25 Great Jazz Records To Start With 

Hi Ryan, this is a great list here. Disclaimer: I'm a gal who does CD and SACD. Having vinyl is just because I have cerebral palsy, too impractical with one hand. I don't deny it sounds great but CD and SACD/blu ray audio are much easier for me to deal with. It's always great to see a younger person into jazz, and just promoting the form. At the age of 41, I hardly find people into it. I was lucky enough to have parents into jazz and it was a rare case for a little kid to be attracted to it (and classical) almost from birth. There's a few choices I disagree with and I'll tell you why. "Song For My Father" is indeed a classic, and I love it, but Silver albums I find myself always going back to are "Stylings of Silver", and "The Tokyo Blues". There's just something about the Art Farmer/Mobley front line on "Stylings" that's sublime, and from "No Smokin'" it's just fantastic. "The Tokyo Blues", there's just a vibe created I love. "Sayonara Blues" in particular, the way Horace just cooks on a two chord vamp is great. I'd put "Doin The Thing: Live at the Village Gate" ahead of "Song For My Father" too. For Wayne, this might be unpopular but my favorite "classic" BN from him is "The All Seeing Eye". There's just an atmosphere with texture there that's great. And it swings, it isn't particularly "out" i.e.Cecil "Unit Structures", or "Conquistador", "Free Jazz" by Ornette or Trane's "Ascension" or "Live in Seattle". Herbie I'd put "Empyrean Isles", "Inventions And Dimensions" ahead of "Takin Off" or "Speak Like A Child" or "The Prisoner". I would also not ignore his Columbia output particularly "Flood", "Man Child" "Secrets" "An Evening With HH and Chick Corea" or the VSOP Quintet albums as good starters. For Trane besides your choices I'd add "Traneing In", "Soultrane", "Lush Life" as good starting points. Mobley add "Workout" "No Room For Squares" and "Caddy For Daddy". I had the 63-70 Mobley set from Mosaic (and the 50's one too!) lost both last year in a fire, but the 60's era, when you get to "Dippin'", I gotta be honest, the albums start being a bit routine as great as it is Billy Higgins behind the kit. For my hero Jimmy Smith you must include "The Sermon", "Houseparty", "Cool Blues" and ESPECIALLY both volumes of "Groovin At Smalls" because that album is the past, present and future of the organ rolled into one. I'd also advise you don't sleep on artists now like Joel Ross, Shabaka Hutchins, James Francies, Julian Lage... I think with all these jazz 101 videos on YT, we as a jazz community can forget about jazz TODAY. Don't forget enormously important figures of the past 40 years either like Gary Burton, Chick, Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Joey DeFrancesco (still trying to process that loss) Chris Potter, the list can go on and on.

"Way out West" is classic. I remember the first time I played it, "I'm An Old Cowhand" jumped out of the speakers. Sonny was in the room.

Nicely done, young man! I discovered jazz around the time of the “British Invasion” with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and similar bands consuming much of the radio airtime while I was in high school. Then I enlisted in the US Air Force, and Motown was “the thing.” I eventually met a fellow airman who introduced me to “Kind of Blue”, which led me to John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and other greats. I started listening to and buying jazz records and have quite a collection at 76. Just wish I could remember that fellow’s name who got me started.

at the moment i have 5 jazz cd,s want to keep my collection at 10 my favorite is something else cannonball elderly,own also kind of blues,take five dave brubeck,coltrone blue train and midnight blues

Very nice picks!

Really great to see someone as young as you really into jazz and so well informed.. Looking forward to seeing more posts.

Really nice picks and great commentary - hope to see a lot more from this channel

Very impressive presentation Ryan. Keep it up.

Excellent video Ryan. Thanks!

i just love music, i dont even specifically like jazz and i dont know 90% of the people or albums you mention but you still just keep me interseted and i just like hearing the passion you have.

Thanks for another very informative video Ryan. Great choices there and a few for me to look out for.

This is a wonderful and informative video. Thank you!

Great selections! Awesome to see someone your age with such knowledge and appreciation for the past greats.

