Kessel (guitar); Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Bud Powell (piano); Tommy Potter (bass); John Lewis (piano); Duke Jordan (piano); J.J. Johnson (trombone)

Moanin’ (rec. 1958, rel. 1959) – Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers

Original title: Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Art Blakey (drums); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor sax); Bobby Timmons (piano); Jymie Meritt (bass)

Mingus Ah Um (1959) – Charles Mingus

Styles: Hard bop, post bop, progressive jazz
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass, piano); John Handy (alto & tenor sax, clarinet); Booker Ervin (tenor sax); Shafi Hadi (tenor & alto sax); Willie Dennis (trombone); Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Horace Parlan (piano); Dannie Richmond (drums)

On 18 lists
Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (1954) – Sarah Vaughan

Original title: Sarah Vaughan
Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz, bebop
Selected musicians: Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Clifford Brown (trumpet); Paul Quinichette (tenor sax); Herbie Mann (flute); Jimmy Jones (piano); Joe Benjamin (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

Brilliant Corners (rec. 1956, rel. 1957) – Thelonious Monk

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano, celeste); Ernie Henry (alto sax); Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Oscar Pettiford (bass); Max Roach (drums); Clark Terry (trumpet); Paul Chambers (bass)

Giant Steps (rec. 1959, rel. 1960) – John Coltrane

Style: Hard bop
Selected musicians: John Coltrane (tenor sax); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Taylor (drums); Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Getz/Gilberto (rec. 1963, rel. 1964) – Stan Getz and João Gilberto

Styles: Bossa nova, Brazilian jazz, world fusion
Musicians: Stan Getz (tenor sax); João Gilberto (guitar, vocals); Antônio Carlos Jobim (piano); Sebastião Neto (bass); Milton Banana (drums); Astrud Gilberto (vocals)

On 17 lists
The Complete Birth of the Cool (rec. 1948-1950, rel. 1998) – Miles Davis

Alternate: Birth of the Cool (rec. 1949-1950, rel. 1957)
Styles: Cool jazz, West Coast jazz, bebop, third stream
Selected musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Kai Winding (trombone); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Gunther Schuller (French horn); Bill Barber (tuba); Lee Konitz (alto sax); Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Al Haig (piano); John Lewis (piano); Nelson Boyd (bass); Al McKibbon (bass); Max Roach (drums); Kenny Clarke (drums)

Ellington at Newport (1956) – Duke Ellington

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Duke Ellington (piano); Ray Nance (trumpet, vocals); Clark Terry (trumpet); Quentin Jackson (trombone); Britt Woodman (trombone); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Russell Procope (alto sax); Paul Gonsalves (tenor sax); Harry Carney (baritone sax); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet); Jimmy Woode (bass); Sam Woodyard (drums)

Soul Station (1960) – Hank Mobley

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Blakey (drums)

My Favorite Things (rec. 1960, rel. 1961) – John Coltrane

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (soprano & tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Steve Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961) – Oliver Nelson

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Oliver Nelson (alto & tenor sax); Eric Dolphy (flute, alto sax); George Barrow (baritone sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Bill Evans (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

On 16 lists
The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert (rec. 1938, rel. 1950) – Benny Goodman

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Benny Goodman (clarinet); Ziggy Elman (trumpet); Harry James (trumpet); Red Ballard (trombone); Jess Stacy (piano); Teddy Wilson (piano); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Gene Krupa (drums); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Bobby Hackett (cornet); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Harry Carney (baritone sax); Johnny Hodges (soprano & alto sax); Lester Young (tenor sax); Count Basie (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Walter Page (bass)

Jazz at Massey Hall (1953) – The Quintet

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Charlie Parker (alto sax); Bud Powell (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Max Roach (drums)

Concert by the Sea (1955) – Errol Garner

Styles: Swing, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Erroll Garner (piano); Eddie Calhoun (bass); Denzil Best (drums)

Clifford Brown & Max Roach (rec. 1954-1955, rel. 1955) – Clifford Brown and Max Roach

Styles: Bebop, hard bop
Musicians: Clifford Brown (trumpet); Harold Land (tenor sax); George Morrow (bass); Richie Powell (piano); Max Roach (drums)

Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (1957) – Art Pepper

Styles: Cool jazz, West Coast jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Art Pepper (alto sax); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Song for My Father (rec. 1963-1964, rel. 1965) – The Horace Silver Quintet

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Horace Silver (piano); Carmell Jones (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Junior Cook (tenor sax); Teddy Smith (bass); Gene Taylor (bass); Roger Humphries (drums); Roy Brooks (drums)

The Köln Concert (1975) – Keith Jarrett

Styles: Free improvisation, modern creative, post-bop
Musician: Keith Jarrett (piano)

On 15 lists
Go! (1962) – Dexter Gordon

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Sonny Clark (piano); Butch Warren (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) – Charles Mingus

Styles: Post-bop, progressive jazz, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass, piano); Jerome Richardson (soprano & baritone sax, flute); Charlie Mariano (alto sax); Dick Hafer (tenor sax, flute); Rolf Ericson (trumpet); Richard Williams (trumpet); Quentin Jackson (trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba, contrabass trombone); Jaki Byard (piano); Jay Berliner (guitar); Dannie Richmond (drums)

Spiritual Unity (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – Albert Ayler Trio

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Albert Ayler (tenor sax); Gary Peacock (bass); Sunny Murray (percussion)

Head Hunters (1973) – Herbie Hancock

Styles: Fusion, funk, jazz-funk, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Herbie Hancock (keyboards); Bennie Maupin (tenor & soprano sax, bass clarinet, flute); Paul Jackson (bass); Bill Summers (percussion); Harvey Mason (drums)

On 14 lists
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960) – Wes Montgomery

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Wes Montgomery (guitar); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Albert Heath (drums)

Point of Departure (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – Andrew Hill

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Andrew Hill (piano); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet, flute); Joe Henderson (tenor sax, flute); Richard Davis (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

On 13 lists
The Complete Atomic Basie (rec. 1957, rel. 1994) – Count Basie

Alternate: The Atomic Mr. Basie (original title: Basie; alternative title: E=MC²) (rec. 1957, rel. 1958)
Styles: Big band, swing, piano blues
Selected musicians: Count Basie (piano); Wendell Culley (trumpet); Snooky Young (trumpet); Thad Jones (trumpet); Joe Newman (trumpet); Al Grey (trombone); Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenor sax); Frank Foster (tenor sax); Marshal Royal (clarinet, alto sax); Frank Wess (flute); Eddie Jones (bass); Freddie Green (guitar); Sonny Payne (drums)

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (rec. 1957, rel. 2005) – Thelonious Monk Quartet

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Ahmed Abdul-Malik (bass); Shadow Wilson (drums)

The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) – The Mahavishnu Orchestra  with John McLaughlin

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock
Musicians: John McLaughlin (guitar); Rick Laird (bass); Billy Cobham (drums, percussion); Jan Hammer (keyboards, organ); Jerry Goodman (violin)

On 12 lists
Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band (rec. 1940-1942, rel. 2003) – Duke Ellington

Alternate: The Blanton-Webster Band (rec. 1940-1942, rel. 1990
Styles: Big band, swing, progressive jazz
Selected musicians: Duke Ellington (piano, celeste); Billy Strayhorn (piano, celeste); Rex Stewart (cornet); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Ray Nance (trumpet, violin); Juan Tizol (trombone); Joe Nanton (trombone); Barney Bigard (clarinet, tenor sax); Johnny Hodges (alto & soprano sax, clarinet); Ben Webster (tenor sax), Harry Carney (clarinet, alto & baritone sax); Fred Guy (guitar); Jimmy Blanton (bass); Sonny Greer (drums); Ivie Anderson (vocals)

The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 (rec. 1949, 1951; rel. 1952, 1956) – Bud Powell

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Bud Powell (piano); Fats Navarro (trumpet); Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Tommy Potter (bass); Roy Haynes (drums); Curley Russell (bass); Max Roach (drums)

In a Silent Way (1969) – Miles Davis

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); John McLaughlin (guitar); Chick Corea (electric piano); Herbie Hancock (electric piano); Joe Zawinul (electric piano, organ); Dave Holland (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Heavy Weather (rec. 1976-1977, rel. 1977) – Weather Report

Style: Fusion
Musicians: Joe Zawinul (keyboards, guitar); Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor sax); Jaco Pastorius (bass, percussion); Alex Acuña (drums, percussion); Manolo Badrena (percussion)

On 11 lists
Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (rec. 1933-1944, rel. 2001) – Billie Holiday

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz, swing, classic female blues
Selected musicians: Billie Holiday (vocals); Teddy Wilson (piano); Buddy Hackett (cornet); Henry “Red” Allen (trumpet); Bunny Berigan (trumpet); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Harry James (trumpet); Hot Lips Page (trumpet); Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Benny Morton (trombone); Dicky Wells (trombone); Buster Bailey (clarinet); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Artie Shaw (clarinet); Benny Carter (alto & tenor sax); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Don Redman (alto sax); Chu Berry (tenor sax); Don Byas (tenor sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Lester Young (tenor sax, clarinet); Harry Carney (baritone sax, clarinet); Freddie Green (guitar); Milt Hinton (bass); John Kirby (bass); Walter Page (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums); Cozy Cole (drums); Jo Jones (drums); Gene Krupa (drums)

The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 2 (rec. 1953, rel. 1954, 1956) – Bud Powell

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Bud Powell (piano); George Duvivier (bass); Art Taylor (drums); Tommy Potter (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

Sketches of Spain (rec. 1959-1960, rel. 1960) – Miles Davis

Styles: Cool jazz, third stream
Selected musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums); Elvin Jones (percussion); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Danny Bank (bass clarinet); Bill Barber (tuba); James Buffington (French horn); Johnny Coles (trumpet); Frank Rehak (trombone); Janet Putnam (harp); Louis Mucci (trumpet); Jose Mangual (percussion); Jack Knitzer (bassoon); Albert Block (flute)

Idle Moments (rec. 1963, rel. 1965) – Grant Green

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Grant Green (guitar); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Duke Pearson (piano); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Al Harewood (drums)

Unit Structures (1966) – Cecil Taylor

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, free jazz
Musicians: Cecil Taylor (piano, bells); Eddie Gale (trumpet); Jimmy Lyons (alto sax); Ken McIntyre (alto sax, bass clarinet, oboe); Henry Grimes (bass); Alan Silva (bass); Andrew Cyrille (drums)

Return to Forever (1972) – Chick Corea

Style: Fusion
Musicians: Chick Corea (electric piano); Stanley Clarke (bass); Joe Farrell (saxophones, flute); Airto Moreira (drums, percussion); Flora Purim (vocals, percussion)

On 10 lists
The Complete Original American Decca Recordings (rec. 1937-1939, rel. 1992) – Count Basie

Alternate title: The Complete Decca Recordings
Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Count Basie (piano); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Benny Morton (trombone); Dicky Wells (trombone); Eddie Durham (trombone, guitar); Herschel Evans (tenor sax, clarinet); Lester Young (tenor sax, clarinet); Earle Warren (alto sax, vocals); Caughey Roberts (alto sax); Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax); Chu Berry (tenor sax); Claude Williams (guitar); Freddie Green (guitar); Walter Page (bass); Jo Jones (drums); Helen Humes (vocals); Jimmy Rushing (vocals)

The Genius of the Electric Guitar (rec. 1939-1941, rel. 1987) – Charlie Christian

Styles: Big band, swing, bebop
Selected musicians: Charlie Christian (guitar); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Georgie Auld (tenor sax); Count Basie (piano); Artie Bernstein (bass); Gus Bivona (alto sax); Lester Young (tenor sax); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Pete Mondello (tenor sax); Lou McGarity (trombone); Jimmy Maxwell (trumpet); Gene Krupa (drums); Jo Jones (drums); Harry James (trumpet); Fletcher Henderson (piano); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Johnny Guarnieri (piano)

