Jazz Records

This is a list of jazz records. They are all garded with numbers 1-10 with the maximum score being 10. The criteria and the way I rate records is similar to the style of Robert Christgau and Tom Hull, even if I use numbers instead of letter grades. If I feel a more elaborate explanation of the grading system is needed, I'll add one later. For now, all you need to know is that I feel any record rated 7 or up is worth owning; Any record rated 8 - 10 is strongly recommended. (The grades are liable to change. Records marked n/a are records I for whatever reason have not given a grade yet). Records with no clear leader may be listed twice. The dates and labels are taken from various sources. Compilations have recording dates, regular records have year of release. If you find any mistakes do not hesitate to let me know by sending me an e-mail at perfectsounds.chrismonsen@[REMOVETHIS]gmail.com.

A-C

Adderley, Cannonball:
- Something Else (Blue Note, 1958) 8

Adderley, Nat:
- Work Song (Riverside, 1960) 8

Air (Fred Hopkins, Steve McCall, Henry Threadgill):
- Air Song (1975) 7
- Air Raid (1976) 8
- Live Air (Black Saint, 1976) 7
- Air Time (Nessa, 1977) 7
- Air Lore (RCA, 1979) 10
- Air Mail (Black Saint, 1980) 7
- 80 Degrees Below '82 (Antilles, 1982) 9
- New Air: Live at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Black Saint, 1983) 8

Allen, Henry "Red":
- World on a String (Bluebird/RCA, 1957) 8
- The Henry Allen Collection, Vol. 1 (Collector's Choice, 1992) n/a

Allison, Ben:
- Cowboy Justice (Palmetto, 2006) 7
- Little Things Run The World (Palmetto, 2008) 8

Amalgam:
- Prayer for Peace (Trasatlantic, 1969) 8

Ammons, Gene:
- Boss Tenor (Prestige, 1960) 7

Anderson, Fred:
- w/Hamid Drake, William Parker: Blue Winter (Eremite, 2005) 8
- w/Hamid Drake: From the River to the Ocean (Thrill Jockey, 2007) 7

Armstrong, Louis:
- The Hot Fives, Volume I (Columbia, 1925) 9
- The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens, Volume II (Columbia, 1926) 8
- The Hot Fives and Hot Sevens, Volume III (Columbia, 1927) 9
- Volume IV: Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines (Columbia, 1927) 10
- Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 1923-34 (Columbia/Legacy) 10
- 16 Most Requested Songs (Columbia, 1954-66) 9

Art Ensemble of Chicago:
- A Jackson in your House/Message to our Folks (Varese, 1969) 6
- Les Stances A Sophie (Universal Sound, 1970) 8
- Phase One (America, 1971) 8
- Bap-Tizum (Koch Jazz, 1972) 7
- Fanfare for the Warriors (Koch Jazz, 1973) 7
- Chi-Congo (Paula, 1973) 7

Atomic:
- Feet Music (Jazzland Rec., 2001) n/a
- Boom Boom (Jazzland Rec., 2003) 7
- The Bikini Tapes (Jazzland Rec., 2005) n/a
- Brand New Ears (Jazzland Rec., 2006) 8

Ayler, Albert:
- Spiritual Unity (ESP, 1964) 10
- Bells (ESP/Calibre, 1965) 7
- Spirits Rejoice (ESP/Calibre, 1965) 8
- Live in Greenwich Village, The Complete Impulse Sessions (Impulse!, 1998) 8
- Love Cry (Impulse!, 1967) 6
- Holy Ghost: Rare and Unissued Recordings (1962-1970) (Revenant, 2004) 7

The Bad Plus:
- The Bad Plus (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2000) n/a
- We Are the Vistas (Columbia, 2003) n/a

Bang, Billy:
- Rainbow Gladiator (Soul Note, 1981) 8
- Bang On! (Justin Time, 1997) n/a
- Vietnam: The Aftermath (Justin Time, 2001) 8
- Vietnam: Reflections (Justin Time, 2004) 7
- Quintet feat. Frank Lowe: Above and Beynd: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Justin Time, 2007) 7

Bartz, Gary:
- There Goes the Neighborhood (Candid, 1990) n/a

Basie, Count:
- The Complete Decca Recordings (GRP, 1937/1992) 8
- The Best of Early Basie (GRP, 1996) 9

Bechet, Sidney:
- Young Sidney Bechet 1923-1925 (Timeless, 1998) 6
- Master Takes: Victor Sessions (Bluebird/RCA, 1932-1943) n/a
- Ken Burns Jazz (Columbia/Legacy, 2000) 9

Beiderbecke, Bix:
- Bix Beiderbecke, Vol. 1: Singing the Blues (Columbia, 1927) 9

Big Satan:
- I Think They Liked It Honey (Winter & Winter, 1997) 8

Blakey, Art:
- Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk (Atlantic, 1957) 8
- Moanin' (Blue Note, 1958) 7
- Roots and Herbs (Blue Note, 1961) n/a

Bley, Paul:
- Introducing Paul Bley (Debut OJC, 1953) n/a
- The Fabulous Paul Bley Quintet (Musidisc, 1958) n/a

Blythe, Arthur:
- Lennox Avenue Breakdown (Sony/Koch, 1979) 10
- Focus (Savant, 2002) 8

Bowie, Lester:
- The Fire This Time (In+Out, 1992) 9

Braxton, Anthony:
- Three Compositions of New Jazz (Delmark, 1968) n/a
- For Alto (Delmark, 1969) 6
- Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista, 1976) 9
- Six Monk's Compositions (1987) 8
- w/Milford Graves & William Parker: Beyond Quantum (Tzadik, 2008) 8