Great list of albums! Lee Morgan Vol 3 is high on the wantlist! Loved the variety that you showed and a lot of accessible albums for those trying to get into jazz.

Such a unique and well-curated list, my dude. Excellent job!

Ken. From England nice to see a young guy pushing JAZZ well done keep it up.

You are doing great and your collection is amazing in years will the best. 👌🙌🔥🙏

Great vid my man! Always look forward to your video’s. Keep them coming….

Nicely done.

Young Blood, bringing it! Your list had the better known classics, along with some nice gems that I’ve never heard of. The way your face lit up when something was really hitting you… priceless. Thank you!

Great. Talking vinyl, talking jazz 🤗😃 Kenny Burrell, love that guitar 👍

Happy to have found this video, going to checkout the Oliver Nelson today.

Great picks, Ryan. Really happy to see a Curtis Fuller record - he’s one of my favorites. - Mike

Amazing video man. It’s so impressive how much you know.

Mate! This channel is going to go places! Just keep doing what you're doing. Love your knowledge and content.

Keep up the good work, little brotha!! You are knowledgable and a solid jazz guide. Keep up the real zeal!

Great selections! There is a glorious career coming your way.

Great choices

Ryan....Wonderful to see someone from your generation into jazz. Keep up the great work!!! PS: Stolen Moments is one of my all time favs....

Like you I was very lucky one day on February last year and I found an A Love Supreme stereo club version copy in the local flea market. I was so happy that day. Few months later in the same spot I was close to get the mono version, but it was only the jacket with a different Coltrane record, so I keep it with the hope to find one day the record by its own 🙌🏻

Nice start for people getting in to jazz.good list

Nice to see your smile every time you pick up a record. It happens to me every time too 👌 Just couple of years into jazz so far but these albums are so rewarding, loving them all. Good info btw 👏💪

What an unexpected treat to run across this post. Knowledge has no age and yours is impressive. Picked up several excellent suggestions and will absolutely enjoy them, thanks

I think this is the best video of it's type (i.e., where to start out with jazz records) that I've ever watched. I'm impressed that anyone your age has this depth of knowledge. I have almost all of these albums but it took me many years to get to the level of understanding that you're at already. I'd only add Grant Green, Idle Moments and Dave Brubeck, Time Out (or Time Further Out). And, for some acoustic guitar I'd mention Joe Pass and Django Reinhardt. The guy commenting about "the same old recycled jazz.." is so far off base that it's ridiculous. It's very common for people to want to get into listening to jazz but to be a bit overwhelmed and intimidated, and you've done a fantastic job addressing that here. If someone asks me where to start with jazz I'll just send them a link to this video. Really well done!

Wow that is awesome collection you have, and for a young man your knowledge and appreciation for the jazz genre is very respectful, thank you. My first time here

Fantastic List you've assembled there Ryan, particularly in light of a person as young as you are. I have them all and appreciate you sharing this list with us. I had totally forgotten about the Lee Morgan Vol 3. I just checked the shelf and discovered I have the "Classic Records" reissue version, purchased years ago. I've already pulled it from the collection to be revisited and enjoyed later today. Well done young man.

Fantastic video, great storytelling and presentation too, great job. I've been really getting into jazz now for about two months and these kind of videos bring to light a lot of great records. I'm starting to slowly sell some vinyl I don't listen to anymore to make room for great jazz records. In the meantime I do enjoy listening on Tidal with a good pair of headphones. I wish I knew people like you in person to talk about jazz, I'm 31 years old, but don't know any people or friends my age that are into jazz. Anyway, keep up the good work. You got yourself a new subscriber!

French soundtrack, "L'ascenseur pour l'echafaud" or "'Lift to the Scaffold", with Barney Wilen. Very cool French jazz and not a bad movie. BTW - I subscribed to your channel. Your knowledge is encyclopedic. Keep up the passion.

Soul Station", you can't get into jazz any easier. I just love this album. I can never get sick of listening to it.