The Best of Chet Baker Sings (rec. 1953-1956, rel. 1989) – Chet Baker

Alternate: Chet Baker Sings (1954)
Styles: Cool jazz, West Coast jazz, vocal jazz
Musicians: Chet Baker (vocals, trumpet); Russ Freeman (piano, celeste); Carson Smith (bass); Joe Mondrago (bass); Bob Neel (drums); Jimmy Bond (bass); Larance Marable (drums); Peter Littman (drums), Shelly Manne (drums)

Django (rec. 1953-1955, 1956) – Modern Jazz Quartet

Styles: Cool jazz, third stream, post-bop
Musicians: Milt Jackson (vibraphone); John Lewis (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums)

Milestones (1958) – Miles Davis

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, modal jazz, bebop
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet, piano); Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto sax); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Change of the Century (rec. 1959, rel. 1960) – Ornette Coleman

Alternate: Beauty Is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (rec. 1959-1961; rel. 1993)
Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Ornette Coleman (alto sax); Don Cherry (trumpet); Charlie Haden (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Back at the Chicken Shack (rec. 1960, rel. 1963) – Jimmy Smith

Styles: Soul jazz, jazz blues
Musicians: Jimmy Smith (organ); Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Donald Bailey (drums)

The Real McCoy (1967) – McCoy Tyner

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: McCoy Tyner (piano); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Ron Carter (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Black Codes (From the Underground) (1985) – Wynton Marsalis

Styles: Post-bop, neo-bop
Musicians: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Branford Marsalis (tenor & soprano sax); Kenny Kirkland (piano); Charnett Moffett (bass); Ron Carter (bass); Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums)

On 9 lists
Body & Soul (RCA, rec. 1939-1956, rel. 1996) – Coleman Hawkins

Styles: Swing, big band
Musicians: Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Tommy Lindsay (trumpet); Joe Guy (trumpet); Early Hardy (trombone); Jackie Fields (alto sax); Eustis Moore (alto sax); Gene Rodgers (piano); William Oscar Smith (bass); Arthur Herbert (drums)

Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (rec. 1947, rel. 1951) – Thelonious Monk

Alternate: The Best of the Blue Note Years (rec. 1947-1952, rel. 1991)
Style: Bebop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); Art Blakey (drums); Idrees Sulieman (trumpet); Danny Quebec West (alto sax); Billy Smith (tenor sax); Gene Ramey (bass); George Taitt (trumpet); Sahib Shihab (alto sax); Bob Paige (bass)

Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (rec. 1951, 1952, rel. 1952) – Thelonious Monk

Alternate: The Best of the Blue Note Years (rec. 1947-1952, rel. 1991)
Style: Bebop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); Art Blakey (drums); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); Nelson Boyd (bass); Sahib Shihab (alto sax); Al McKibbon (bass); Max Roach (drums)

Study in Brown (1955) – Clifford Brown and Max Roach

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Clifford Brown (trumpet); Max Roach (drums); Harold Land (tenor sax); Richie Powell (piano); George Morrow (bass)

Ella and Louis (1956) – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz
Musicians: Louis Armstrong (vocals, trumpet); Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Herb Ellis (guitar); Buddy Rich (drums)

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books (rec. 1956-1964, rel. 1994) – Ella Fitzgerald

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz
Selected musicians: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Paul Smith (piano); Herb Geller (clarinet); Bob Cooper (clarinet, oboe, tenor sax); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Maynard Ferguson (trumpet); Barney Kessel (guitar); Joe Mondragon (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums); Clark Terry (trumpet); Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Paul Gonsalves (saxophone); Ben Webster (saxophone); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Russell Procope (clarinet, alto sax); Harry Carney (clarinet, bass clarinet); Ray Nance (trumpet, violin); Stuff Smith (violin); Oscar Peterson (piano), Ray Brown (bass); Herb Ellis (guitar); Billy Strayhorn (piano); Duke Ellington (piano); Juan Tizol (trombone); Red Callendar (tuba); Benny Carter (alto sax); Lou Levy (piano); Joe Comfort (bass); Mel Lewis (drums); Emil Richards (vibraphone), Conrad Gozzo (trumpet); Don Fagerquist (trumpet); Wilbur Schwartz (woodwinds); Plas Johnson (tenor sax); Willie Smith (alto sax); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Frank Flynn (vibraphone)

Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation (rec. 1960, rel. 1961) – The Ornette Coleman Double Quartet

Alternate: Beauty Is a Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (rec. 1959-1961; rel. 1993)
Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Ornette Coleman (alto sax); Don Cherry (trumpet); Scott LaFaro (bass); Billy Higgins (drums); Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Charlie Haden (bass); Ed Blackwell (drums)

Night Train (rec. 1962, rel. 1963) – The Oscar Peterson Trio

Styles: Mainstream jazz, swing
Musicians: Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Ed Thigpen (drums)

Money Jungle (rec. 1962, rel. 1963) – Duke Ellington

Styles: Swing, post-bop
Musicians: Duke Ellington (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Max Roach (drums)

Karma (1969) – Pharoah Sanders

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, progressive jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Pharoah Sanders (tenor sax); Leon Thomas (percussion, vocals); Julius Watkins (French horn); James Spaulding (flute); Lonnie Liston Smith (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); Richard Davis (bass); Ron Carter (bass); Billy Hart (drums); Freddie Waits (drums); Nathaniel Bettis (percussion

Conference of the Birds (rec. 1972, rel. 1973) – Dave Holland Quartet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Dave Holland (bass); Sam Rivers (reeds, flute); Anthony Braxton (reeds, flute); Barry Altschul (percussion, marimba)

Live in Paris (rec. 2001, rel. 2002) – Diana Krall

Styles: Vocal jazz, contemporary jazz, traditional pop
Musicians: Diana Krall (piano, organ, vocals); Michael Brecker (tenor sax); John Clayton (bass); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Jeff Hamilton (drums); Christian McBride (bass); Rob Mounsey (keyboards); Lewis Nash (drums); John Pisano (guitar); Luis Quintero (percussion); Anthony Wilson (guitar)

On 8 lists
Bird and Diz (rec. 1949-1950, rel. 1952) – Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Charlie Parker (alto sax); Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Curley Russell (bass); Buddy Rich (drums); Thelonious Monk (piano); Tommy Potter (bass); Carlos Vidal (percussion); Max Roach (drums); Al Haig (piano); Tommy Turk (trombone); Kenny Dorham (trumpet)

A Night at Birdland, Vols. 1-2 (rec. 1954, rel. 1954, 1956) – Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
  
Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Art Blakey (drums); Clifford Brown (trumpet); Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Horace Silver (piano); Curley Russell (bass)

A Night at the Village Vanguard (rec. 1957, rel. 1958) – Sonny Rollins

Styles: Bebop, hard bop
Musicians: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Wilbur Ware (bass); Donald Bailey (bass); Elvin Jones (drums); Pete LaRoca (drums)

Cool Struttin’ (1958) – Sonny Clark

Styles: Bebop, hard bop
Musicians: Sonny Clark (piano); Jackie McLean (alto sax); Art Farmer (trumpet); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (1960) – Max Roach

Styles: Bebop, hard bop, post-bop, modern creative
Musicians: Max Roach (drums); Abbey Lincoln (vocals); Booker Little (trumpet); Julian Priester (trombone); Walter Benton (tenor sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); James Schenk (bass); Michael Olatunji (percussion, vocals); Raymond Mantilla (percussion); Tomas du Vall (percussion)

Our Man in Paris (1963) – Dexter Gordon

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Bud Powell (piano); Pierre Michelot (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums)

Unity (rec. 1965, rel. 1966) – Larry Young

Styles: Fusion, post-bop, soul jazz, hard bop, jazz-funk, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Larry Young (organ); Woody Shaw (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Elvin Jones (drum)

Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite (rec. 1966, rel. 1967) – Duke Ellington

Styles: Big band, swing, progressive jazz
Musicians: Duke Ellington (piano); Mercer Ellingtons (trumpet, flugelhorn); Herbie Jones (trumpet, flugelhorn); William “Cat” Anderson (trumpet); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Lawrence Brown (trombone); Buster Cooper (trombone); Chuck Connors (trombone); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Russell Procope (alto sax, clarinet); Jimmy Hamilton (tenor sax, clarinet); Paul Gonsalves (tenor sax); Harry Carney (baritone sax); John Lamb (bass); Rufus Jones (drums)

Jaco Pastorius (rec. 1975, rel. 1976) – Jaco Pastorius

Styles: Fusion, post-bop
Selected musicians: Jaco Pastorius (bass); Don Alias (percussion); Herbie Hancock (keyboards); Narada Michael Walden (drums); Sam Moore (vocals); Dave Prater (vocals); Randy Brecker (trumpet); David Sanborn (alto sax); Michael Brecker (tenor sax); Howard Johnson (baritone sax); Lenny White (drums); Harry Lookofsky (violin); Wayne Shorter (soprano sax); Hubert Laws (piccolo, flute); Alan Shulman (cello); Richard Davis (bass); Homer Mensch (bass)

On 7 lists
The Complete Set (rec. 1923-1924, rel. 2004) – King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band

Styles: New Orleans jazz, trad jazz
Selected musicians: Joe “King” Oliver (piano); Louis Armstrong (cornet); Honore Dutrey (trombone); Johnny Dodds (clarinet)

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (rec. 1937-1949, rel. 1995) – Dizzy Gillespie

Styles: Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, world fusion, big band
Selected musicians: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet, vocals); Benny Bailey (trumpet); Benny Harris (trumpet); Fats Navarro (trumpet); Willie Cook (trumpet); Dicky Wells (trombone); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Kai Winding (trombone); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Bennie Carter (alto sax); Charlie Parker (alto sax); Ernie Henry (alto sax); Howard Johnson (alto sax); Russell Procope (alto sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Don Byas (tenor sax); James Moody (tenor sax); Chu Berry (tenor sax); Teddy Hill (tenor sax); Yusef Lateef (tenor sax); Cecil Payne (baritone sax); Ernie Caceres (baritone sax); Bill DeArango (guitar); Billy Bauer (guitar); Charlie Christian (guitar); Al Haig (piano); John Lewis (piano); Lennie Tristano (piano); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Al McKibbon (bass); Milt Hinton (bass); Ray Brown (bass); Cozy Cole (drums); J.C. Heard (drums); Kenny Clarke (drums); Shelly Manne (drums); Chano Pozo (percussion); Johnny Hartman (vocals); Kenny Hagood (vocals)

Subconscious-Lee (rec. 1949-1950, rel. 1955) – Lee Konitz

Styles: Cool jazz, progressive jazz, bebop
Musicians: Lee Konitz (alto sax); Warne Marsh (tenor sax); Billy Bauer (guitar); Lennie Tristano (piano); Arnold Fishkin (bass); Shelly Manne (drums)

Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy (1954) – Louis Armstrong

Styles: Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, vocal jazz
Musicians: Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Barrett Deems (drums); Billy Kyle (piano); Arvell Shaw (bass); Trummy Young (trombone); Velma Middleton (vocals)

Sonny Side Up (rec. 1957, rel. 1959) – Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet, vocals); Sonny Stitt (tenor sax); Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Ray Bryant (piano); Tommy Bryant (bass); Charle Persip (drums)

Blowin’ the Blues Away (1959) – The Horace Silver Quintet & Trio

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Horace Silver (piano); Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Junior Cook (tenor sax); Gene Taylor (bass); Louis Hayes (drums)

Open Sesame (1960) – Freddie Hubbard

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Tina Brooks (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Sam Jones (bass); Clifford Jarvis (drums)