Brooks, Tina:
- Minor Move [(Blue Note, 1958) n/a

Brown, Clifford:
- The Beginning and the End (Columbia, 1952) n/a
- A Study in Brown (EmArcy, 1955) 7
- Alone Together: The Best of the Mercury Years (w/ Max Roach) (Verve) 7

Brow, Rob:
- Crown Trunk Root Funk (AUM Fidelity, 2008) 7

Brubeck, Dave:
- Time Out (Columbia, 1959) 7

Brötzmann, Peter:
- Machine Gun (FMP, 1968) 7
- w/Fred Hopkins & Rashied Ali: Songlines (FMP, 1994) 8

Byard, Jaki:
- Out Front (Prestige/OJC, 1961) n/a
- The Jaki Byard Experience (Prestige/OJC, 1968) n/a

Byas, Don:
- Savoy Jam Party (Savoy, 1944/1995) 8

Byron, Don:
- Tuskegee Experiment (Elektra Nonesuch, 1992) 7
- Music for Six Musicians (Elektra Nonesuch, 1994) n/a

Campbell, Roy:
- Akhenaten Suite (AUM Fidelity, 2007) 7

Carter, James:
- The Real Quiet Storm (Atlantic, 1995) 7
- Conversin' With the Elders (Atlantic, 1996) 8
- In Carterian Fashion (Atlantic, 1998) n/a
- Chasin' the Gypsy (Atlantic, 2000) 8
- Layin' in the Cut (Atlantic, 2000) 7
- w/Cyrus Chestnut/Reginald Veal/Ali Jackson: Gold Sounds (Brown Brothers,2005) 6

Cherry, Don:
- Complete Communion (Blue Note, 1965) 7
- Where Is Brooklyn? (Blue Note, 1966) n/a

Clark, Sonny:
- Sonny's Crib (Blue Note, 1957) 7
- Cool Struttin' (Blue Note, 1958) 6

Cline, Nels:
- New Monestary - A View Into the Music of Andrew Hill (Cryptogramophon, 2006) 7

Coleman, Ornette:
- The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic, 1959) 10
- Change of the Century (Atlantic, 1960) 8
- This is Our Music (Atlantic, 1961) n/a
- Free Jazz (Atlantic, 1961) 7
- Ornette! (Atlantic, 1962) 10
- Ornette on Tenor (Atlantic, 1962) n/a
- At the Golden Circle, Volume One (Blue Note, 1965) 8
- At the Golden Circle, Volume Two (blue note, 1965) 8
-The Art of the Improvisers (Atlantic, 1970) n/a
- Dancing in Your Head (A&M, 1977) 9
- Body Meta (Verve, 1978) n/a
- Of Human Feelings (Antilles, 1982) 9
- In All Languages (Harmolodic/Verve, 1987) 8
- Sound Grammar (Sound Grammar, 2006) 9

Coltrane, John:
- Blue Train (Blue Note, 1957) 6
- Soultrane (Prestige OJC, 1958) n/a
- Giant Steps (Atlantic, 1959) 7
- My Favorite Things (Atlantic, 1960) 9
- Olé Coltrane (Atlantic, 1961) 9
- The Complete Africa/Brass Sessions (Impulse, 1961) 8
- Live at the Village Vanguard - the Master Takes (Impulse, 1961) 10
- Impressions (Impulse, 1961) 7
- Ballads (Impulse, 1962) n/a
- Afro Blue Impressions (Pablo, 1963) 7
- Coltrane Live at Birdland (Impulse, 1963) n/a
- Crescent (Impulse, 1964) n/a
- A Love Supreme (Impulse, 1964) 10
- Ascension (Impulse, 1965) 7
- Sun Ship (Impulse, 1965) n/a
- First Meditations (Impulse, 1965) n/a
- Interstellar Space (Impulse, 1967) 7

Cooper-Moore:
- w/Assif Tsahar & Chad Taylor: Digital Primitives (Hopscotch, 2007) 8

Counce, Curtis:
- Landslide (Contemporary/OJC, 1957) 7

D-G

Davis, Miles:
- Complete Birth of the Cool (Blue Note, 1948-50) n/a
- Bags' Groove (Prestige, 1954) n/a
- Miles Davis and The Modern Jazz Giants (Original Jazz Classics, 1954-56) n/a
- 'Round About Midnight (Columbia, 1955) 7
- Cookin' (Prestige, 1956) 7
- Relaxin' (Prestige, 1956) n/a
- Miles Ahead (Columbia, 1957) n/a
- Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959) 7
- Sketches of Spain (Columbia, 1959) n/a
- E.S.P (Columbia, 1965) n/a
- Miles Smiles (Columbia, 1966) 8
- Sorcerer (Columbia, 1967) n/a
- Nefertiti (Columbia, 1967) 7
- In a Silent Way (Columbia, 1969) 9
- Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1969) 7
- Jack Johnson (Columbia, 1970) 10
- On the Corner (Columbia, 1973) 8
- Dark Magus (Columbia, 1974) 8
- Agharta (Columbia, 1975) 8
- Decoy (Columbia, 1984) 5
- Aura (Columbia, 1985) n/a
- Tutu (Warner, 1986) 6

Davis, Richard:
- Persia My Dear (DIW, 1987) n/a

Dickerson, Walt:
- To My Queen (Fantasy/New Jazz, 1962) n/a
- w/Andrew Curille & Wilbur Ware: Tell Us Only Beautifull Things (Why Not/Candid, 1975/2009) 7