Ryan killer picks love your take on each of the albums you picked yes I’m still after Hank Mobley Soul station OG it’s just about important now a good copy is in the thousand Wayne Shorters Adam’s Apple is so underrated Ryan awesome stuff. Lovellandrew

Hi Ryan, I enjoyed listening to your choices. Your list is pretty well fixed on a particular time frame in jazz, albeit probably the best one. It's also almost entirely centred on reed and brass players as the main soloists. At least you had Duke playing with Coltrane, on which Duke's playing, especially to his own compositions are inimitable. No Oscar PetersonTrio, or Monk? No vocalists, which give you the sound of the most unique instrument, the voice, complete with lyrics. No Getz, MJQ, Gary Burton, Metheny, Mehldau? Oh well, there's plenty of time for a guy of your age. All the best...... Ps, don't get obsessed with pressings. That's gonna cost you a lot of unnecessary money. Cheers.

100% Thanks !!!!

About to go check out Lee Morgan volume 3 because your list is right up my alley. I have most of those albums! I'm a hard rock fan that did not cover Jazz until I was 52 years old, 2016.

Great picks Ryan! I've been a jazz fan (and musician) for over 20 years, but just getting into vinyl this year. It's so interesting to hear this music I've known for decades through a different medium. For some reason I've never listen to the Curtis Fuller album you selected, I'll have to check it out. Since you invited additions, I'd add: - Joe Henderson "Page One" - Art Pepper "Meet the Rhythm Section" - Cannonball Adderley/Bill Evans "Know What I Mean?" - Dexter Gordon "Go" and/or "Dexter Calling" - Charlie Parker With Strings - Horace Silver "The Cape Verdean Blues" (alt. and in my opinion, artistic equal to the more popular Song for My Father... plus I love Woody Shaw) I could "add" about 100 more, but those are a few that fit the criteria of historical value + listenability (can't speak to availability or price).

I think I started with Getz/Gilberto and then Bossa Nova genre then I moved on to Bill Evans and Chet Baker then onto blue note. Somethin else by cannonball Adderley would be a good start to get into blue note or Horace silver song for my father.

Ryan, Great list and great analysis on each pressing. I have 13 of your selections in my CD collection. Agree with your comments about Rudy Van Gelder engineered sessions….brilliant. I currently live on my sailboat so vinyl is not a practical option for me, I do miss it. Your thoughts about the great female Jazz vocalists…Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Shirley Horn, Billy Holiday, Etta Jones, or more current (Krall, Gardot, Peyroux, …would be appreciated, assuming you’ve ventured in that direction. Keep up the superb work…you have a remarkable skill and infectious passion.

Fantastic list! Your knowledge of jazz is extremely impressive for your age. Though I prefer buying the musically digitally lossless or ripping CDs myself because it's easier for me to have all the files ready to go on my home network no matter what speakers / device I use. That said I'll still buy records if it's sentimental for me. I'm going to share this when people ask me recommendations on how to get into jazz since you did a much better job than I could do. I'd have added a Bill Evans record from the early 60s though since that's what people think of when they think of jazz piano. My personal favorite is the Explorations from his trio.

Hi Ryan going off on a tangent. Like you I love the saxophonists. So I thought I would do a go and compare lol . First i picked a standard number .(lover man ) then listened to all the different interpretations .buy jerry mulligan .zoot sims .Johnny Griffin Dexter gorden etc etc .so far my top three so far is Ike Quebrc .jerry mulligan. And Ben webster. It's a bit of fun .looking forward to the next post

nice collection. I'd recommend Time Out by Dave Brubeck

Hello young man im very impressed with your channel and knowledge on the history of jazz and of course you jazz record collection. My dad had a huge collection that got destroyed in a flood 2005. I collect Boxing Cards and scrapbooks over one thousand Boxing Scrapbooks 1000 pgs each. My dad and i listen to his Jazz collection While making them. I probably have one of the best boxing scrapbook collections in the world today thanks to Jazz. Lol.

Your encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and your awesome presentation skills in front of the camera are beyond impressive Ryan. Discovering your RU-vid channel has been a breath of fresh air! That's so cool that you're spinning the greats on vinyl too! What HiFi gear are you rocking?

Good work - what other channels do you recommend or watch? What system do you listen one?