Out of the Cool (rec. 1960, rel. 1961) – The Gil Evans Orchestra

Styles: Cool jazz, post-bop, modern big band, modern creative, progressive jazz
Selected musicians: Gil Evans (piano); Johnny Coles (trumpet); Keg Johnson (trombone); Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Bill Barber (tuba); Budd Johnson (tenor & soprano sax); Bob Tricarico (flute, piccolo, bassoon); Ray Crawford (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Elvin Jones (drums, percussion); Charlie Persip (drums)

The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (rec. 1961, rel. 1997) – John Coltrane

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (soprano & tenor sax); Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet, alto sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Worman (bass); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums); Garvin Bushnell (cor anglais?); Ahmed Abdul-Malik (oud or tanpura); Roy Haynes (drums)

Page One (1963) – Joe Henderson

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); McCoy Tyner (piano); Butch Warren (bass); Pete La Roca (drums)

Empyrean Isles (1964) – Herbie Hancock

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Herbie Hancock (piano); Freddie Hubbard (cornet); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Blue Light ‘Til Dawn (1993) – Cassandra Wilson

Styles: Contemporary jazz, free funk, vocal jazz, world fusion
Selected musicians: Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Brandon Ross (guitar); Charlie Burnham (violin, mandocello); Tony Cedras (accordion); Olu Dara (cornet); Don Byron (clarinet); Chris Whitley (guitar); Kenny Davis (bass); Lonnie Plaxico (bass); Lance Carter (drums, percussion); Cyro Baptista (percussion), Vinx (percussion)

Wish (1993) – Joshua Redman

Styles: Neo-bop, post-bop, straight-ahead jazz
Musicians: Joshua Redman (tenor sax); Pat Metheny (guitar); Charlie Haden (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

On 6 lists
Handful of Keys (Proper, rec. 1922-1943, rel. 2004) – Fats Waller

Alternate: The Best of Fats Waller (RCA 1929-1942)
Styles: Trad jazz, jive, stride, swing, vocal jazz
Selected musicians: Fats Waller (piano, celeste, organ, vocals); Henry “Red” Allen (trumpet); Jimmy Archey (trombone); Irving Ashby (guitar); Herman Autrey (trumpet); Buster Bailey (clarinet, alto & soprano sax); Larry Binyon (tenor sax); Arnold Boling (drums); Ceele Burke (guitar); Garvin Bushell (clarinet, alto sax); Paul Campbell (trumpet); Una Mae Carlisle (vocals);l Robert Carroll (tenor sax); Benny Carter (trumpet); Al Casey (guitar, piano); June Cole (tuba); Bill Coleman (trumpet); Eddie Condon (banjo); Leonard Davis (trumpet); Charlie Dixon (banjo); Hank Duncan (piano); Jackie Fields (alto sax); Pops Foster (bass); Charlie Gaines (trumpet); John “Bugs” Hamilton (trumpet); Otto Hardwick (alto sax); Arville Harris (clarinet, alto & tenor sax); Coleman Hawkins (clarinet, tenor sax); J.C. Higginbotham (trombone); James P. Johnson (piano); Slick Jones (vibraphone); Eddie King (drums); Gene Krupa (drums); Emmett Matthews (soprano sax); Mezz Mezzrow (clarinet, alto sax); Alton Moore (trombone); Al Morgan (bass); Benny Morton (trombone); Jimmy Powell (alto sax); Rudy Powell (clarinet, alto & tenor sax); Don Redman (clarinet, alto sax); Caughey Roberts (clarinet, alto sax); Zutty Singleton (drums); John “BJ John” Smith (guitar); Slam Stewart (bass); Jack Teagarden (trombone, vibraphone)

Bix & Tram (JSP, rec. 1927-1934, rel. 2002) – Bix Beiderbecke

Alternates:
1. At the Jazz Band Ball (ASV/Living Era, rec. 1924-1930, rel. 1991)
2. Bix Beiderbecke, Vol. 1: Singin’ the Blues (Columbia, rec. 1927, rel. 1990)
3. Bix Beiderbecke, Vol. 2: At the Jazz Band Ball (Columbia, rec. 1927-1928, rel. 1990))
Styles: Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, trad jazz
Selected musicians: Bix Beiderbecke (cornet, piano); Frankie Trumbauer (C-melody & alto sax, vocals); Ward Archer (drums); Smith Ballew (vocals); Roy Bargy (piano); Harry Barris (piano); Vic Berton (drums, harpophone, percussion); Rube Bloom (piano); Benny Bonacio (clarinet, alto sax); John Cali (banjo); Hoagy Carmichael (piano, celeste, vocals); Bing Crosby (vocals); Rube Crozier (bassoon); Bobby Davis (alto sax); Jimmy Dorsey (clarinet, alto sax); Seger Ellis (vocals); Irving Friedman (clarinet, tenor sax); Izzy Friedman (clarinet); Harry Gale (drums); Wilbur Hall (guitar); Lennie Hayton (clarinet, alto sax); Raymond Johnston (trumpet); Stan King (drums); Carl Kress (guitar); Eddie Lang (banjo, guitar); Min Leibrook (bass sax); Wingy Manone (clarinet); Charlie Margulis (trumpet); George Marsh (trumpet, harpophone); Harold McDonald (drums); Paul Mertz (piano); Art Miller (bass); Miff Mole (trombone); Chauncey Morehouse (drums, harpophone); Don Murray (clarinet, baritone sax); Nat Natoli (trumpet); Herb Quigley (drums); Ed “Snoozer” Quinn (guitar); Bill Rank (trombone); Itzy Riskin (piano); Adrian Rollini (bass sax); George Rose (banjo, guitar); Mischa Russell (violin); Pee Wee Russell (clarinet); Doc Ryker (alto & tenor sax); Tommy Satterfield (piano, celeste); Frank Signorelli (piano, drums); Charles Strickfaden (clarinet, oboe, alto & baritone sax); Charlie Teagarden (trumpet); Jack Teagarden (trombone, vocals); Joe Venuti (violin, bass, vocals); Irving Brodsky (piano); Steve Brown (bass); Tommy Dorsey (trombone); Fred Farrar (trumpet); Bud Freeman (tenor sax); Al Gande (trombone); Tom Gargano (drums); Bob Gillette (banjo); Benny Goodman (clarinet, alto sax); Jimmy Hartwell (clarinet, alto sax); George “Happy” Johnson (tenox sax); Ray Lodwig (trumpet); Vic Moore (drums); Howdy Quicksell (banjo); Dick Voynow (piano)

Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes (rec. 1947-1952, rel. 1995)

Styles: Bebop, big band
Selected musicians: Charlie Parker (alto sax); Al Haig (piano); Tommy Potter (bass); Roy Haynes (drums); Al Porcino (trumpet); Chris Griffin (trumpet); Toots Mondello (alto sax); Lou Stein (piano); Bob Haggart (bass); Don Lamond (drums); John LaPorta (clarinet); Flip Phillips (tenor sax); Mann Albam (baritone sax); Tony Aless (piano); Curley Russell (bass); Shelly Manne (drums)

The Best of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker (rec. 1952-1957, rel. 1991) –  The Gerry Mulligan Quartet

Styles: Cool jazz, West Coast jazz
Musicians: Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax); Chet Baker (trumpet); Bobby Whitlock (bass); Chico Hamilton (drums); Henry Grimes (bass); Larry Bunker (drums); Dave Bailey (drums)

Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956) – Charles Mingus

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass); Jackie McLean (alto sax); J.R. Monterose (tenor sax); Mal Waldron (piano); Willie Jones (drums)

Tenor Madness (1956) – Sonny Rollins Quartet

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Lady in Satin (1958) – Billie Holiday

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz, blues
Selected musicians: Billie Holiday (vocals); George Ockner (violin); David Soyer (cello); Danny Bank (flute); Mel Davis (trumpet); Billy Butterfield (trumpet); Bernie Glow (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Urbie Green (trombone); Mal Waldron (piano); Barry Galbraith (guitar); Milt Hinton (bass); Osie Johnson (drums)

Everybody Digs Bill Evans (rec. 1958, rel. 1959) – Bill Evans

Styles: Post-bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Bill Evans (piano); Sam Jones (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (rec. 1958-1961, rel. 1998) – Ahmad Jamal Trio

Alternate: At the Pershing: But Not For Me (1958)
Styles: Cool jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Ahmad Jamal (piano); Israel Crosby (bass); Vernel Fournier (drums) 

Blues & Roots (rec. 1959, rel. 1960) – Charles Mingus

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass); John Handy (alto sax); Jackie McLean (alto sax); Booker Ervin (tenor sax); Pepper Adams (baritone sax); Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Willie Dennis (trombone); Dannie Richmond (drums); Horace Parlan (piano); Mal Waldron (piano)

Everybody’s Boppin’ (rec. 1959-1961, rel. 1989) – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

Styles: Vocalese, vocal jazz, bebop, traditional pop
Musicans: Dave Lambert (vocals); Jon Hendricks (vocals); Annie Ross (vocals); Walter Bolden (drums); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Charles Isaacs (bass); Gildo Mahones (piano); Jimmy Wormworth (drums)

Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (rec. 1960, rel. 1961) – Charles Mingus

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass); Ted Curson (trumpet); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet); Dannie Richmond (drums)

Further Definitions (rec. 1961, 1966, rel. 1961, 1966) – Benny Carter and His Orchestra

Style: Mainstream jazz
Musicians: Benny Carter (alto sax); Phil Woods (alto sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Charlie Rouse (tenor sax); John Collins (guitar); Dick Katz (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Jo Jones (drums); Bud Shank (alto sax); Buddy Collette (tenor sax); Bill Perkins (tenor sax); Teddy Edwards (tenor sax); Barney Kessel (guitar); Bill Hood (baritone sax); Mundell Lowe (guitar); Don Abney (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums)

Eastern Sounds (rec. 1961, rel. 1962) – Yusef Lateef

Styles: Hard bop, world fusion
Musicians: Yusef Lateef (flute, oboe, tenor sax, xun); Barry Harris (piano); Ernie Farrow (bass, Rabaab); Lex Humphries (drums)

Midnight Blue (1963) – Kenny Burrell

Styles: Hard bop, jazz blues
Musicians: Kenny Burrell (guitar); Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax); Major Holley (bass); Bill English (drums); Ray Barretto (conga)

JuJu (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – Wayne Shorter

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Dialogue (1965) – Bobby Hutcherson

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Sam Rivers (tenor & soprano sax, bass clarinet, flute); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Andrew Hill (piano); Richard Davis (bass); Joe Chambers (drums)

Smokin’ at the Half Note (1965) – Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Wynton Kelly (piano); Wes Montgomery (guitar); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Ascension (rec. 1965, rel. 1966) – John Coltrane

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: John Coltrane (tenor sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Dewey Johnson (trumpet); Marion Brown (alto sax); John Tchicai (alto sax); Pharoah Sanders (tenor sax); Archie Shepp (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Art Davis (bass); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Machine Gun (1968) – The Peter Brötzmann Octet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, free jazz
Musicians: Peter Brötzmann (tenor & baritone sax); Evan Parker (saxophone); Willem Breuker (reeds); Peter Kowald (bass); Buschi Niebergall (bass); Sven-Åke Johansson (drums); Han Bennink (drums); Fred Van Hove (piano)

Birds of Fire (rec. 1972, rel. 1973) – Mahavishnu Orchestra

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock
Musicians: John McLaughlin (guitar); Rick Laird (bass); Billy Cobham (drums, percussion); Jan Hammer (keyboards); Jerry Goodman (violin)

Virtuoso (1973) – Joe Pass

Styles: Bebop, mainstream jazz
Musician: Joe Pass (guitar)

Bright Size Life (rec. 1975, rel. 1976) – Pat Metheny

Styles: Fusion, post-bop, contemporary jazz
Musicians: Pat Metheny (guitars); Jaco Pastorius (bass); Bob Moses (drums)