Dolphy, Eric:
- Here and There (Prestige, 1960) n/a
- Outward Bound (Prestige, 1960) n/a
- Out There (New Jazz/Original Jazz Classics, 1960) 7
- Candid Dolphy (Candid, 1960) n/a
- Far Cry (New Jazz/Original Jazz Classics, 1960) 8
- Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Vol. 1 (New Jazz/Original Jazz Classics, 1961) 8
- Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Vol. 2 (New Jazz/Original Jazz Classics, 1961) 7
- The Complete Prestige Recordings (Prestige, 1960-61) 8
- Berlin Concerts (Enja, 1961) 7
- Iron Man (Restless, 1963) 9
- The Illinois Concert (Blue Note, 1963) n/a
- Out to Lunch (Blue Note, 1964) 10

8 Bold Souls:
- Ant Farm (Arabesque, 1991) 7
- Sideshow (Arabesque, 1992) 8
- Last Option (Thrill Jockey) n/a

Ellington, Duke:
- The Bubber Miley Era: 1924-1929 (Jazz Legends, 2003) 10
- Flaming Youth (RCA, 1927) 10
- The Okeh Ellington (Columbia, 1927-1930) 8
- The Duke's Men: Small Groups Vol. 1 (Columbia, 1934-1938) 8
- The Duke's Men: Small Groups Vol. 2 (Columbia, 1938-1939) 7
- The Blanton-Webster Band (Bluebird/RCA, 1939-1942) 9
- Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band (Bluebird, 1940-1942) n/a
- The Duke at Fargo 1940 (Storyville, 1940) n/a
- The Great Ellington Units (RCA, 1940-41) n/a
- The Carnegie Hall Concerts, January 1943 (Prestige, 1943) n/a
- Black, Borwn and Beige (Live) (Columbia/Legacy, 1944) n/a
- Masterpieces by Ellington (Columbia, 1950) 7
- Ellington Uptown (Sony International, 1953) n/a
- Ellington at Newport (Columbia, 1956) n/a
- Such Sweet Thunder (Columbia/Legacy, 1957) 8
- Black, Brown and Beige (Columbia, 1958) n/a
- Back to Back (Verve, 1959) n/a
- Side by Side (Verve, 1958-1959) n/a
- Anatomy of a Murder (Columbia, 1959) n/a
- First Time! The Count Meets the Duke (Columbia, 1961) n/a
- Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins (Impulse!, 1962) n/a
- Money Jungle w/Charlie Mingus & Max Roach (Blue Note, 1962) 7
- Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (Impulse!, 1962) n/a
- Afro-Bossa (Musicraft, 1962) n/a
- Concert of Sacred Music (RCA, 1965) n/a
- Far East Suite (Bluebird, 1967) 8
- ...and His Mother Called Him Bill (RCA Victor, 1967) n/a
- The Intimate Ellington (Original Jazz Classics, 1969) n/a
- New Orleans Suite (Atlantic, 1970) 7
- The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse (Fantasy/Original Jazz Classics) 8

Ervin, Booker:
- Freedom Book (Prestige/Original Jazz Classics, 1963) n/a
- The Blues Book (Prestige/Original Jazz Classics, 1964) n/a
- Setting the Pace (Prestige/Original Jazz Classics, 1965) 8

Evans, Bill:
- Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside/OJC, 1961) 7
- Waltz for Debby (Riverside/OJC, 1961) 7

Faddis, Jon:
- Teranga (Koch, 2006) 7

Fitzgerald, Ella:
- 75th Birthday Celebration (GRP, 1938) n/a
- Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings (GRP, 1938) n/a
- The First Lady of Song (Decca, 1947) 7
- Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (Verve, 1956) n/a
- The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books (Verve, 1956) n/a
- Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book (Verve, 1956)
- Ella and Louis (Verve, 1956) n/a
- Ella and Louis Again (Verve, 1957) n/a
- Sings the Irvin Berlin Song Book (Verve, 1958) n/a
- Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (Verve, 1959) n/a
- The Best of the Song Books (Verve, 1993) n/a
- Something to Live For (Verve, 1999) n/a
- Ken Burns Jazz (Verve, 2000) n/a

FME (Free Music Ensemble):
- Underground (OkkaDisk, 2004) 7
- Cuts (OkkaDisk, 2005) 8

Gahnold, Anders:
- w/Hamid Drake & William Parker: Last Dances (Ayler, 2008) 7

Gaillard, Slim:
- Laughing in Rhythm: The Best of the Verve Years (Verve, 1994) 7

Gale, Eddie:
- Eddie Gale's Ghetto Music (Blue Note/Water, 1968) 9
- Black Rhythm Happening (Blue Note, 1969) 8
- Afro Fire (Blue Note, 2003) n/a

Gayle, Charles:
- Homeless (Silkheart, 1988) n/a
- Touchin' on Trane (FMP, 1991) 10
- Repent (Knitting Factory Records, 1992) 7
- More Live (Knitting Factory, 1993) n/a
- Concentration (Black Saint, 1993) n/a
- Unto I Am (Victo, 1995) n/a
- Daily Bread (Black Saint) n/a
- Time Zones (Tompkins Square, 2006) n/a
- By Any Means feat. Rashied Ali & William Parker: Live At Crescendo (Ayler, 2008) 7

Gillespie, Dizzy:
- Shaw Nuff (Musicraft, 1945–46) n/a
- The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (RCA, 2CD, 1937–49) 7

Giuffre, Jimmy:
- Free Fall (Columbia/Legacy, 1962) 7

Goodman, Benny:
- Sing, Sing, Sing (Bluebird, 1935-1938) 8

Gordon, Dexter:
- Settin' the Pace (Savoy, 1945-47) n/a
- Go! (Blue Note, 1962) 6

