This is far from an exhaustive list of jazz recordings, nor does it pretend to be completely free of some degree of personal bias. However, much effort has been made to include all eras and styles of jazz music as well as to include really important recordings from both well and lesser-known artists.

In addition, the process of compiling a list of "essential" recordings in any genre is no longer as simple as it was in the age of vinyl recordings. The advent of CDs has led to much remastering and the ubiquitous box set. While remastering has usually been a good thing, the box set can be both a blessing and a curse. Many sets contain full sessions, and in some cases it is clear why certain takes were chosen over others. In some cases the original recording is much tighter and better constructed. In other cases, the addition of outtakes allows us to see the creative process in action, or in the case of a genius like Charlie Parker, we can see how virtually every solo he played was really original.

That said, I've included box sets here when they are comprehensive or clearly offer a lot of value in terms of the quantity and quality of music offered. In some cases, I've included a box set that contains an individual album which is also included. This is a recognition that not everyone will wish or be able to spend $100-plus on a box set.

I stand by this as a pretty good basic list for those looking to start jazz collections or those who are seeking a good way to begin listening to an artist they've not previously listened to. There are a LOT of other jazz recordings deserving of recommendation, and this list will be ammended with our regular Top 10 lists that help delve deeper into the catalogues of individual artists. Now, on to the list!

Also check out our list of Essential Recordings by Louisiana Artists, featuring jazz, blues, zydeco, R&B, and more.

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Cannonball Adderley
Somethin' Else [Remaster] Cannonball Adderley
Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings Louis Armstrong
Great Chicago Concert 1956 Louis Armstrong
The Original Quartet With Chet Baker Gerry Mulligan Quartet, Chet Baker
Chet Baker Quartet Featuring Russ Freeman Russ Freeman, Chet Baker
Cherokee 1939-40 Charlie Barnet
Straight Ahead Count Basie
April In Paris Count Basie
Complete Decca Recordings --1937 Count Basie
The Complete Sidney Bechet Vol. 1 & 2 (1932-1941) Sidney Bechet
Runnin' Wild [Remastered] Sidney Bechet
Singin' The Blues Bix Beiderbecke
Memories Of You Eubie Blake
Big Beat Art Blakey
Moanin' Art Blakey
Study In Brown Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown & Max Roach [Extra Tracks] Clifford Brown & Max Roach
Time Out Dave Brubeck
Free Jazz Ornette Coleman
The Shape of Jazz to Come Ornette Coleman
A Love Supreme John Coltrane
Blue Train John Coltrane
The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio Recordings John Coltrane Quartet
Giant Steps [Remaster] John Coltrane
Kind Of Blue [Remaster] Miles Davis
Birth of the Cool [Remaster] Miles Davis
Bitches Brew [Remaster] Miles Davis
Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet Miles Davis Quintet
Miles Ahead [Remaster] Miles Davis
Miles Smiles [ Remaster] Miles Davis
The Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings Duke Ellington
The Centennial Edition: HIGHLIGHTS Duke Ellington
Black Brown & Beige Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson
The Blanton-Webster BandDuke Ellington
Sunday at the Village Vanguard Bill Evans
Conversations With Myself [Remaster] Bill Evans
The Tokyo Concert Bill Evans
Complete Riverside Recordings Bill Evans
Getz/Gilberto [Remaster] Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Best Of The West Coast Sessions Stan Getz
Birks Works: The Verve Big-Band Sessions Dizzy Gillespie
Groovin' High (Savoy 20-Bit) [Remaster] Dizzy Gillespie
Live At Carnegie Hall 1938 Benny Goodman
The Complete Small Group Recordings Benny Goodman
Complete Blue Note 60's Sessions Herbie Hancock
Headhunters Herbie Hancock
Maiden Voyage [Remaster] Herbie Hancock
Body & Soul Coleman Hawkins
Hawk In Hi-Fi Coleman Hawkins
Second Herd 1948 Woody Herman & His Orchestra
1928-1932 Earl Hines
The Complete Decca Recordings Billie Holiday
Billie and Lester Billie Holiday & Lester Young
Artistry In Rhythm Stan Kenton
Mingus Ah Um [Remaster] Charles Mingus
New Tijuana Moods Charles Mingus
Mingus Dynasty [Remaster] Charles Mingus
Let My Children Hear Music Charles Mingus
Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk
The Complete Blue Note Recordings Thelonious Monk
The Columbia Years: 1962-1968 Thelonious Monk
Complete Riverside Recordings Thelonious Monk
Misterioso Thelonious Monk
Birth Of The Hot Jelly Roll Morton
Night Lights Gerry Mulligan
The Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings 1944-1948 Charlie Parker
Confirmation: Best Of The Verve Years Charlie Parker
Jazz At Massey Hall Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie
At Zardi's Oscar Peterson
Night Train [Remaster] Oscar Peterson
The Complete Blue Note And Roost Recordings Bud Powell
The Genius Of Bud Powell Bud Powell
The Best Of Django Reinhardt Reinhardt & Grappelli
Saxophone Colossus [Remaster] Sonny Rollins
The Bridge Sonny Rollins
Tenor Madness Sonny Rollins
Newk's Time Sonny Rollins
Speak No Evil [Remaster] Wayne Shorter
Al & Zoot Zoot Sims, Al Cohn
Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 Bessie Smith
The Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces Art Tatum (OR any of the 7 volumes available individually)
The Complete Pablo Group Masterpieces Art Tatum
Jack Teagarden Chronological: 1930-1934 Jack Teagarden
A Portrait of Fats Waller Fats Waller
King Of The Tenors Ben Webster
There Is No Greater Love [Remaster] Ben Webster
Music for Loving: Ben Webster with Strings Ben Webster
Pres and Teddy Lester Young/Teddy Wilson
The Lester Young Story Lester Young
Lester Young Trio Lester Young

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