On 5 lists
The OKeh Ellington (rec. 1927-1930, rel. 1991) – Duke Ellington

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Duke Ellington (piano); Bubber Miley (trumpet); Cootie Williams (trumpet); Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton (trombone); Barney Bigard (clarinet; tenor sax); Johnny Hodges (alto & soprano sax); Harry Carney (alto & baritone sax); Henry Edwards (tuba); Sonny Greer (drums); Fred Guy (banjo); Otto Hardwick (soprano, alto & baritone sax); Rudy Jackson (clarinet, tenor sax); Freddie Jenkins (trumpet); Lonnie Johnson (guitar); Louis Metcalf (trumpet), Juan Tizol (trombone); Prince Robinson (clarinet, tenor sax)

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1 (rec. 1953-1954, rel. 1955) – J.J. Johnson

Styles: Bebop, hard bop
Musicians: J.J. Johnson (trombone); Clifford Brown (trumpet); Jimmy Heath (tenor & baritone sax); John Lewis (piano); Percy Heath (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums); Wynton Kelly (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Sabu Martinez (congas)

The Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces (rec. 1953-1956, rel. 1991) – Art Tatum

Styles: Swing, stride, boogie-woogie
Musician: Art Tatum (piano)

‘Round About Midnight (rec. 1955-1956, rel. 1957) – Miles Davis

Styles: Cool jazz, hard bop, jazz blues
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook (1956) – Ella Fitzgerald

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz
Selected musicians: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Paul Smith (piano); Herb Geller (clarinet); Bob Cooper (clarinet, oboe, tenor sax); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Maynard Ferguson (trumpet); Barney Kessel (guitar); Joe Mondragon (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums)

The Tatum Group Masterpieces, Vol. 8 (rec. 1956, rel. 1975) – Art Tatum

Original title: Art Tatum – Ben Webster Quartet (1956)
Styles: Swing, stride, boogie-woogie
Musicians: Art Tatum (piano); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Red Callender (bass); Bill Douglass (drums)

The Sermon! (rec. 1957-1958, rel. 1959) – Jimmy Smith

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Jimmy Organ (organ); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Tina Brooks (tenor sax); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Art Blakey (drums); George Coleman (alto sax); Eddie McFadden (guitar); Donald Bailey (drums)

Ezz-thetics (1961) – George Russell Sextet

Styles: Third stream, post-bop, mainstream jazz
Musicians: George Russell (piano); Don Ellis (trumpet); Dave Baker (trombone); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet); Steve Swallow (bass); Joe Hunt (drums)

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963) – John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz
Musicians: John Coltrane (tenor sax); Johnny Hartman (vocals); McCoy Tyner (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Inner Urge (rec. 1964, rel. 1966) – Joe Henderson

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Rip, Rig and Panic (1965) – The Roland Kirk Quartet Featuring Elvin Jones

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, hard bop
Musicians: Roland Kirk (tenor sax, flute, oboe, etc.); Jaki Byard (piano); Richard Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Sinatra at the Sands (1966) – Frank Sinatra with Count Basie & the Orchestra

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz, big band
Selected musicians: Frank Sinatra (vocals); Count Basie (piano); Bill Miller (piano); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Al Arons (trumpet); Al Grey (trombone); Marshal Royal (alto sax); Eric Dixon (tenor sax); Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (tenor sax); Freddie Green (guitar); Norman Keenan (bass); Sonny Payne (drums)

Now Please Don’t You Cry, Beautiful Edith (1967) – Roland Kirk

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Roland Kirk (tenor sax, flute, etc.); Lonnie Liston Smith (piano); Ronnie Boykins (bass); Grady Tate (drums)

The Very Best of Nina Simone: Sugar in My Bowl (rec. 1966-1972, rel. 1998) – Nina Simone

Style: Vocal jazz
Selected musician: Nina Simone (vocals)

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (1968) – Chick Corea

Styles: Progressive jazz, post-bop, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Chick Corea (piano); Miroslav Vitouš (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

Emergency! (1969) – The Tony Williams Lifetime

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock, post-bop
Musicians: Tony Williams (drums, vocals); John McLaughlin (guitar); Larry Young (organ)

Escalator Over The Hill (rec. 1968-1971, rel. 1971) – Carla Bley and Paul Haines

Styles: Experimental big band, post-bop, avant-garde jazz, jazz opera
Selected musicians: Carla Bley (piano, organ, celeste, etc.); Gato Barbieri (tenor sax); Karl Berger (vibraphone); Sam Brown (guitar); Jack Bruce (bass, vocals); Bob Carlisle (French horn); Don Cherry (trumpet); Roger Dawson (conga, xylophone); Sharon Freeman (French horn); Charlie Haden (bass); Leroy Jenkins (violin); Howard Johnson (tuba); Sheila Jordan (vocals); Jimmy Knepper (trombone); Jeanne Lee (vocal); Jimmy Lyons (alto sax); Michael Mantler (piano, trumpet, trombone); Ron McClure (bass); John McLaughlin (guitar); Paul Motian (drums); Don Preston (synthesizer); Ernico Rava (trumpet); Perry Robinson (clarinet); Linda Ronstadt (vocal); Roswell Rudd (trombone); Michael Snow (trumpet); Chris Woods (baritone sax)

Black Market (rec. 1975-1976, rel. 1976) – Weather Report

Style: Fusion
Musicians: Joe Zawinul (keyboards); Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor sax, Lyricon); Alphonso Johnson (bass); Jaco Pastorius (bass); Narada Michael Walden (drums); Chester Thompson (drums); Alex Acuña (congas, percussion); Don Alias (percussion)

Offramp (rec. 1981, rel. 1982) – Pat Metheny Group

Styles: Contemporary jazz, crossover jazz
Musicians: Pat Metheny (guitar, synthesizer); Lyle Mays (piano, organ, synthesizers); Steve Rodby (bass); Danny Gottlieb (drums); Naná Vasconcelos (percussion, vocals)

Ask the Ages (1991) – Sonny Sharrock

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Sonny Sharrock (guitar); Pharoah Sanders (tenor & soprano sax); Elvin Jones (drums); Charnett Moffett (bass)

The Art of The Trio, Vol. 1 (rec. 1996, rel. 1997) – Brad Mehldau

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Brad Mehldau (piano); Larry Grenadier (bass); Jorge Rossy (drums)

Saudades (rec. 2004, rel. 2006) – Trio Beyond

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, contemporary jazz, jazz-funk, fusion, modern creative
Musicians: Jack DeJohnette (drums); John Scofield (guitar); Larry Goldings (organ)

On 4 lists
The Essential Bessie Smith (rec. 1923-1933, rel. 1997) – Bessie Smith

Styles: Classic female blues, trad jazz
Selected musicians: Bessie Smith (vocals); Louis Armstrong (cornet), Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax), Fletcher Henderson (piano), James P. Johnson (piano), Joe “Fox” Smith (cornet), Charlie Green (trombone), Jack Teagarden (trombone); Frankie Newton (trumpet); Chu Berry (tenor sax); Buck Washington (piano); Bobby Johnson (guitar); Billy Taylor (bass), Buster Bailey (clarinet); Garvin Bushell (alto sax); Floyd Casey (drums); Buddy Christian (banjo); June Cole (tuba); Lincoln Conaway (guitar); Charlie Dixon (banjo); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Bobby Johnson (guitar); Eddie Lang (guitar); Robert Robbins (violin); Buck Washington (piano); Clarence Williams (piano)

Jelly Roll Morton (JSP, rec. 1926-1930, rel. 2000) – Jelly Roll Morton

Styles: New Orleans jazz, trad jazz
Selected musicians: Jelly Roll Morton (piano); Bernard Addison (guitar); Barney Alexander (banjo, baritone sax); Ed Anderson (trumpet); George Baquet (clarinet); Paul Barbarin (drums); Paul Barnes (soprano sax); Bill Beason (drums); Bill Benford (bass); Tommy Benford (drums); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Pete Biggs (bass); Clarence Black (violin); Lee Blair (banjo, guitar); Jerry Blake (clarinet, bass clarinet); Walter Briscoe (trumpet); Ernie Bullock (clarinet, bass clarinet); Happy Caldwell (clarinet); William Cato (trombone); Cozy Cole (drums); Wibur De Paris (trombone); Baby Dodds (drums); Johnny Dodds (clarinet); Stump Evans (alto sax); Geechie Fields (trombone); Pops Foster (baritone & bass sax); Joe Garland (tenor sax); J.C. Higginbotham (trombone); Andrew Hilaire (drums); Howard Hill (guitar); Darnell Howard (clarinet, violin); Charlie Irvis (trombone); Manzie Johnson (drums); Will Johnson (guitar); William Laws (drums); John Lindsay (baritone sax); Bubber Miley (trumpet); Bass Moore (bass); Albert Nicholas (clarinet); Kid Ory (trombone); Ward Pinkett (trumpet); Harry Prather (bass); Russell Procope (clarinet); Gerald Reeves (trombone); Rod Rodriquez (piano); Boyd “Red” Rosser (trumpet); Eddie Scarpa (clarinet); Bud Scott (guitar); Omer Simeon (clarinet, bass clarinet, bass); Zutty Singleton (drums); Johnny St. Cyr (banjo, bass, guitar); Edwin Swayzee (trumpet); Edwin Swayzee (trumpet); Joe “Cornbread” Thomas (alto sax); Walter Thomas (clarinet, baritone sax, tenor sax); Lorenzo Tio, Jr. (banjo, clarinet) 

The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (rec. 1932-1956, rel. 1997) – Louis Armstrong

Styles: New Orleans jazz, swing, mainstream jazz
Selected musicians: Louis Armstrong (cornet, trumpet, vocals, etc.); Nat Allen (bass, guitar, saxophone, trombone); Lil Armstrong (piano); Louis Bacon (trumpet); Butch Ballard (drums); Frank Beach (trumpet); Charlie Beal (piano); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Ellsworth Blake (tenor sax); Scoville Brown (clarinet, alto sax); Don Byas (tenor sax); Ernie Caceres (clarinet, baritone sax); Red Callender (bass); Dick Cary (piano, drums); Al Casey (guitar); Big Sid Catlett (clarinet, alto sax); Cozy Cole (drums); Joe Comfort (bass); Arthur Davey (alto sax); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Jack Dumont (reeds); Duke Ellington (piano); Leonard Feather (piano); Fats Ford (trumpet); Charlie Gaines (trumpet); Joe Garland (tenor sax); Charlie Green (trombone); Sonny Greer (drums); Johnny Guarnieri (piano, celeste); Bobby Hackett (clarinet, cornet, tenor sax); Bob Haggart (bass, drums); Al Hall (bass); Jimmy Hamilton (clarinet); Neal Hefti (trumpet); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Billy Hicks (trumpet); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Elmer James (bass, tuba); Budd Johnson (clarinet, tenor sax, vocals); Louis Jordan (alto sax); Don Kirkpatrick (piano); Earl Mason (piano); “Big” Mike McKendrick (banjo, dobro); Mezz Mezzrow (bells); Velma Middleton (vocals); Alton Moore (trombone); Big Chief Russell Moore (bass, guitar, saxophone, trombone); Bill Oldham (bass, trombone, tuba); Kid Ory (trombone); Remo Palmieri (guitar); Jimmie Rodgers (guitar, vocals); Allan Reuss (guitar); Edgar Sampson (alto sax, violin); Bud Scott (guitar); Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Arvell Shaw (bass); Zutty Singleton (drums); John Sparrow (baritone & tenor sax); Billy Strayhorn (piano); Jack Teagarden (clarinet, drums, tenor sax, trombone, vocals); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); John Trueheart (guitar); Chick Webb (drums); James Whitney (bass, guitar, saxophone, trombone); Elmer “Skippy” Williams (tenor sax); Waddey Williams (bass, guitar, saxophone, trombone); Zeke Zarchy (trumpet); Si Zentner (trombone)