Griffin, Johnny:
- A Blowin' Session (Blue Note, 1957) n/a
- Johnny Griffin Sextet (Siverside, 1958) 7

H-L

Haden, Charlie:
- Liberation Music Orchestra (Impulse!, 1969) 6
- Ballad of the Fallen (ECM, 1982) 7
- Quartet West (Polygram, 1986) n/a
- Beyond the Missouri Sky (Verve, 1996) 6
- Land of the Sun (Verve, 2004) 4

Halley, Rich
- Rich Halley Trio: Mountains and Plains (Louie, 2005) 7

Hamilton, Scott:
- Back in New York (Concord, 2004) 7

Hampton, Lionel:
- Hot Mallets Vol. 1 (RCA Bluebird,1937–39) n/a

Hancock, Herbie:
- Takin' Off (Blue Note, 1963) n/a
- Maiden Voyage (Blue Note, 1964) 7
- Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973) 7

Harris, Craig:
- Black Bone (Soul Note, 1984) 7
- Souls Within the Veil (Aquastra, 2003) n/a

Hawes, Hampton:
- For Real (Contemporary/OJC, 1958) 7

Hawkins, Coleman:
- A Retrospective 1929-1963 (Bluebird, 1929-1963) 8
- Ken Burns Jazz (Columbia/Legacy, 2000) n/a

Henderson, Fletcher:
- A Study in Frustration: The Fletcher Henderson Story (Columbia, 1923-1938) 9

Henderson, Joe:
- Page One (Blue Note, 1963) 7
- Inner Urge (Blue Note, 1964) 8

Hill, Andrew:
- Black Fire (Blue Note, 1963) 7
- Smoke Stack (Blue Note, 1963) n/a
- Point of Departure (Blue Note, 1964) 8
- Andrew!!! (Blue Note, 1964) n/a
- Pax (Blue Note, 1965) n/a
- Lift Every Voice (Blue Note, 1969) 7
- Dusk (Palmetto, 2000) 7
- Time Lines (Blue Note, 2006) 6

Hines, Earl:
- Piano Man! (ASV, 1928–41) n/a
- Tour De Force (Black Lion, 1972) 7

Hodges, Johnny:
- Passion Flower 1940-46 (Bluebird, 1940-1946) 7
- Everybody Knows Johnny Hodges (Impulse!, 1964–65) n/a

Holiday, Billie:
- The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol. 1 (Columbia, 1933-1935) n/a
- The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Vol. 2 (Columbia, 1936-1937) n/a
- The Commodore Master Takes (GRP, 1939-1944) 9
- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve (Verve, 1945-1959) n/a
- Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years (1946-1959) n/a
- First Issue: Great American Songbook (Polygram, 1952-1959) n/a
- A Musical Romance w/Lester Young (Columbia/Legacy, 1937-1958(2002) 8

Holland, Dave:
- Conference of the Birds (ECM, 1972) 9
- Jumbin' In (ECM, 1984) 8

Hope, Elmo:
- Trio and Quintet (Blue Note, 1953-57) n/a

Hubbard, Freddie:
- Hub-Tones (Blue Note, 1962) 6

Hutcherson, Bobby:
- Components (Blue Note, 1965) 7
- Stick-Up! (Blue Note, 1966) 7

Ibrahim, Abdullah:
- Voice of Africa (Kaz, 1976) 8

Iyer, Vijay:
- Fieldwork (w/Steve Lehman & Tyshawn Sorey) Door (Pi Recordings, 2008) 8

Johnson, J.J.:
- J.J. Johnson's Jazz Quintets (Savoy, 1946) n/a
- The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1953) 7
- The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1955) 7

Johnson, James P.:
- Snowy Morning Blues (Decca, 1930–44) 7

Jones, Sam:
- The Soul Society (Original Jazz Classics, 1960) n/a
- The Chant (Riverside OJC, 1961) n/a

Jordan, Kidd:
- w/Hamid Drake, William Parker: Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity, 2006) 7

Keppard, Freddie:
- New Orleans Giant: 1923-1928 (Epm Musique, 1923-1928) n/a

Kirk, Rahsaan Roland:
- Kirk's Work (Prestige, 1961) n/a
- We Free Kings (Mercury, 1961) 8
- Domino (Verve, 1962) n/a
- I Talk to the Spirits (Verve, 1964) n/a
- Rip, Rig, and Panic (Limelight, 1965) 8
- Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith (Verve, 1967) 6
- The Inflated Tear (Atlantic, 1967) n/a
- Voulenteered Slavery (Rhino, 1968) n/a

Konitz, Lee:
- Motion (Verve, 1961) 8

Lacy, Steve:
- Reflections: Steve Lacy Plays Thelonious Monk (New Jazz/OJC, 1958) 7
- The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy (Candid, 1960) n/a
- Evidence (New Jazz/OJC, 1961) n/a
- School Days (hatology, 1963) 8
- Weal & Woe (Emanem, 1972) n/a

Land, Harlod:
- The Fox (Contemporary/OJC, 1959) n/a

Lane, Adam:
- Adam Lane Trio: Zero Degree Music (CIMP Records, 2005) 8
- Adam Lane Trio: Music Degree Zero (CIMP REcords, 2006) 7
- Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: New Magical Kingdom (Clean Feed, 2006) 9
- w/Markus Broo, Paal Nilssen-Love, Ken Vandermark: 4 Corners (Clean Feed) 7
- w/ Lou Grassi, Mark Whitecage: Drunk Butterfly (Clean Feed, 2008) 7