YES! The very first jazzman I thought of during your introduction was Charlie Parker. Satchmo is even more historically significant, but might sound too old-fashioned for the new person. P.S. I have and love that Swedish Schnapps album.

Pleasure to meet you Ryan. (1600 -2005) scrap books

Great choices. Agreed that Miles’ Prestige work is his peak. Also agreed that 50’s Miles, any Horace Silver or Wayne Shorter are great openers for newbies to jazz. For me it was Maynard Ferguson and Count Basie. The Roulette label Maynard albums are brilliant, on Mosaic. Never could get into Sonny Rollins with that tenor sound-rough. Obviously a fine soloist, but I’d rather hear Dexter. Just my opinion. I play trumpet, and Clifford is for me the greatest jazz soloist, as much as I love Lee Morgan, Miles, and Dizzy. Since you love Clifford with strings you should check out Charlie Parker with Strings if you haven’t heard it.

My favourite genre. Jazz became more interesting or useful end of the 60's/early 70's. 68-82 itsh it's halcyon period. A few prior to are worth a listen, but not many. Speak No Evil, Adams Apple, Sketches of Spain, My Favourite Things..... worth owning. Blue Train is mindnumbing.

would like to see your stereo set up...great selection...

Awesome list! Just started collecting Jazz records and I'm loving the Blue Note Classic and Tone Poet series. Hope you get a chance to pick up the new Blue Train release!

Freddie Hubbard -Red Clay should be in the Top 25

Great choice ! Do you know the "Prestige Records 24000 series" ? Bob Weinstock, ever resourceful, selected many of his prime recordings for a second issue with a new catalogue number and a new cover, and occasionally an altogether new title to snag the unwary. It is worth noting these pairs as they offer the opportunity to acquire very scarce rare early issues effectively pressed with metal derived from the original master! In a world of “re-issues” these are not the usual fare - they are “vintage reissues” ’60s pressings and can sound very fine." And OJC LPs, but keep in mind : about OJC 270 or 280 was when the mastering changed, from analog to digital. Oh, do you know Nathan Davis ?? you should 🤫; good luck finding original pressings ! Cheers, luca

Love you doing your part - preach

Hi Ryan, I have a 2 year old boy. If he is half as intelligent and passionate as you are when he gets to your age I will consider that a huge success. Keep up the good work!

Hi Ryan you could go with Stéphane Grappelli and Diz Disley the Album is Violinsperation regards shaun .ps it's heart warming to see a young chap with so much passion

Hoping for a nice Curtis Fuller reissue myself 😎

"The Tone Poet" is an old friend of mine. I sent Joe a link to this page. He thinks it's great.

Enjoy the music

Its later and I want to thank you for curtis fuller soul trombone.

Hit the like button after the first two records ✊🏼

Did I just sit through 45 minutes and not see one Thelonious Monk album???? You've got good choices, but man, give me a break! Monk's songs have been covered more than any other jazz musician except Duke Ellington. I've written a lot about Monk and as a critic who has heard all his albums, let me recommend a few. His earliest tracks are on Blue Note's The Genius of Modern Music Vol 1 and 2. He hit his stride on Riverside records in the 50's. Got a few to recommend Thelonious Himself, all solo piano and sublime. Last track adds Trane and Wilbur Ware. Then Brilliant Corners and Monk's Music on Riverside show him at his apex with terrific sidemen such as Trane, Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Ernie Henry, Ray Copeland, and Gigi Gryce.

Hi Ryan, please do differentiate between originals and re-issues. Unlike what somebody else said. I've been collecting originals all my life, helps separate the men from the boys. Makes it seem like maybe "you were there".

Grabben börjar med att fronta Stockholms stadshus! Och han är inte ens svensk. 😊 I had to write in Swedish, sorry! Great jazz records 👏🏻

You don't look old enough to shave!! But you are a jazz fan ..far out!

Kinda Blue and Time Out are obvious picks. Also Moanin by Blakey and Study in Brown by Brown/Roach. Cant stand Coltrane. His tone and phrasing are god awful.

Same old recycled jazz BORING