The Legendary Sidney Bechet (rec. 1932-1941, rel. 1991) – Sidney Bechet

Styles: Dixieland, New Orleans jazz
Selected musicians: Sidney Bechet (clarinet, bass, drums, piano, soprano & tenor sax, vocals); Bernard Addison (guitar); Gus Aiken (trumpet); Henry “Red” Allen (trumpet); Everett Barksdale (guitar); Wellman Braud (bass); Teddy Bunn (guitar); Happy Caldwell (tenor sax); Big Sid Catlett (drums); Kenny Clarke (drums); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Baby Dodds (drums); J.C. Heard (drums); J.C. Higginbotham (trombone); Earl Hines (piano); Mezz Mezzrow (clarinet, tenor sax); Jelly Roll Morton (piano); Teddy Nixon (trombone); Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Zutty Singleton (drums); Willie “The Lion” Smith (piano); James Toliver (piano); Ernest Williamson (bass);

The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945: Piano Solos (rec. 1942-1945, rel. 1996) – James P. Johnson

Styles: Ragtime, stride
Musician: James P. Johnson (piano)

Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (rec. 1945-1954, rel. 1990) – Charlie Parker

Styles: Bebop, big band
Selected musicians: Charlie Parker (alto sax); Johnny Hodges (alto sax); Willie Smith (alto sax); Benny Carter (alto sax); Toots Mondello (alto sax); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Miles Davis (trumpet); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Al Porcino (trumpet); Benny Harris (trumpet); Charlie Shavers (trumpet); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Howard McGhee (trumpet); Mario Bauzá (trumpet); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Lou McGarity (trombone); John LaPorta (clarinet); Al Haig (piano); Hank Jones (piano); John Lewis (piano); Oscar Peterson (piano); Tony Aless (piano); Barney Kessel (guitar); Freddie Green (guitar); Charles Mingus (bass); Curly Russell (bass); Tommy Potter (bass); Percy Heath (bass); Ray Brown (bass); Buddy Rich (drums); Don Lamond (drums); J.C. Heard (drums); Roy Haynes (drums); Max Roach (drums); Shelly Manne (drums); Kenny Clarke (drums); Chano Pozo (conga); Machito (maracas); Dave Lambert (vocals); Annie Ross (vocals)

The Jazz Giants ’56 (1956) – Lester Young

Styles: Cool jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Lester Young (saxophone); Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Teddy Wilson (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Gene Ramey (bass); Jo Jones (drums)

Miles Ahead (1957) – Miles Davis

Styles: Cool jazz, third stream, experimental big band, modern creative
Selected musicians: Miles Davis (flugelhorn); Bernie Glow (trumpet); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Frank Rehak (trombone); Willie Ruff (French horn); Bill Barber (tuba); Lee Konitz (alto sax); Danny Bank (bass clarinet); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Taylor (drums); Wynton Kelly (piano)

The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (rec. 1957, rel. 2006) – Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Gigi Gryce (alto sax); Ray Copeland (trumpet); Wibur Ware (bass); Art Blakey (drums); Shadow Wilson (drums)

Jazz in Silhouette (1958) – Sun Ra and His Arkestra

Styles: Experimental big band, avant-garde jazz, progressive jazz
Musicians: Sun Ra (piano, celeste, gong); Hobart Dotson (trumpet); Marshall Allen (alto sax, flute); James Spaulding (alto sax, flute, percussion); John Gilmore (tenor sax, percussion); Julian Priester (trombone); Pat Patrick (baritone sax, flute, percussion); Charles Davis (baritone sax, percussion); Ronnie Boykins (bass); William Cochran (drums)

Modern Art (1958) – Art Farmer

Styles: Bebop, Hard bop, cool jazz
Musicians: Art Farmer (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor sax); Bill Evans (piano); Addison Farmer (bass); Dave Bailey (drums)

Portrait in Jazz (rec. 1959, rel. 1960) – Bill Evans Trio

Styles: Cool jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Bill Evans (piano); Scott LaFaro (bass); Paul Motian (drums)

Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley (1961) – Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley

Styles: Traditional pop, vocal jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Nancy Wilson (vocals); Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto sax); Nat Adderley (cornet); Louis Hayes (drums); Sam Jones (bass); Joe Zawinul (piano)

Bags Meets Wes! (rec. 1961, rel. 1962) – Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery

Styles: Hard bop, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Wes Montgomery (guitar); Philly Joe Jones (drums); Sam Jones (bass); Wynton Kelly (piano)

Let Freedom Ring (rec. 1962, rel. 1963) – Jackie McLean

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Jackie McLean (alto sax); Walter Davis, Jr. (piano); Herbie Lewis (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Boss Tenors in Orbit! (1962) – Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt

Styles: Bebop, hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Gene Ammons (tenor sax); Sonny Stitt (tenor sax); Don Patterson (organ); Paul Weeden (guitar); Billy James (drums)

Monk’s Dream (rec. 1962, rel. 1963) – The Thelonious Monk Quartet

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); Charlie Rouse (tenor sax); John Ore (bass); Frankie Dunlop (drums)

Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (1963) – Charles Mingus

Styles: Post-bop, progressive jazz
Selected musicians: Charles Mingus (bass, piano); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute, bass clarinet); Jaki Bayard (piano); Eddie Preston (trumpet); Britt Woodman (trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba); Jerome Richardson (soprano & baritone sax, flute); Booker Ervin (tenor sax); Dick Hafer (tenor sax, clarinet, flute); Walter Perkins (drums); Rolf Ericson (trumpet); Charlie Mariano (alto sax); Jay Berliner (guitar); Dannie Richmond (drums)

Highlights from the Plugged Nickel (rec. 1965, rel. 1995) – Miles Davis

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Ron Carter (bass); Herbie Hancock (piano); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Tony Williams (drums)

Cornbread (rec. 1965, rel. 1967) – Lee Morgan

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Lee Morgan (trumpet); Herbie Hancock (piano); Billie Higgins (drums); Jackie McLean (alto sax); Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Larry Ridley (bass)

Nefertiti (rec. 1967, rel. 1968) – Miles Davis

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, modal jazz, modern creative
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Extrapolation (1969) – John McLaughlin

Styles: Fusion, post-bop
Musicians: John McLaughlin (guitar); John Surman (baritone & soprano sax); Brian Odgers (bass); Tony Oxley (drums)

Liberation Music Orchestra (rec. 1969, rel. 1970) – Charlie Haden

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, experimental big band
Musicians: Charlie Haden (bass); Perry Robinson (clarinet); Gato Barbieri (tenor sax, clarinet); Dewey Redman (alto & tenor sax); Don Cherry (cornet, flute, etc.); Michael Mantler (trumpet); Roswell Rudd (trombone); Bob Northern (French horn, percussion, etc.); Howard Johnson (tuba); Sam Brown (guitar, thumb piano); Carla Bley (piano, percussion); Paul Motian (drums, percussion); Andrew Cyrille (drums, percussion)

Red Clay (1970) – Freddie Hubbard

Styles: Post-bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor sax, flute); Herbie Hancock (electric piano, organ); Ron Carter (bass); Lenny White (drums) 

Afternoon in Paris (1971) – Stéphane Grappelli

Styles: Swing, continental jazz
Musicians: Stéphane Grappelli (violin); Kenny Clarke (drums); Marc Hemmeler (piano); Eberhard Weber (bass)

Concierto (1975) – Jim Hall

Styles: Cool jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Jim Hall (guitar); Paul Desmond (alto sax); Chet Baker (trumpet); Roland Hanna (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Steve Gadd (drums)

Elegant Gypsy (rec. 1976-1977, rel. 1977) – Al Di Meola

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock, world fusion
Musicians: Al Di Meola (guitar; piano, synthesizer, percussion); Paco de Lucía (guitar); Anthony Jackson (bass); Jan Hammer (keyboards, synthesizer); Barry Miles (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Steve Gadd (drums); Lenny White (drums); Mingo Lewis (congas, synthesizers, organ, percussion)

Lenox Avenue Breakdown (rec. 1978, rel. 1979) – Arthur Blythe

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Arthur Blythe (alto sax); James Newton (flute); Bob Stewart (tuba); James “Blood” Ulmer (guitar); Cecil McBee (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Guillermo Franco (percussion)

Standards, Vol. 1 (1983) – Keith Jarrett

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Keith Jarrett (piano); Gary Peacock (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums)

Naked City (rec. 1989, rel. 1990) – John Zorn

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, modern creative, experimental rock
Musicians: John Zorn (alto sax); Bill Frisell (guitar); Fred Firth (bass); Joey Baron (drums); Wayne Horvitz (keyboards); Yamatsuka Eye (vocals)

Live at the Village Vanguard (rec. 1990-1994, rel. 1999) – Wynton Marsalis Septet

Styles: New Orleans jazz revival
Musicians: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Victor Goines (soprano & tenor sax); Wycliffe Gordon (trombone); Eric Reed (piano); Herlin Riley (drums); Marcus Roberts (piano); Reginald Veal (bass); Ben Wolfe (bass)

From the Soul (rec. 1991, rel. 1992) – Joe Lovano

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Joe Lovano (tenor, alto & soprano sax); Michel Petrucciani (piano); Dave Holland (bass); Ed Blackwell (drums)

Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (rec. 1991, rel. 1992) – Joe Henderson

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Stephen Scott (piano); Christian McBride (bass); Gregory Hutchinson (drums)

Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories) (rec. 1996, rel. 1997) – Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny

Style: Modern creative
Musicians: Charlie Haden (bass); Pat Metheny (guitar, etc.)

Gratitude (rec. 2000, rel. 2001) – Chris Potter

Style: Neo-bop
Musicians: Chris Potter (tenor, alto & soprano sax, alto flute, bass clarinet, etc.); Kevin Hays (piano); Scott Colley (bass); Brian Blade (drums)

Strange Liberation (rec. 2003, rel. 2004) – Dave Douglas

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, progressive jazz, modern creative, contemporary jazz
Musicians: Dave Douglas (trumpet); Bill Frisell (guitar); Chris Potter (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Uri Caine (keyboards); James Genus (bass); Clarence Penn (drums, percussion)

Careless Love (2004) – Madeleine Peyroux

Styles: Vocal jazz, traditional pop
Musicians: Madeleine Peyroux (vocals, guitar); Dean Parks (guitar); Larry Goldings (piano, keyboards, organ, celeste); David Piltch (bass); Jay Bellerose (drums, percussion); Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Scott Amendola (brushes)

The Epic (2015) – Kamasi Washington

Styles: Jazz-funk, Latin jazz, modal jazz, modern creative, world fusion
Musicians: Kamasi Washington (tenor sax); Miles Mosley (bass); Ronald Bruner, Jr. (drums); Tony Austin (drums); Thundercat (bass); Brandon Coleman (keyboards); Dwight Trible (vocals); Patrice Quinn (vocals); Leon Mobley (percussion); Cameron Graves (piano); Ryan Porter (trombone); Igmar Thomas (trumpet)

On 3 lists
Tidal Wave: The Original Decca Recordings (rec. 1931, 1934, rel. 1994) – Fletcher Henderson

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Fletcher Henderson (piano); Benny Carter (alto sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Rex Stewart (cornet, trumpet), Ben Webster (tenor sax)

Piano Starts Here (rec. 1933, 1949, rel. 1968) – Art Tatum

Styles: Stride, swing
Musician: Art Tatum (piano)

The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order (rec. 1934-1939; rel. 2000) – Django Reinhardt

Alternate: The Quintessential Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: 25 Classics (rec. 1934-1940, rel. 1998)
Styles: Continental jazz, swing
Selected musicians: Django Reinhardt (guitar); Stéphane Grappelli (violin); Bill Coleman; Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Bert Marshall; Jerry Mengo

The Best of Nat King Cole Trio: The Vocal Classics, Vol. 1 (rec. 1942-1946, rel. 1995) – Nat King Cole Trio