Lewis, George:
- Homage to Charlie Parker (Black Saint, 1979) 7

Little, Booker:
- Out Front (Candid, 1961) 7

Lowe, Frank:
- Black Beings (ESP, 1973) 7
- The Flam (Black Lion, 1975) 8

Lunceford, Jimmie:
- Stomp it Off (Decca, 1934) n/a
- For Dancers Only (1935-1937) n/a

M-O

Mahavishnu Orchestra:
- Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia, 1971) 8

McLaughlin, John:
- Extrapolition (Polydor, 1969) 8
- Devotion (Douglas, 1970) 7

McLean, Jackie:
- New Soil (Blue Note, 1959) n/a
- Swing Swang Swingin' (Blue Note, 1959) n/a
- Let Freedom Ring (Blue Note, 1962) 8

McPhee, Joe:
- Nation Time (Unheard Music Series, 1970) 7

Miller, Glenn:
- The Essential Glenn Miller (RCA, 1939-42) n/a

Mingus, Charles:
- Pithecanthropus Erectus (Atlantic, 1956) 9
- The Clown (Atlantic, 1957) 7
- New Tijuana Moods (Bluebird/RCA, 1957) 8
- Blues and Roots (Rhino/Atlantic, 1959) 6
- Mingus Ah Um (Columbia, 1959) 10
- Mingus Dynasty (Columbia, 1959) n/a
- Mingus at Antibes (Atlantic, 1960) 10
- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid, 1960) 9
- Oh Yeah (Rhino/Atlantic, 1961) 6
- Passions of a Man (Rhino/Atlantic 6CD, 1956-61) 7
- Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Impulse!, 1963) 8
- Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse!, 1963) 8
- Town Hall Concert 1964 (Original Jazz Classics, 64) 8
- Let My Children Hear Music (Columbia, 1971) n/a
- Changes One (Rhino/Atlantic, 1974) 8
- Changes Two (Rhino/Atlantic, 1974) 7

Mitchell, Blue:
- Big Six (Original Jazz Classics, 1958) n/a

Mitchell, Roscoe:
- Sound (Delmark, 1966) 7
- Roscoe Mitchell and the Sound and Space Unit (Black Saint, 1983) n/a

Modern Jazz Quartet:
- Modern Jazz Quartet (Original Jazz Classics, 1951) n/a
- Third Stream Music (Atlantic, 1957) n/a
- Dedicated to Connie (Atlantic, 1960) n/a
- Lonely Woman (Atlantic, 1962) n/a

Monk, Thelonious:
- Genius of Modern Music: Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1947-48) 8
- Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1947-52) 8
- The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note 4CD, 1947-58) 9
- Thelonious Monk Trio (Prestige/OJC, 1952) 10
- MONK (Original Jazz Classics, 1953) n/a
- Thelonoious Monk/Sonny Rollins (Original Jazz Classics, 1953) 9
- Brilliant Corners (Original Jazz Classics, 1956) 10
- Thelonious Himself (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 8
- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 9
- Monk's Music (Original Jazz Classics, 1957) 9
- Live At the Five Spot: Discovery! (Blue Note, 1957) 8
- Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (Blue Note, 1957) 7
- Misterioso (Original Jazz Classics, 1958) 9
- Thelonious Monk in Action: Recorded Live at the Five Spot Cafe (Riverside/OJC, 1958)
- The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall (Riverside OJC, 1959) 9
- Thelonious Alone in San Francisco (Original Jazz Classics, 1959) n/a
- Monk's Dream (Columbia, 1962) n/a
- Big Band and Quartet in Concert (Columbia 2CD, 1963) n/a
- Live at the It Club - Complete (Columbia 2CD, 1964) n/a
- Straight No Chaser (Columbia, 1966) n/a
- Underground (Columbia, 1967) 7

Morgan, Lee:
- The Sidewinder (Blue Note, 1963) 7

Morgan, Sam:
- Papa Celestin & Sam Morgan (Azure, 1927) 7

Morton, Jelly Roll:
- 1923/24 (Milestone, 1923 -1924) n/a
- The Chicago Years: The Original Performances (Jazz Classics, 1926-1928) 8
- Jelly Roll Morton (The Pearls) (RCA/Bluebird, 1926-1928) n/a
- 1926-1928 (Classics, 1926-1928) n/a
- 1928-1929 (Classics, 1928-1929) n/a

Mostly Other People Do the Killing:
- Shamoin!!! (Hot Cup/CD Baby, 2007) 9
- This Is Our Moosic (Hot Cup/CD Baby, 2008) 9

Murray, David
- Sweet Lovely (Black Saint, 1979) 8
- Ming (Black Saint, 1980) 10
- Murray's Steps (Black Saint, 1982) 7
- Morning Song (Black Saint) n/a
- The Hill (Black Saint, 1986) 7
- Deep River (DIW, 1988) n/a
- Spirituals (DIW, 1988) n/a
- Special Quartet (DIW, 1990) 8
- Shakill's Warrior (DIW, 1991) 8
- Jazzosaurus Rex (Red Baron, 1993) n/a
- Gwotet (Justin Time, 2004) n/a
- Black Saint Quartet: Sacred Ground (Justin Time, 2007) 7

Navarro, Fats
- The Complete Blue Note and Capitol Recordings of Fats Navarro and Tadd Dameron (Blue Note, 1947-1949) 7

Nelson, Oliver:
- Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse!, 1961) 7

New Orleans Rhythm Kings:
- New Orleans Rhythm Kings And Jelly Roll Morton (Milestone, 1922-1923) 8

Nichols, Herbie:
- The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note, 1955-1956) 8
- Love, Gloom, Cash, Love (Bethlehem, 1957) 7

