[Start Here] Jazz Masterpieces: A Must-Listen Album Selection

Pop music writer/editorKEI
A style that keeps updating my favorites while loving mainstream and hit songs. I have experience writing articles for outlets like Utaten. Since I discovered music as a student, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. 2000s J-POP and 2010s K-POP were my youth, and I’m also loosely into jazz and R&B. I enjoy good music across genres with a “good is good” mindset. Thanks to my past work environment (and its influence), I listened to a lot of classic rock and kayōkyoku, which may have broadened my tastes. At RAG MUSIC, I mainly cover K-POP. I focus on reviews that emphasize feelings people can relate to, and on editing aligned with local pride and hit potential. Thank you!
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!

What kind of impression do you have of the musical genre known as jazz?

You might think of it as somewhat stylish, or perhaps a bit intimidating and highbrow.

The history of jazz, which includes many subgenres, can’t be summed up easily—and of course, it’s not just music from a bygone era.

This time, for those who are interested but don’t know where to start, we’ve picked out a selection of classic, standard albums that have gone down in jazz history—perfect as your first listen.

Be sure to check them out!

Start with this one: Jazz masterpieces. A must-listen album selection (71–80)

Relaxin’ at CamarilloCharlie Parker

charlie parker relaxin at the Camarillo

Relaxin’ at CamarilloCharlie Parker

A piece Charlie Parker wrote about the period he spent at Camarillo State Hospital in Ventura County, California.

He had damaged his mental and physical health through drugs and alcohol and was repeatedly hospitalized in psychiatric institutions.

The track was recorded in 1947 after his discharge, when he returned to Los Angeles.

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Return to Forever

Return to ForeverChick Corea

Return To Forever

Return to ForeverChick Corea

On February 9, 2021, a great jazz pianist set off for heaven.

Born in 1941 in Massachusetts, USA, Chick Corea was an artist who vastly expanded the possibilities of jazz with his overwhelming skill and flexible approach.

Familiar with the piano from a young age, he entered the prestigious Juilliard School, but soon left his studies to pursue a professional career, performing with many renowned artists.

After joining Miles Davis’s group, he showcased his unique talent by releasing numerous ambitious works using the electric piano, the Fender Rhodes.

Crossing genre boundaries and remaining at the forefront throughout a career spanning over 50 years, Chick was also a key figure in electric jazz and fusion.

In that context, one album that must be mentioned is the classic Return to Forever, released under his solo name in 1972, which became an exceptional hit.

This work, which later inspired the formation of the band of the same name, is a gem that elevates the meticulously crafted band ensemble—created by players with outstanding technique—into melodious, accessible songs.

Its stylish flavor, imbued with the scent of Brazilian music, makes it perfect as café music as well!

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In conclusion

Jazz is truly profound and, as mentioned at the outset, it’s a genre with many subgenres.

Once you step into it, there’s no turning back—you’ll sink into it like a bottomless swamp.

This time I focused mainly on classic, time-honored masterpieces that could be called the standards of standards, but if you feel you might come to love jazz, I encourage you to also turn your attention to today’s jazz musicians, who continue to evolve in real time.