Styles: Swing, traditional pop, vocal jazz, jump blues
Musicians: Nat King Cole (piano, vocals); Johnny Miller (bass); Oscar Moore (guitar)

The Complete Aladdin Recordings (rec. 1942, 1945-1947, rel. 1995) – Lester Young

Styles: Swing, cool jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Lester Young (tenor sax); Joe Albany (piano); Irving Ashby (guitar); Nasir Barakaat (guitar); Ted Briscoe (bass); Jimmy Bunn (piano); Red Callender (bass); Nat King Cole (piano); Curtis Counce (bass); Maxwell Davis (tenor sax); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Gene DiNovi (piano); Sadik Hakim; Roy Haynes (drums); Helen Humes (vocals); Wesley Jones (piano); Tiny Kahn (drums); Fred Lacey (guitar); Dod Marmarosa (piano); Lyndell Marshall (drums); Shorty McConnell (trumpet); Howard McGhee 9trumpet); Johnny Otis (drums); Rodney Richardson (bass); Jimmy Rudd (bass); Curly Russell (bass); Willie Smith (alto sax); Argonne Thornton (piano); Henry Tucker (drums); Chuck Wayne (guitar); Snooky Young (trumpet)

The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings of Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron (rec. 1947-1948, rel. 1995) – Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Tadd Dameron (piano); Fats Navarro (trumpet); Allen Eager (tenor sax); Wardell Gray (tenor sax); Curley Russell (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums); Chano Pozo (percussion); Kenny Hagood (vocals); Sahib Shihab (alto sax); Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Cecil Payne (baritone sax); Kai Winding (trombone); Vidal Balado (congas); Diego Ibarra (bongos); Rae Pearl (vocals); Miles Davis (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Benjamin Lundy (tenor sax); John Collins (guitar); Howard McGhee (trumpet, piano); Milt Jackson (vibraphone, piano); Bud Powell (piano); Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Tommy Potter (bass); Roy Haynes (drums); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Gene DiNovi (piano); Mundell Lowe (guitar); Clyde Lombardi (bass); Mel Zelnick (drums)

The Genius of Bud Powell (rec. 1950-1951, rel. 1956) – Bud Powell

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Bud Powell (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Buddy Rich (drums)

Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio (rec. 1952, rel. 1954, 1956) – Lester Young

Styles: Cool jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Lester Young (tenor sax); Oscar Peterson (piano); Barney Kessel (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); J.C. Heard (drums)

Something Cool (rec. 1953-1955, rerecorded in stereo: 1960, rel. 1954, 1955, 1960) – June Christy

Styles: Cool jazz, traditional pop, vocal jazz
Selected musicians: June Christy (vocals); Barry Babasin (bass); Harry Betts (trombone); Gus Bivona (flute, alto sax); Larry Bunker (drums); Conte Candoli (trupet); Joe Castro (piano); Buddy Collette (reeds); Bob Cooper (flute, tenor sax); Vincent DeRosa (French horn); Maynard Ferguson (trumpet); Russ Freeman (piano); Jimmy Giuffre (tenor sax); Bob Gordon (baritone sax); Conrad Gozzo (trumpet); Barney Kessel (guitar); Shelly Manne (drums); Joe Mondragon (bass); Ted Nash (flute, tenor sax); Tommy Pederson (trombone); Shorty Rogers (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Bud Shank (flute, alto flute, alto sax); Alvin Stoller (drums)

Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet (rec. 1956, rel. 1957) – The Miles Davis Quintet

Styles: Bebop, hard bop, cool jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Paul Chambers (bass); Red Garland (piano); Philly Joe Jones (drums)

The Jimmy Giuffre 3 (1957) – The Jimmy Giuffre 3

Style: Cool jazz
Musicians: Jimmy Guiffre (clarinet, tenor & baritone sax); Ralph Peña (bass); Jim Hall (guitar)

Soulville (1957) – The Ben Webster Quintet

Style: Mainstream jazz
Musicians: Ben Webster (tenor sax, piano); Ray Brown (bass); Herb Ellis (guitar); Stan Levey (drums); Oscar Peterson (piano)

Way Out West (1957) – Sonny Rollins

Styles: Bebop, hard bop
Musicians: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax); Ray Brown (bass); Shelly Manne (drums)

Monk’s Music (1957) – Thelonious Monk Septet

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); Ray Copeland (trumpet); Gigi Gryce (alto sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Wilbur Ware (bass); Art Blakey (drums)

Porgy and Bess (rec. 1958, rel. 1959) – Miles Davis

Styles: Cool jazz, third stream, experimental big band
Selected musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Bernie Glow (trumpet); Johnny Coles (trumpet); Louis Mucci (trumpet); Frank Rehak (trombone); Jimmy Cleveland (trombone); Willie Ruff (French horn); Julius Watkins (French horn); Gunther Schuller (French horn); Bill Barber (tuba); Jerome Richardson (flute, alto flute, clarinet); Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (alto sax); Danny Bank (alto & bass flute, bass clarinet); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums); Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Out There (1960) – Eric Dolphy

Styles: Post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Eric Dolphy (flute, bass clarinet, alto sax, clarinet); Ron Carter (cello); George Duvivier (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

A Night in Tunisia (rec. 1960, rel. 1961) – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Art Blakey (drums); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Bobby Timmons (piano); Jymie Merritt (bass)

Olé Coltrane (1961) – John Coltrane

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop, modal jazz, hard bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (soprano & tenor sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Eric Dolphy (flute, alto sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); Art Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Focus (rec. 1961, rel. 1962) – Stan Getz

Styles: Third stream, cool jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Stan Getz (tenor sax); Steve Kuhn (piano); John Neves (bass); Roy Haynes (drums); Alan Martin (violin); Norman Carr (violin); Gerald Tarack (violin); Jacob Glick (viola); Bruce Rogers (cello)

The Great Summit: The Master Takes (1961) – Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong

Alternate: Recording Together for the First Time/The Great Reunion (1961)
Styles: Swing, New Orleans jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Duke Ellington (piano); Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Danny Barcelona (drums); Mort Herbert (bass); Trummy Young (trombone)

Straight Ahead (1961) – Abbey Lincoln

Styles: Post-bop, vocal jazz
Musicians: Abbey Lincoln (vocals); Booker Little (trumpet); Julian Priester (trombone); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo); Walter Benton (tenox sax); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Mal Waldron (piano); Art Davis (bass); Max Roach (drums)

We Free Kings (1961) – Roland Kirk

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Roland Kirk (tenor sax, flute, etc.); Richard Wyands (piano); Art Davis (bass); Charlie Persip (drums); Hank Jones (piano); Wendell Marshall (bass)

Mosaic (rec. 1961, rel. 1962) – Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Art Blakey (drums); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Cedar Walton (piano); Jymie Merritt (bass)

Takin’ Off (1962) – Herbie Hancock

Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Herbie Hancock (piano); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Butch Warren (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Jazz Samba (1962) – Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd

Styles: Bossa nova, Brazilian jazz, samba, world fusion
Musicians: Stan Getz (tenor sax); Charlie Byrd (guitar); Gene Byrd (guitar, bass); Keter Betts (bass); Buddy Deppenschmidt (drums, percussion); Bill Reichenbach, Sr. (drums, percussion)

Nefertiti, The Beautiful One Has Come (1962) – Cecil Taylor

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Cecil Taylor (piano); Jimmy Lyons (alto sax); Sunny Murray (drums)

Feelin’ the Spirit (rec. 1962, rel. 1963) – Grant Green

Styles: Hard bop, soul jazz
Musicians: Grant Green (guitar); Herbie Hancock (piano); Butch Warren (bass); Billy Higgins (drums); Garvin Masseaux (trombone)

Four for Trane (1964) – Archie Shepp

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, hard bop
Musicians: Archie Shepp (tenor sax); Alan Shorter (flugelhorn); John Tchicai (alto sax); Roswell Rudd (trombone); Reggie Workman (bass); Charles Moffett (drums)

In ‘n Out (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – Joe Henderson

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); McCoy Tyner (piano); Richard Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

Search for the New Land (rec. 1964, rel. 1966) – Lee Morgan

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Lee Morgan (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); Herbie Hancock (piano); Grant Green (guitar); Reggie Workman (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Live at the It Club (rec. 1964, rel. 1982, 1998) – Thelonious Monk

Styles: Bebop, post-bop
Musicians: Thelonious Monk (piano); Charlie Rouse (tenor sax); Larry Gales (bass); Ben Riley (drums)

The Complete Concert: 1964 (rec. 1964, rel. 1992) – Miles Davis

Alternates:
My Funny Valentine (rel. 1965)
Four & More (rel. 1966))
Styles: Hard bop, modal jazz
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); George Coleman (tenor sax); Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Fire Music (1965) – Archie Shepp

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Archie Shepp (tenor sax); Ted Curson (trumpet); Joseph Orange (trombone); Marion Brown (alto sax); Reggie Johnson (bass); Joe Chambers (drums); David Izenzon (bass); J.C. Moses (drums)

Astigmatic (rec. 1965, rel. 1966) – Krzysztof Komeda

Styles: Third stream, cool jazz, progressive jazz
Musicians: Krzysztof Komeda (piano); Rune Carlsson (drums); Günter Lenz (bass); Zbigniew Namysłowski (alto saxophone); Tomasz Stańko (trumpet)

Sound (1966) – Roscoe Mitchell Sextet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Roscoe Mitchell (alto sax, clarinet, flute, recorder); Lester Bowie (trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica); Malachi Favors (bass); Maurice McIntyre (tenor sax); Lester Lashley (trombone, cello); Alvin Fielder (percussion)

Conquistador! (rec. 1966, rel. 1967) – Cecil Taylor

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, free improvisation
Musicians: Cecil Taylor (piano); Bill Dixon (trumpet); Jimmy Lyons (alto sax); Henry Grimes (bass); Alan Silva (bass); Andrew Cyrille (drums)

For Alto (1969) – Anthony Braxton

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musician: Anthony Braxton (alto sax)

Les Stances a Sophie (1970) – Art Ensemble of Chicago

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Lester Bowie (trumpet, percussion); Malachi Favors Maghostut (bass, percussion, vocals); Joseph Jarman (saxophone, clarinet, percussion); Roscoe Mitchell (saxophone, clarinet, flute, percussion); Fontella Bass (vocals, piano); Don Moye (drums, percussion)

My Goal’s Beyond (1971) – John McLaughlin

Styles: Fusion, world fusion
Musicians: John McLaughlin (guitar); Billy Cobham (drums); Charlie Haden (bass); Jerry Goodman (violin); Dave Liebman (flute, soprano sax); Airto Moreira (percussion); Badal Roy (tabla); Mahalakshmi (tanpura)

Sahara (1972) – McCoy Tyner

Styles: Post-bop, progressive jazz
Musicians: McCoy Tyner (piano, flute, etc.); Sonny Fortune (alto & soprano sax, flute); Calvin Hill (bass, reeds, percussion); Alphonse Mouzon (drums, trumpet, reeds, percussion)

Mysterious Traveller (rec. 1973-1974, rel. 1974) – Weather Report

Styles: Fusion
Musicians: Joe Zawinul (keyboards, synthesizers, organ, etc.); Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor sax, tack piano); Miroslav Vitouš (bass); Alphonso Johnson (bass); Ishmael Wilburn (drums); Skip Hadden (drums); Dom Um Romão (drums, percussion); Ray Barretto (percussion); James Gilstrap (vocals)

Dancing in Your Head (rec. 1973-1975, rel. 1977) – Ornette Coleman

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free funk, free jazz
Musicians: Ornette Coleman (alto sax); Bern Nix (guitar); Charlie Ellerbee (guitar); Rudy McDaniel (bass); Shannon Jackson (drums); Robert Palmer (clarinet); Master Musicians of Jajouka

Silent Tongues (1974) – Cecil Taylor

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, free improvisation
Musician: Cecil Taylor (piano)