Neidlinger, Buell:
-Locomotive (Soul Note, 1987) n/a

Oliver, Joe "King":
- The Complete Set (Retrieval 2CD, 1923-1924) 7
- Great Original Performances 1923- 1930 (Jazz Classics 2CD, 1923-1930) 7

Ory, Kid:
- Ory's Creole Trombone (ASV, 1922–44) 8
- Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band (GHB, 1944–45) n/a

P-R

Parker, Charlie:
- The Quintessence (Fremeaux & Associes) 6
- The Charlie Parker Story (Savoy, 1945) n/a
- The Legendary Dial Masters (Jazz Classics 2CD, 1946-1947) 8
- w/Dizzy Gillespie: Bird and Diz (Verve, 1950) 7
- Yardbird Suite: The Ultimate Collection (Rhino 2CD, 1945-1952) 9
- The Quintet / Jazz at Massey Hall (Debut OJC, 1953) 7

Parker, Evan:
- 50th Birthday Concert (Leo 2CD, 1994) 7

Parker, William:
- Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace (Eremite, 1974–79) n/a
- Compassion Seizes Bed-Stuy (Homestead, 1995) n/a
- The Peach Orchard (Aum Fidelity 2CD, 1998) 10
- Mayor of Punkville (Aum Fidelity 2CD, 2000) 8
- Painter's Spring (Thirsty Ear, 2000) n/a
- w/Hamid Drake: Piercing the Veil (Aum Fidelity, 2000) n/a
- O'Neal's Porch (Aum Fidelity, 2000) 8
- Raining on the Moon (Thirsty Ear, 2002) 8
- . . . And William Danced (Ayler, 2003) 9
- Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear, 2002) 8
- Luc's Lantern (Thirsty Ear, 2005) n/a
- Sound Unity (Aum Fidelity, 2005) 7
- Raining On the Moon: Corn Meal Dance (AUM Fidelity) 7
- Double Sunrise Over Neptune (Art for Arts/Aum Fidelity, 2008) 7
- Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity, 2008) 7
- w/Anthony Braxton & Milford Graves: Beyond Quantum (Tzadik, 2008) 8

Pavone, Mario:
- Deez to Blues (Playscape, 2006) 7

Pepper, Art:
- Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary OJC, 1957) n/a

Pettiford, Oscar:
- Deep Passion (Impulse!, 1956) 7

Powell, Bud:
- Jazz Giant (Verve, 1949-1950) 7
- The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 1 (Blue Note, 1949-1951) 8
- The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 2 (Blue Note, 1951-1953) 7
- Inner Fires (Discovery/Collectables, 1953) n/a
- The Scene Changes (Blue Note, 1958) 7

Previte, Bobby:
- Coalition of the Willing (Ropeadope, 2006) 7

Pukwana, Dudu:
- In the Townships (Earthworks, 1973) 8

Pullen, Don:
- w/Chico Freeman, Fred Hopkins, Bobby Battle: Warriors (Black Saint, 1978) 8
- w/George Adams: Breakthrough (Blue Note, 1986) 8
- New Beginnings (Blue Note, 1988) n/a

Redd, Freddie:
- Shades of Redd (Blue Note, 1960) n/a

Redman, Dewey:
- The Ear of the Behearer (Impulse!, 1973) 7

Redman, Don:
- Doin' What I Please (ASV, 1925–38) n/a

Reid, Steve:
- Rhythmatism (Universal Sound, 1976) 7

Reece, Dizzy:
- Comin' On! (Blue Note, 1960) n/a

Revolutionary Ensemble:
- Vietnam (ESP, 1972) 7
- The People's Republic (A&M, 1975) 7
- The Revolutionary Ensemble (ESP, 1977) 7
- And Now... (Pi, 2004) 7

Ribot, Marc:
- Spiritual Unity (Pi, 2005) 7

Richardson, Logan:
- Cerebral Flow (Fresh Sounds New Talent, 2007) 7

Rivers, Sam:
- Fuchsia Swing Song (Blue Note, 1964) 8
- Contours (Blue Note, 1965) 7

Roach, Max:
- Deeds, Not Words (Riverside OJC, 1958) 7
- We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (Candid, 1960) 10
- Percussion Bitter Sweet (Impulse!, 1962) 7

Rollins, Sonny:
- Work Time (Prestige OJC, 1955) n/a
- Tenor Madness (Prestige OJC, 1956) 8
- Saxophone Colossus (Prestige OJC, 1956) 10
- Way Out West (Contemporary OJC, 1957) 8
- Newk's Time (Blue Note, 1957) 7
- A Night at the Village Vanguard (Blue NOte 2CD, 1957) 7
- Freedom Suite (Riverside OJC, 1958) 7
- The Bridge (RCA, 1962) n/a
- On Impulse! (Impulse!, 1965) n/a
- Alfie (Impulse!, 1966) n/a
- Plays G-Man (Milestone, 1986) 8
- Falling in Love With Jazz (Milestone, 1989) n/a
- Silver City (Milestone 2CD, 1972-1995) 8
- This Is What I Do (Milestone, 2000) n/a
- Without a Song (The 9/11 Concert) (Milestone, 2005) n/a
- Sonny, Please! (..., 2006)

Rouse, Charlie:
- Unsung Hero (Columbia, 1960-1961) n/a

Rudd, Roswell:
- Flexible Flyer (Black Lion, 1974) 7
- Regeneration (Soul Note, 1982) n/a

Russell, George:
- Jazz Workshop (RCA Bluebird, 1956) n/a
- Ezz-Thetics (Riverside OJC, 1961) n/a

