The Best Jazz Albums of the 1960s
Modal jazz, free jazz, post-bop: the 1960s saw jazz push its boundaries harder than any decade before. These 53 records are where the arguments happened.
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1A Love SupremeJohn Coltrane
A Love Supreme
A four-part spiritual suite of overwhelming intensity and devotion, recorded by Coltrane's classic quartet. It moves from searching to ecstatic to serene. A towering statement that rewards close, uninterrupted listening.
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2In a Silent WayMiles Davis
In a Silent Way
A serene, proto-ambient fusion landmark of hushed electric textures. Spacious and influential. A pivotal record.
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3Sketches of SpainMiles Davis
Sketches of Spain
A lush orchestral collaboration with Gil Evans blending jazz and Spanish classical. Gorgeous and singular. A beloved record.
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4Giant StepsJohn Coltrane
Giant Steps
A dazzling display of harmonic ambition, its title track a rite of passage for every aspiring jazz player. The writing is brilliant and the playing fearless. A cornerstone of bebop's evolution.
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5Sunday at the Village VanguardBill Evans
Sunday at the Village Vanguard
An intimate live trio recording of extraordinary interplay, captured shortly before bassist Scott LaFaro's death. Lyrical and conversational. One of the great piano-trio documents.
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6Waltz for DebbyBill Evans
Waltz for Debby
From the same legendary Vanguard afternoon, all delicacy and dialogue between three musicians listening hard. Tender and timeless. A desert-island jazz record.
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7The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles Mingus
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
An ambitious, through-composed suite blending jazz, classical and flamenco into something cinematic and intense. Singular even within Mingus's catalogue. A bold, rewarding listen.
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8Speak No EvilWayne Shorter
Speak No Evil
Elegant, mysterious post-bop with an all-star band, balancing accessibility and depth. Beautifully composed. A Blue Note classic.
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9Out to Lunch!Eric Dolphy
Out to Lunch!
Angular, adventurous avant-bop that still sounds startling, played by a fearless band. Challenging and rewarding. A landmark of the new thing.
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10Getz/GilbertoStan Getz and João Gilberto
Getz/Gilberto
The album that brought bossa nova to the world, smooth and sun-dappled, introducing 'The Girl from Ipanema'. Effortlessly beautiful. A massive, enduring success.
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11I Put a Spell on YouNina Simone
I Put a Spell on You
A commanding set spanning jazz, soul and chanson, sung with unmatched gravity. 'Feeling Good' anchors it. Essential Simone.
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12NefertitiMiles Davis
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13My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane
My Favorite Things
A landmark soprano-sax reinvention of the show tune into hypnotic modal jazz. Inventive and beloved. A genre touchstone.
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14BalladsJohn Coltrane
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15Portrait in JazzBill Evans
Portrait in Jazz
The trio's debut, introducing the conversational interplay that changed jazz piano. Lyrical and influential. A cornerstone.
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16The SidewinderLee Morgan
The Sidewinder
A funky, danceable hard-bop hit built on an irresistible title-track groove. Accessible and infectious. A crossover classic.
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17Song for My FatherHorace Silver
Song for My Father
Soulful, Latin-tinged hard bop with one of jazz's most recognisable basslines. Warm and groovy. An accessible classic.
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18Maiden VoyageHerbie Hancock
Maiden Voyage
An elegant, oceanic post-bop classic with an unforgettable title track. Cohesive and beautifully played by an all-star band. A graceful entry point to Blue Note.
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19Empyrean IslesHerbie Hancock
Empyrean Isles
A spare, adventurous quartet date, home to 'Cantaloupe Island'. Inventive and beloved. A Blue Note gem.
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20JujuWayne Shorter
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21The Real McCoyMcCoy Tyner
The Real McCoy
A powerful post-Coltrane peak of muscular modal piano. Dynamic and acclaimed. A Blue Note classic.
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22Page OneJoe Henderson
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23Idle MomentsGrant Green
Idle Moments
A mellow, late-night Blue Note gem of warm guitar and space. Smooth and beloved. A perfect mood record.
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24The BridgeSonny Rollins
The Bridge
A comeback after his famous sabbatical, sharp and assured. Strong and acclaimed. A return to form.
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25Free Jazz: A Collective ImprovisationOrnette Coleman
Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation
The double-quartet landmark that named free jazz. Radical and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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26KarmaPharoah Sanders
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27GoDexter Gordon
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28Miles SmilesMiles Davis
Miles Smiles
A peak of the second quintet's elastic, exploratory post-bop. Sophisticated and acclaimed. A landmark.
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29CrescentJohn Coltrane
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30MeditationsJohn Coltrane
Meditations
A fierce, spiritual free-jazz peak. Intense and acclaimed. A late landmark.
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31Tijuana MoodsCharles Mingus
Tijuana Moods
A vivid, colourful peak of large-group invention. Bold and beloved. A high point.
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32ExplorationsBill Evans
Explorations
A lyrical trio peak of conversational interplay. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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33Solo MonkThelonious Monk
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34Speak Like a ChildHerbie Hancock
Speak Like a Child
A gentle, impressionistic peak of lush harmony. Beautiful and acclaimed. A Blue Note gem.
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35Adam's AppleWayne Shorter
Adam's Apple
A warm, melodic post-bop peak, home to 'Footprints'. Beautiful and beloved. A high point.
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36Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club'Cannonball Adderley
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club'
A soulful, funky live peak, home to its gospel-tinged title hit. Joyful and beloved. A crossover classic.
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37Search for the New LandLee Morgan
Search for the New Land
An ambitious, modal-leaning peak of adventurous hard bop. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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38Change of the CenturyOrnette Coleman
Change of the Century
A bold free-jazz peak of melodic liberation. Inventive and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.
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39We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now SuiteMax Roach
We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite
A fierce civil-rights jazz statement of protest and power. Urgent and historic. A landmark record.
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40Point of DepartureAndrew Hill
Point of Departure
An adventurous post-bop peak of knotty composition and stellar players. Challenging and rewarding. A Blue Note gem.
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41UnityLarry Young
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42The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes MontgomeryWes Montgomery
The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery
A landmark of warm, octave-rich jazz guitar. Smooth and influential. A genre touchstone.
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43John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
A sublime ballads collaboration of tenor and baritone voice. Tender and timeless. A romantic classic.
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44Money JungleDuke Ellington, Charles Mingus & Max Roach
Money Jungle
A spirited, tense summit of three giants. Bold and acclaimed. A singular record.
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45Live at the Village VanguardJohn Coltrane
Live at the Village Vanguard
A fiery live document of the classic quartet pushing outward. Intense and acclaimed. A landmark.
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46Blues & RootsCharles Mingus
Blues & Roots
A raucous, gospel-and-blues-charged peak of collective fire. Bold and beloved. A high point.
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47Free for AllArt Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
Free for All
A fiery, hard-driving hard-bop peak. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.
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48CornbreadLee Morgan
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49Soul StationHank Mobley
Soul Station
A perfectly poised hard-bop peak of warm tenor. Smooth and beloved. A Blue Note classic.
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50Midnight BlueKenny Burrell
Midnight Blue
A relaxed, bluesy guitar gem of late-night cool. Smooth and beloved. A perfect mood record.
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51Smokin' at the Half NoteWes Montgomery
Smokin' at the Half Note
A peak of live jazz guitar with a swinging rhythm section. Warm and beloved. A genre classic.
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52Spiritual UnityAlbert Ayler
Spiritual Unity
A raw, foundational free-jazz landmark of overblown tenor and feeling. Intense and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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53Hub-TonesFreddie Hubbard