Cratewise
Cratewise Editorial

Essential Jazz on Vinyl

25 records that explain the whole story. Jazz on vinyl isn't nostalgia — it's the format most of this music was designed for.

From Dexx

Jazz on vinyl isn't nostalgia — it's the format most of this music was designed for. These records were mixed for the medium. The bass resonance, the cymbal shimmer, the room sound — it's all there if you've got the wax.

These aren't "greatest of all time" lists — those are arguments. These are starting points. 25 records that give you the vocabulary to go deeper. Every album is on vinyl, in print, and under $40. Most are under $30.

Pick a genre. Start digging.

— Dexx

25

Albums

25

Artists

1

Genres

1954–1973

Span

By Genre

By Decade

Top Labels

The List

1Miles Davis — Kind of Blue
Miles Davis—Kind of Blue
19592John Coltrane — A Love Supreme
John Coltrane—A Love Supreme
19653Dave Brubeck Quartet — Time Out
Dave Brubeck Quartet—Time Out
19594Charles Mingus — The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus—The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
19635Thelonious Monk — Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk—Brilliant Corners
19576Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers — Moanin'
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers—Moanin'
19587Bill Evans Trio — Waltz for Debby
Bill Evans Trio—Waltz for Debby
19618Alice Coltrane — Journey in Satchidananda
Alice Coltrane—Journey in Satchidananda
19719Herbie Hancock — Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock—Head Hunters
197310Wayne Shorter — Speak No Evil
Wayne Shorter—Speak No Evil
196611Pharoah Sanders — Karma
Pharoah Sanders—Karma
196912Sonny Rollins — Saxophone Colossus
Sonny Rollins—Saxophone Colossus
195613Cannonball Adderley — Somethin' Else
Cannonball Adderley—Somethin' Else
195814Duke Ellington — Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington—Ellington at Newport
195615Billie Holiday — Lady in Satin
Billie Holiday—Lady in Satin
195816Chet Baker — Chet Baker Sings
Chet Baker—Chet Baker Sings
195417Ornette Coleman — The Shape of Jazz to Come
Ornette Coleman—The Shape of Jazz to Come
195918Clifford Brown & Max Roach — Clifford Brown & Max Roach
Clifford Brown & Max Roach—Clifford Brown & Max Roach
195419Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong — Ella and Louis
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong—Ella and Louis
195620Eric Dolphy — Out to Lunch!
Eric Dolphy—Out to Lunch!
196421Nina Simone — I Put a Spell on You
Nina Simone—I Put a Spell on You
196522Wes Montgomery — The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery—The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
196023Mulatu Astatke — Mulatu of Ethiopia
Mulatu Astatke—Mulatu of Ethiopia
197224Erroll Garner — Concert by the Sea
Erroll Garner—Concert by the Sea
195525Dorothy Ashby — The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby
Dorothy Ashby—The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby
1970

How many do you own?

Track your progress against this list in the Cratewise app. See what you have, what you're missing, and add albums straight from the list.