S-T

Sanders, Pharoah:
- Karma (Impulse!, 1969) 6
- Africa (Timeless, 1987) n/a
- Welcome to Love (Timeless, 1990) 8

Schlippenbach, Alex Von:
- Pakistani Pomade (Atavistic, 1972) n/a
- Monk's Casino (...) n/a

Sharrock, Sonny:
- Black Woman (Water, 1969) n/a
- Guitar (Enemy, 1986) 8
- Seize the Rainbow (Enemy, 1987) n/a
- Highlife (Enemy, 1990) n/a
- Ask the Ages (Axiom, 1991) 10

Shaw, Woody:
- Rosewood (Columbia, 1977) 7

Shepp, Archie:
- Four for Trane (Impulse!, 1964) 7
- Fire Music (Impulse!, 1965) 9
- The Way Ahead (Impulse!, 1968) n/a
- Attica Blues (Impulse!, 1972) 7
- The Cry of My People (Impulse!, 1972) n/a
- w/Horace Parlan: Goin' Home (Steeple Chase, 1977) n/a

Shorter, Alan:
- Orgasm (Verve, 1968) n/a

Shorter, Wayne:
- Night Dreamer (Blue Note, 1964) n/a
- Speak No Evil (Blue Note, 1964) n/a
- The Classic Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note 2CD, 1960–89) n/a

Silver, Horace:
- Six Pieces of Silver (Blue Note, 1956-1958) n/a
- Song for My Father (Blue Note, 1964) 7
- The Jody Grind (Blue Note, 1966) n/a

Sirone:
- w/Billy Bang: Configuration (Silkheart, 2005) 7

The Shining:
- In the Kingdom of Kitsch You Will Be a Monster (Rune Grammofon, 2005) n/a

Shipp, Matthew:
- w/William Parker: Zo (Thirsty Ear, 1993) n/a
- The Multiplication Table (Hatology, 1998) n/a
- w/Mat Maneri: Gravitational Systems (Hatology, 1998) n/a
- w/William Parker: DNA (Thirsty Ear, 1999) n/a
- Pastoral Composure (Thirsty Ear, 2000) n/a
- Nu Bop (Thirsty Ear, 2002) 7
- Equilibrium (Thirsty Ear, 2003) n/a
- Harmony and Abyss (Thirsty Ear, 2004) 8
- Piano Vortex (AUM Fidelity/Blue Series, 2007) 7
- Harmonic Disorder (Thirsty Ear, 2009) 8

Smith, Jimmy:
- Cool Blues (Blue Note, 1958) n/a
- Back at the Chicken Shack (Blue Note, 1960) n/a
- w/Stanley Turrentine: Prayer Meetin' (Blue Note, 1960–1963) n/a

Sonic Liberation Front:
- Ashé a Go-Go (High Two, 2004) 8

Sonic Openings Under Pressure (Patrick Brennean, Hilliard Greene, David Pleassant):
- Muhheankuntuk (Clean Feed, 2008) 7

Sorey, Tyshawn:
- That/Not (Firehouse 12, 2007) 7

Spanier, Muggsy:
- The "Ragtime Band" Sessions (RCA Bluebird, 1939) n/a

Spontaneous Music Ensemble:
- Karyobin (Chronoscope, 1968) 7

Sun Ra:
- Supersonic Jazz (Evidence, 1956) n/a
- Sound of Joy (Delmark, 1957) n/a
- Jazz in Silhouette (Evidence, 1958) 10
- The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (ESP, 1965) n/a
- The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 2 (ESP, 1965) n/a
- Atlantis (1967) n/a
- Space Is the Place (Impulse!, 1972) n/a
- Lanquidity (Evidence, 1978) 8

Supersilent:
- 4 (Rune Grammofon, 1998) 7
- 6 (Rune Grammofon, 2003) n/a

Tapscott, Horace:
- The Dark Tree (HatOlogy 2CD, 1989) 8

Tatum, Art:
- Piano Starts Here (Columbia/Legacy, 1933-1949) n/a
- Classic Early Solos (1934-1937) (Decca, 1934-1937) 7
- The Best of the Complete Pablo Solo Masterpieces (Pablo, 1953–1955) n/a

Taylor, Cecil:
- Jazz Advance (Blue Note, 1956) 8
- Love for Sale (Blue Note, 1959) 7
- The World of Cecil Taylor (Candid, 1960) 9
- Jumpin' Punkins (Candid, 1961) n/a
- Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come (Revenant 2CD, 1962) 7
- Unit Structures (Blue Note, 1966) 7
- Conquistador! (Blue Note, 1966) 8
- Spring of Two Blue J's (Jazz View, 1973) n/a
- Silent Tongues (Live) (1201 Music, 1974) 7
- The Cecil Taylor Unit (New World, 1978) n/a
- 3 Phasis (New World, 1978) n/a
- One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye (Hat Art 2CD, 1978,) n/a
- Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants) (Soul Note, 1984) n/a
- Olu Iwa (Soul Note, 1986) n/a
- Looking (Berlin Version) The Feel Trio (FMP, 1989) n/a
- The Tree of Life (FMP, 1991) n/a
- Always a Pleasure (FMP, 1993) n/a
- Cecil Taylor Feel Trio w/William Parker & Tony Oxley: Celebrated Blazons (FMP, 1993) 8
- The Willisau Concert (Intakt, 2000) n/a

Teagarden, Jack:
- Jack Teagarden's Big Eight/Pee Wee Russell's Rhythmakers (Riverside OJC, 1938–1940) 8

The Thing:
- Garage (Smalltown Supersound, 2004) 6
- Live at Blå (Smalltown Supersound, 2005) n/a

