[Start Here] Jazz Masterpieces: A Must-Listen Album Selection
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!
- The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
- Hall of Jazz: Classic Blue Note Records. Recommended jazz albums.
- [For Beginners] Classic Modern Jazz Albums: Recommended Records to Start With
- [Jazz Intro] Classic Jazz Tracks Recommended for First-Time Listeners
- [Western Music] Classic jazz guitar albums: recommended records you should listen to at least once
- A roundup of classic Western jazz-funk albums—from staples to the latest releases
- [BGM] Classic Delicious Jazz Tunes You’d Want to Hear in a Restaurant [2025]
- Classic Dixieland jazz tunes. Recommended popular songs.
- Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
- Famous jazz musicians. Players who have graced the history of jazz.
- Cool jazz piano: from classic favorites to hidden gems.
- [2025] Classic Jazz Vocal Albums: Must-Listen Recommendations
- A collection of classic progressive rock albums: popular records you should listen to at least once.
[Start with this one] Jazz masterpieces: a must-listen album selection (21–30)
Route 66Nat King Cole
Originally written and performed by singer and pianist Bobby Troup, who was married to actress Julie London.
The King Cole Trio’s version, released by Columbia Records, became a major hit, and afterward Nat King Cole recorded this solo version.
Georgia On My MindRay Charles
A song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell.
Carmichael was an actor, performer, and popular songwriter, also known for works like “Stardust” and “Winter Moon.” This version by Ray Charles won four Grammy Awards in 1960.
[Start with this one] Jazz masterpieces: a must-hear album selection (31–40)
At LastEtta James
A song written by the songwriting team of Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade.
It was rearranged the following year and used in the film Orchestra Wives.
The version by Etta James, an elegant ballad singer, was recorded in 1961.
EpistrophyEric Dolphy
Originally an entertainment form, jazz also saw the emergence of artists who created truly artistic music as composition developed and performers’ skills improved.
Eric Dolphy, who could play anything on E-flat instruments with a focus on the alto saxophone, crafted a distinctive musical world with this Thelonious Monk composition.
Take FiveDave Brubeck
A piece composed by alto saxophone player Paul Desmond.
It is one of the first jazz compositions to use a time signature other than the standard 4/4 or 3/4.
A rare jazz number that also became a hit on the pop charts, it has been featured in films such as Mighty Aphrodite, Pleasantville, and Constantine.
Old Devil MoonAnita O’Day
She is a singer who is even more popular than Helen Merrill among white female jazz vocalists.
Jazz, in contrast to the beauty of ballads, is also captivating for the comfort of its up-tempo numbers, and Anita O’Day—considered a model of jazz singing—delivers one of the finest performances conveying that appeal in her rendition of “Old Devil Moon.”
Donna LeeCharlie Parker
Jazz, which had been popular music performed by professionals, took a sudden step into modern jazz with the arrival of a single genius: alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.
With his emergence, a revolution occurred in jazz improvisation, and from then on, jazz evolved into music in which the virtuosity of soloists’ improvisations became one of the main highlights.