Romantic Warrior (1976) – Return to Forever

Styles: Fusion, post-bop
Musicians: Chick Corea (piano, keyboards, organ, marimba, percussion, etc.); Al Di Meola (guitar, handbells, slide whistle); Stanley Clarke (bass, bell tree, handbells); Lenny White (drums, percussion)

Nice Guys (rec. 1978, rel. 1979) – Art Ensemble of Chicago

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Lester Bowie (trumpet, celeste, bass drum); Malachi Favors Maghostut (bass, percussion, melodica); Joseph Jarman (saxophone, clarinet, percussion, vocals); Roscoe Mitchell (saxophone, clarinet, flute, percussion); Don Moye (drums, percussion, vocals)

The Audience with Betty Carter (rec. 1979, rel. 1980) – Betty Carter

Styles: Bebop, vocal jazz
Musicians: Betty Carter (vocals); John Hicks (piano); Curtis Lundy (bass); Kenny Washington (drums)

Ming (1980) – David Murray Octet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: David Murray (tenor sax, bass clarinet); Henry Threadgill (alto sax); Olu Dara (trumpet); Lawrence “Butch” Morris (cornet); George Lewis (trombone); Anthony Davis (piano); Wilber Morris (bass); Steve McCall (drums)

World Saxophone Quartet Plays Duke Ellington (1986) – World Saxophone Quartet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Hamiet Bluiett (baritone sax); Julius Hemphill (alto sax); Oliver Lake (alto sax); David Murray (tenor sax)

Tuskegee Experiments (rec. 1990-1991, rel. 1992) – Don Byron

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet); Greta Buck (violin); Bill Frisell (guitar); Joe Berkovitz (piano); Edsel Gomez (piano); Richie Schwarz (marimba); Kenny Davis (bass); Lonnie Plaxico (bass); Reggie Workman (bass); Pheeroan akLaff (drums); Ralph Peterson (drums)

Citi Movement (Griot New York) (1992) – Wynton Marsalis Septet

Styles: Post-bop, neo-bop, New Orleans jazz, contemporary jazz
Musicians: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Wycliffe Gordon (trombone); Wessell Anderson (alto sax); Todd Williams (soprano & tenor sax); Eric Reed (piano); Reginald Veal (bass); Herlin Riley (drums); Herbert Harris (tenor sax); Marthaniel Roberts (piano)

Evanescence (rec. 1992, rel. 1994) – Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, experimental big band, post-bop
Selected musicians: Maria Schneider (conductor); Mark Vinci (alto sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet, piccolo); Tim Ries (alto & soprano sax, flute, clarinet); Rich Perry (tenor sax, flute); Rick Margitza (tenor sax); Scott Robinson (baritone & bass sax, clarinet, bass clarinet); Greg Gisbert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Tim Hagans (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Flyunn (bass trombone, tuba); Ben Monder (guitar); Kenny Werner (piano); Dennis Mackrel (drums)

Masada: Alef (1994) – John Zorn

Styles: Post-bop, avant-garde jazz, world fusion
Musicians: John Zorn (alto sax); Dave Douglas (trumpet); Greg Cohen (bass); Joey Baron (drums)

Blues Dream (2001) – Bill Frisell

Styles: avant-garde jazz, post-bop, modern creative
Musicians: Bill Frisell (guitar); Greg Leisz (steel guitar, mandolin); Ron Miles (trumpet); Billy Drewes (alto sax); Curtis Fowlkes (trombone); David Piltch (bass); Kenny Wollesen (drums)

The Way Up (rec. 2003-2004, rel. 2005) – Pat Metheny Group

Styles: Fusion, contemporary jazz, modern creative
Musicians: Pat Metheny (guitar); Lyle Mays (piano, keyboards); Steve Rodby (bass, cello, violin); Cuong Vu (trumpet, vocals); Grégoire Maret (harmonica); Antonio Sánchez (drums, toy xylophone)

In My Element (rec. 2006, rel. 2007) – Robert Glasper

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Robert Glasper (piano); Vicente Archer (bass); Damion Reid (drums); Rev. Joe Ratliff (spoken word)

Yesterday You Said Tomorrow (rec. 2009, rel. 2010) – Christian Scott

Styles: Post-bop, contemporary jazz
Musicians: Christian Scott (trumpet); Matthew Stevens (guitar); Milton Fletcher, Jr. (piano); Kristopher Keith Funn (bass); Jamire Williams (drums)

On 2 lists
Begin the Beguine (ASV Living Era, rec. 1938-1941, rel. 1987) – Artie Shaw

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Artie Shaw (clarinet); Tony Pastor (tenor sax, vocals), Oran “Hot Lips” Page (trumpet), Billie Holiday (vocals); Helen Forrest (vocals)

Complete New York Town Hall & Boston Symphony Hall Concerts (rec. 1947, rel. 2006) – Louis Armstrong

Styles: New Orleans jazz, swing, vocal jazz, traditional pop
Musicians: Louis Armstrong (trumpet, vocals); Harry Babasin (bass); Charlie Barnet (alto sax); Charles Bateman (piano); Louis Bellson (drums); Barney Bigard (clarinet); Robert Butler (trumpet); Ernie Caceres (baritone & bass sax); Henderson Chambers (trombone); Jimmy Crawford (drums); Arthur Dennis (alto sax); Tommy Dorsey (trombone); Joe Garland (tenor sax); Benny Goodman (clarinet); Amos Gordon (alto sax); Bob Haggart (bass); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Billie Holiday (vocals); Jack Lesberg (bass); Earl Mason (piano); Velma Middleton (vocals); Alton Moore (trombone); Ed Mullens (trumpet); Mel Powell (piano); William “Chiefie” Scott (trumpet); Arvell Shaw (bass); John Sparrow (baritone sax); Jeri Sullivan (vocals); Nicholas Tagg (piano); Jack Teagarden (trombone, vocals); Lucky Thompson (tenor sax); Elmer Warner (guitar); George Wettling (drums); James Whitney (trombone)

The Lester Young Story (Proper, rec. 1936-1949, rel. 2000) – Lester Young

Styles: Big bands, swing, cool jazz, mainstream jazz
Selected musicians: Lester Young (tenor sax); Count Basie (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Red Callender (bass); Big Sid Catlett (drums); Kenny Clarke (drums); Buck Clayton (trumpet); Cozy Cole (drums); Nat King Cole (piano); Shad Collins (trumpet); Vic Dickenson (trombone); Gene DiNovi (piano); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Freddie Green (guitar); Johnny Guarnieri (piano); Chico Hamilton (drums); Roy Haynes (drums); Eddie Heywood (piano); Billie Holiday (vocals); Hank Jones (piano); Jo Jones (drums); Al Killian (trumpet); Fred Lacey (guitar); Dodo Marmarosa (piano); Howard McGhee (trumpet); Joe Newman (trumpet); Johnny Otis (drums); Walter Page (bass); Charlie Parker (alto sax); Jimmy Powell (alto sax); Flip Phillips (tenor sax); Buddy Rich (drums); Jimmy Rushing (vocals); Curly Russell (bass); Willie Smith (alto sax); Slam Stewart (bass); Don Stovall (alto sax); Buddy Tate (tenor sax); Dicky Wells (trombone); Harold “Doc” West (drums)

Keeper of the Flame: The Complete Capitol Recording of the Four Brothers Band (rec. 1948-1949, rel. 1992) – Woody Herman

Styles: Big band, swing, bebop
Selected musicians: Woody Herman (clarinet, alto sax, vocals); Gene Ammons (tenor sax); Serge Chaloff (baritone sax); Al Cohn (tenor sax); Stan Getz (tenor sax); Terry Gibbs (vibraphone); Jimmy Giuffre (tenor sax); Bill Harris (trombone); Don Lamond (drums); Lou Levy (piano); Shelly Manne (drums); Joe Mondragon (bass); Oscar Pettiford (bass); Red Rodney (trumpet); Shorty Rogers (trumpet); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Zoot Sims (tenor sax)

New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm (rec. 1952, rel. 1953) – Stan Kenton

Styles: Big band, progressive jazz, traditional pop
Selected musicians: Stan Kenton (piano), Bill Holman (tenor sax), Sal Salvador (guitar), Maynard Ferguson (trumpet), Bill Russo (trombone), Conte Candoli (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Lee Konitz (alto sax); Stan Levey (drums); Richie Kamuca (tenor sax); George Roberts (bass trombone); Ruban McFall (trumpet); Keith Moon (trombone); Derek Walton (congas); Bob Gioga (baritone sax); Vinnie Dean (alto sax); Buddy Childers (trumpet); Don Bagley (bass); Kay Brown (vocals)

April in Paris (rec. 1955-1956, rel. 1957) – Count Basie and His Orchestra

Styles: Big band, swing
Selected musicians: Count Basie (piano); Wendell Culley (trumpet); Reunald Jones (trumpet); Thad Jones (trumpet); Joe Newman (trumpet); Henry Coker (trombone); Bill Hughes (trombone); Benny Powell (trombone); Marshall Royal (alto sax, clarinet); Bill Graham (alto sax); Frank Wess (alto & tenor sax, flute, clarinet); Frank Foster (tenor sax, clarinet); Charlie Fowlkes (baritone sax, bass clarinet); Freddie Green (guitar); Eddie Jones (bass); Sonny Payne (drums)

Blue Serge (1956) – Serge Chaloff

Style: Bebop
Musicians: Serge Chaloff (baritone sax); Sonny Clark (piano); Philly Joe Jones (drums); Leroy Vinnegar (bass)

For Musicians Only (rec. 1956, rel. 1958) – Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt

Styles: Afro-Cuban jazz, bebop, cool jazz, post-bop, West Coast jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Stan Getz (tenor sax); Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Sonny Stitt (alto sax); Ray Brown (bass); Herb Ellis (guitar); Stan Levey (drums); John Lewis (piano)

Fontessa (1956) – Modern Jazz Quartet

Styles: Cool jazz, third stream
Musicians: John Lewis (piano); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Percy Heath (bass); Connie Kay (drums)

Sonny Rollins Plus 4 (1956) – Sonny Rollins

Styles: Hard bop, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax): Clifford Brown (trumpet); Max Roach (drums); Richie Powell (piano); George Morrow (bass)

World on a String (rec. 1957, rel. 1991) – Henry “Red” Allen

Styles: New Orleans jazz, Dixieland, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Henry “Red” Allen (trumpet); J.C. Higgenbotham (trombone); Buster Bailey (clarinet); Coleman Hawkins (tenor sax); Everett Barksdale (guitar); Marty Napoleon (piano); Lloyd Trotman (bass); Cozy Cole (drums)

Songs for Distingué Lovers (1957) – Billie Holiday

Styles: Swing, traditional pop, vocal jazz, classic female blues
Musicians: Billie Holiday (vocals); Harry “Sweets” Edison (trumpet); Ben Webster (tenor sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Barnet Kessel (guitar); Red Mitchell (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums); Joe Mondragon (bass); Larry Bunker (drums)

Blue Trane: John Coltrane Plays the Blues (rec. 1957-1958, rel. 1996) – John Coltrane

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (tenor sax); Pepper Adams (baritone sax); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Red Garland (piano); George Joyner (bass); Earl May (bass); Jamil Nasser (bass); Paul Quinichette (tenor sax); Jerome Richardson (flute); Art Taylor (drums); Mal Waldron (piano)

Portrait of Art Farmer (1958) – Art Farmer

Styles: Cool jazz, hard bop
Musicians: Art Farmer (trumpet); Hank Jones (piano); Addison Farmer (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

Outward Bound (1960) – Eric Dolphy Quintet

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Eric Dolphy (flute, bass clarinet, alto sax); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Jaki Byard (piano); George Tucker (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

Mingus at Antibes (rec. 1960, rel. 1976) – Charles Mingus

Styles: Post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Charles Mingus (bass, piano); Ted Curson (trumpet); Eric Dolphy (alto sax, bass clarinet); Booker Ervin (tenor sax); Dannie Richmond (drums); Bud Powell (piano)