Thompson, Lucky:
- Accent on Tenor Sax (Fresh Sound, 1954) n/a
- Tricotism (Impulse!, 1956) n/a

Threadgill, Henry:
- X 75, Vol. 1 (Novus, 1979) 7
- Sextet: When Was That? (About Time, 1982) 8
- Sextet: Subject To Change (About Time, 1984) 8
- Easily Slip Into Another World (Novus, 1987) 8
- Sextett: Rag, Bush and All (Novus, 1988) 10
- Spirit of Nuff...Nuff (Black Saint, 1990) n/a
- Too Much Sugar For A Dime (Axiom, 1993) 8
- Zooid: Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi, 2001) n/a

Tristano, Lenny:
- w/Warne Marsh: Intuition (Capitol, 1949–1956) 7

Tyner, McCoy:
- The Real McCoy (Blue Note, 1967) n/a

U-Å

Ulmer, James Blood:
- Tales of Captain Black (DIW, 1978) 7
- Are You Glad to Be in America? (Rough Trade, 1980) n/a
- Odyssey (Columbia, 1983) 9
- Birthright (Hyena, 2005) n/a
- Odyssey the Band: Back in Time (Pi, 2006) 7

Valentine, Kid Thomas:
- Kid Thomas-George Lewis Ragtime Stompers (GHB, 1961) n/a

Vandermark, Ken:
- Barrage Double Trio: Utility Hitter (Quinnah Records, 1996) 9
- Vandermark Five: Single Piece Flow (Atavistic, 1996) 7
- Vandermark Five: Target or Flag (Atavistic, 1997) 9
- Simpatico (Atavistic, 1998) n/a
- w/Hamid Drake, Nate McBride: Spaceways Incorporated: Thirteen Cosmic Standards (Atavistic, 2000) 7
- Spaceways Inc.: Version Soul (Atavistic, 2002) n/a
- The Vandermark Five: Elements of Style . . . Exercises in Surprise (Atavistic, 2003) n/a
- FME: Underground (Okka Disk, 2004) 7
- FME: Cuts (Okka Disk, 2005) 8
- (((Powerhouse Sound))): Oslo/Chicago (((Breaks))) (Atavistic, 2007) 8
- w/Markus Broo, Adam Lane, Paal Nilssen-Love: 4 Corners (Clean Feed, 2007) 7
- The Vandermark 5: Beat Reader (Atavistic, 2008) 7

Waldron, Mal:
- w/Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin: The Quest (Prestige OJC, 1961) n/a

Waller, Fats:
- The Joint Is Jumpin' (RCA, 1929–1941) n/a
- Piano Solos 1929–1941 (RCA 2CD, 1929–1941) n/a
- The Very Best of Fats Waller (RCA, 1929–1943) n/a
- If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It (Bluebird/Legacy, 3CD, 1926-43) 9

Ware, David S.:
- Flight of I (Columbia/DIW, 1991) 9
- Third Ear Recitation (DIW, 1992) n/a
- Godspelized (DIW, 1996) n/a
- Go See the World (Columbia, 1997) n/a
- Corridors and Parallels (Aum Fidelity, 2001) n/a
- Freedom Suite (Aum Fidelity, 2002) 7
- Live in the World (Thirst Ear 3Cd, 2005) 7
- Renunciation (Thirsty Ear, 2007) 7
- Shakti (Aum Fidelity, 2009) 8

Ware, Wilbur:
- The Chicago Sound (Riverside OJC, 1957) 9

Watson, Bobby:
- Love Remains (Red, 1986) n/a

Weather Report:
- Heavy Weather (Columbia/Legacy, 1977) 4
- 8:30 (Live) (Columbia, 1979) 5

Webb, Chick:
- 1929-1934 (Classics, 1929-1934) n/a
- Spinnin' the Webb (Decca, 1929–1939) 8

Wheeler, Kenny:
- Gnu High (ECM, 1975) n/a
- Deer Wan (ECM, 1977) n/a

Whiteman, Paul:
- Greatest Hits (Collector's Choice, 1920–1928) n/a

Wilber, Bob:
- Dancing on a Rainbow (Circle, 1989) n/a

Williams, Tony:
- Life Time (Blue Note, 1964) 7
- Lifetime: Emergency (Verve, 1969) 8

Wilson, Teddy:
- Moments Like This (Hep, 1938–1939) 8
- Central Avenue Blues (Vintage Jazz, 1948) n/a

Workman, Reggie:
- Summit Conference (Postcards, 1993) 9
- Cerebral Caverns (Postcards, 1995) n/a

World Saxophone Quartet:
- Plays Duke Ellington (Elektra, 1986) 6
- Political Blues (Justintime, 2006) 8

Young, Larry:
- Unity (Blue Note, 1965) 9
- Of Love and Peace (Blue Note, 1966) n/a

Young, Lester:
- Lester Leaps In: His Greatest Recordings 1936–1944 (ASV, 1936–1944) n/a
- The "Kansas City" Sessions (Commodore, 1938–1944) n/a
- The Essential Keynote Collection 1: The Complete Lester Young (Mercury, 1944) n/a
- Lester Young Trio (Verve, 1943–1946) n/a
- The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Lester Young (Blue Note 2CD, 1942–1947) 8
- The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve, 1952) n/a
- Ken Burns Jazz: The Definitive Lester Young (Verve, 1936–1957) 9

Zorn, John:
- The Big Gundown (Elektra, 1984) 7
- Spy vs. Spy (Elektra, 1988) n/a
- Naked City (Elektra/Nonesuch, 1989) 7