Ready For Freddie (rec. 1961, rel. 1962) – Freddie Hubbard

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Bernard McKinney (euphonium); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Art Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings (rec. 1962-1965, rel. 1998) – John Coltrane

Styles: Free jazz, hard bop, avant-garde jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Musicians: John Coltrane (tenor & soprano sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums); Art Davis (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

A New Perspective (rec. 1963, rel. 1964) – Donald Byrd

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Donald Byrd (trumpet); Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Herbie Hancock (piano); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Donald Best (vibraphone, vocals); Butch Warren (bass); Lex Humphries (drums)

Destination… Out! (rec. 1963, rel. 1964) – Jackie McLean

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Jackie McLean (alto sax); Grachan Moncur III (trombone); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Larry Ridley (bass); Roy Haynes (drums)

The Turnaround! (rec. 1963, 1965; rel. 1965) – Hank Mobley

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Hank Mobley (tenor sax); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Herbie Hancock (piano); Barry Harris (piano); Butch Warren (bass); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums); Billy Higgins (drums)

The Kicker (rec. 1963, rel. 1999) – Bobby Hutcherson

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Duke Pearson (piano); Grant Green (guitar); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Al Harewood (drums)

Oscar Peterson Trio + One (Clark Terry) (1964) – Oscar Peterson Trio with Clark Terry

Style: Mainstream jazz
Musicians: Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Ed Thigpen (drums); Clark Terry (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals)

A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964) -Vince Guaraldi Trio

Original title: Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown
Styles: Mainstream jazz; West Coast jazz
Musicians: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Monty Budwig (bass); Colin Bailey (drums)

Life Time (1964) – Tony Williams

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Tony Williams (drums, percussion); Sam Rivers (tenor sax); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (bass): Richard Davis (bass); Gary Peacock (bass)

One Flight Up (rec. 1964, rel. 1965) – Dexter Gordon

Style: Hard bop
Musicians: Dexter Gordon (tenor sax); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Kenny Drew (piano); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass); Art Taylor (drums)

Solid (rec. 1964, rel. 1979) – Grant Green

Styles: Hard bob, soul jazz
Musicians: Grant Green (guitar); James Spaulding (alto sax); Joe Henderson (tenor sax); McCoy Tyner (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Elvin Jones (drums)

The Magic City (rec. 1965, rel. 1966) – Sun Ra

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, experimental big band, free jazz, progressive jazz
Selected musicians: Sun Ra (piano, clavioline); Pat Patrick (baritone sax, flute, tympani); John Gilmore (tenor sax); Marshall Allen (alto sax, flute, oboe, piccolo); Robert Cummings (bass clarinet); Walter Miller (trumpet); Al Hassan (trombone); Ronnie Boykins (bass); Roger Blank (percussion)

Mode for Joe (1966) – Joe Henderson

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Cedar Walton (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Joe Chambers (drums)

Miles Smiles (rec. 1966, rel. 1967) – Miles Davis Quintet

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop, avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Miles Davis (trumpet); Wayne Shorter (tenor sax): Herbie Hancock (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Tony Williams (drums)

Atlantis (rec. 1967-1969, rel. 1969) – Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, experimental big band, free jazz, post-bop, progressive jazz
Selected musicians: Sun Ra (organ, clavinet); John Gilmore (tenor sax, percussion); Pat Patrick (baritone sax, flute); Marshall Allen (alto sax, oboe); Bob Barry (drums); Wayne Harris (trumpet); Robert Cummins (bass clarinet); Ali Harsan (trombone)

Comme à la Radio (rec. 1970, rel. 1971) – Brigitte Fontaine & Art Ensemble of Chicago

Styles: Experimental, French pop
Selected musicians: Brigitte Fontaine (vocals); Areski (percussion); Lester Bowie (trumpet, percussion); Malachi Favors Maghostut (bass, percussion); Joseph Jarman (saxophone, clarinet, percussion); Roscoe Mitchell (saxophone, clarinet, flute, percussion); Leo Smith (trumpet)

I Sing the Body Electric (rec. 1971-1972, rel. 1972) – Weather Report

Style: Fusion
Selected musicians: Josef Zawinul (piano, synthesizer); Wayne Shorter (saxophones); Miroslav Vitouš Miroslav Vitous (bass); Eric Gravatt (drums); Dom Um Romão (percussion); Andrew White (English horn); Hubert Laws, Jr. (flute); Wilmer Wise D & piccolo trumpet); Ralph Towner (guitar)

Dogon AD (rec. 1972, rel. 1972, 1977) – Julius Hemphill

Style: Avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Julius Hemphill (alto sax, flute); Baikida E.J. Carroll (trumpet); Abdul Wadud (cello); Philip Wilson (drums)

Spectrum (1973) – Billy Cobham

Styles: Fusion, jazz-rock
Musicians: Billy Cobham (drums, percussion); Jan Hammer (piano, synthesizer); Tommy Bolin (guitar); Lee Sklar (bass); Joe Farrell (soprano & alto sax, flute); Jimmy Owens (flugelhorn, trumpet); John Tropea (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Ray Barretto (congas)

Timeless (rec. 1974, rel. 1975) – John Abercrombie

Styles: Fusion, progressive jazz
Musicians: John Abercrombie (guitar); Jan Hammer (organ, piano, synthesizer); Jack DeJohnette (drums)

The Complete Last Concert (rec. 1974, rel. 1988) – The Modern Jazz Quartet

Alternates:
The Last Concert (rec. 1974, rel. 1975)
More from the Last Concert (rec. 1974, rel. 1981)
Styles: Cool jazz, third stream, bebop, mainstream jazz
Musicians: John Lewis (piano); Milt Jackson (vibraphone); Percy Heath (bass); Connie Kay (drums)

Night Passage (1980) – Weather Report

Style: Fusion
Musicians: Josef Zawinul (keyboards, synthesizer); Wayne Shorter (saxophones); Jaco Pastorius (bass); Peter Erskine (drums); Robert Thomas, Jr. (percussion)

Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket (1983) – The Henry Threadgill Sextet

Style: Avant-garde jazz
Musicians: Henry Threadgill (alto & baritone sax, clarinet, flute); Olu Dara (cornet); Craig Harris (trombone); Diedre Murray (cello); Fred Hopkins (bass); John Betsch (percussion); Pheeroan akLaff (percussion)

The Standard Joe (rec. 1991, rel. 1992) – Joe Henderson

Styles: Hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Joe Henderson (tenor sax); Rufus Reid (bass); Al Foster (drums)

Calling Berlin, Vol. I (rec. 1994, rel. 1995) – Ruby Braff and Ellis Larkins

Styles: New Orleans jazz, New Orleans jazz revival
Musicians: Ruby Braff (cornet); Ellis Larkins (piano)

All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (rec. 1995, rel. 1996) – Diana Krall

Styles: Contemporary jazz, vocal jazz
Musicians: Diana Krall (piano, vocals); Benny Green (piano); Paul Keller (bass); Steve Kroon (percussion); Russell Malone (guitar)

Tales from the Hudson (1996) – Michael Brecker

Styles: Post-bop, contemporary jazz
Musicians: Michael Brecker (tenor sax); Pat Metheny (guitar); Joey Calderazzo (piano); Dave Holland (bass); Jack DeJonette (drums); McCoy Tyner (piano); Don Alias (percussion)

Freedom in the Groove (1996) – Joshua Redman

Styles: Neo-bop, post-bop, straight-ahead jazz
Musicians: Joshua Redman (tenor, soprano & alto sax); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Peter Martin (piano); Christopher Thomas (bass); Brian Blade (drums)

Alone Together (rec. 1996, rel. 1997) – Lee Konitz

Styles: Cool jazz, post-bop
Musicians: Lee Konitz (alto sax); Brad Mehldau (piano); Charlie Haden (bass)

Requiem (rec. 1998, rel. 1999) – Branford Marsalis

Styles: Post-bop, hard bop
Musicians: Branford Marsalis (saxophones); Eric Revis (bass); Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums); Kenny Kirkland (piano)

Solo Live (rec. 1997, rel. 1998/1999) – Michel Petrucciani

Styles: Post-bop, mainstream jazz
Musician: Michel Petrucciani (piano)

2gether (rec. 2000, rel. 2001) – Warren Vaché and Bill Charlap

Styles: Bebop, hard bop, post-bop
Musicians: Warren Vaché (cornet, flugelhorn); Bill Charlap (piano)

American Song (rec. 2003, rel. 2004) – Andy Bey

Styles: Vocal jazz, mainstream jazz
Musicians: Andy Bey (vocals, piano); Geri Allen (piano); Dwight Andrews (clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, alto flute, soprano sax); Mino Cinelu (percussion); Steve Davis (trombone, bass trombone); Vernell Garnett (flugelhorn, trumpet); Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass); Paul Meyers (guitar); Frank Wess (flute, vocals)

Concert in the Garden (2004) – Maria Schneider Orchestra

Styles: Experimental big band, contemporary jazz
Selected musicians: Maria Schneider (conductor, arranger); Charles Pillow (alto & soprano sax. clarinet, flute, oboe, English horn); Tim Ries (alto & soprano sax, clarinet, alto & bass flute); Rich Perry (tenor sax, flute); Donny McCaslin (tenor & soprano sax, clarinet, flute); Scott Robinson (baritone sax, flute, bass & contrabass clarinet); Tony Kadleck (trumpet, flugelhorn); Greg Gisbert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Laurie Frink (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ingrid Jensen (trumpet, flugelhorn); Keith O’Quinn (trombone); Rock Ciccarone (trombone); Larry Farrell (trombone); George Flynn bass & contrabass trombone); Ben Monder (guitar); Frank Kimbrough (piano); Jay Anderson (bass); Clarence Penn (drums); Luciana Souza (vocals, pandeiro); Andy Middleton (tenor sax)

Vietnam: Reflections (rec. 2004, rel. 2005) – Billy Bang

Styles: Avant-garde jazz, free jazz
Musicians: Billy Bang (violin); James Spaulding (alto sax, flute); Henry Threadgill (flute); Ted Daniel (trumpet); John Hicks (piano); Curtis Lundy (bass); Michael Carvin (drums); Ron Brown (percussion); Co Boi Nguyen (vocals); Nhan Thanh Ngo (dan tranh)

Time Lines (rec. 2005, rel. 2006) – Andrew Hill

Styles: Post-bop, modern creative
Musicians: Andrew Hill (piano); Greg Tardy (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax); Charles Tolliver (trumpet); John Hebert (bass); Eric McPherson (drums)

McCoy Tyner Quartet (rec. 2006, rel. 2007) – McCoy Tyner

Style: Post-bop
Musicians: McCoy Tyner (piano); Joe Lovano (tenor sax); Christian McBride (bass); Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums)

Harmony of Difference (2017) – Kamasi Washington

Styles: Jazz-funk, modern jazz, modal jazz, modern creative, world fusion, Latin jazz
Selected musicians: Kamasi Washington (tenor sax); Miles Mosley (bass); Ronald Bruner, Jr. (drums and percussion); Terrace Martin (alto sax); Thundercat (bass); Tony Austin (drums, percussion); Brandon Coleman (keyboards); Cameron Graves (piano); Ryan Porter (trombone); Igmar Thomas (trumpet); Dontae Winslow (trumpet); Artyom Manukyan (cello); Peter Jacobson (cello); Rickey Washington (flute); Matt Haze (guitar); Nick Mancini (vibraphone); Andrea Whitt (viola); Chris Woods (violin)

For other jazz lists, click on the links below:
Best Jazz Albums of All Time – Chronological
Best Jazz Musicians and their Best Work – Ranked
Best Jazz Musicians and their Best Work – Chronological
Best Contemporary Jazz Musicians