A 1956 classic for Prestige Records, this album by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins is crucial to own. Featuring a mere quartet made of: Sonny Rollins (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), and Max Roach (drums). Rollins delivers in his fervor and phrasing on this one!

Griffin’s 1957 outing as leader for Blue Note, remastered in 2006 by Rudy Van Gelder at 24-bit resolution, is a must own for everyone’s collection. Cover art by Andy Warhol! Accompanying Griffin on this session are the usual suspects: Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Kenny Dennis (drums). Hear Griffin’s soulful energy on here that was always his trademark.

It’s easy to see why this 1959 classic is considered to be one of the truly great jazz albums for our time. Miles is playing trumpet here with an all-star lineup: John Coltrane (tenor sax), Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). Out with the old chords and in with the new modes sums this album up.

Coleman’s 1959 classic was and remains some of the most cutting edge work in the history of jazz music. The album was not just misunderstood when released, but often despised. Featuring the following lineup on the album is: Ornette Coleman (alto sax), Don Cherry (cornet), Charlie Haden (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums). This album features premium improvisational jazz.

Jimmy Smith’s 1960 classic “Back at the Chicken Shack” bring down the house with some bluesy soul-jazz! Accompanying Smith on this album are veteran sidemen: Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Kenny Burrell (guitar) and Donald Bailey (drums). Smith was a master of the Hammond B-3 organ, popularizing the instrument.

This 1961 recording for Blue Note at Rudy van Gelder Studio is one of Mobley’s best. The musical lineup on this album includes: Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Grant Green (guitar), Wynton Kelly (Piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). This is some of the best hard-bop you may ever hear. This Rudy Van Gelder remaster edition upgrades the set with superb 24-bit remastering.

This 1961 album for Blue Note Records is among tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon’s greatest recordings. Another Rudy Van Gelder 24-bit remaster on this one, making the sound superb. Dexter is accompanied here by: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Horace Parlan (piano), George Tucker (bass), and Al Harewood (drums). This album is and was an instant classic!

This 1963 album on the Verve label legitimized bossa nova music and defined Brazilian music for the American audience. Featured on this album are: Stan Getz (tenor sax), Joao Gilberto (guitar, vocals), Tommy Williams (bass), Milton Banana (drums), Astrud Gilberto (vocals) and Antonio Carlos Jobim (piano). This album features the classic recording “The Girl from Ipanema”.

This deluxe edition of Coltrane’s 1964 4-part suite chronicling his spiritual journeys and remastered by Rudy Van Gelder is a classic. Featuring Coltrane on tenor sax with: McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums), this album explores further the modal quality of jazz given birth to by Miles’ Kind of Blue of 1959.

This 1964 edition for Blue Note, remastered by Rudy Van Gelder, is a must own album for the jazz aficionado. The album features the following fellow musicians: Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute, bass clarinet), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone), Richard Davis (bass), and Tony Williams (drums). This music is all over the place in a stringently structured format.

Released in 1965, recorded in 1964, this Rudy Van Gelder Edition remaster for Blue Note is a must own for your collection. From the genius who would later go on to help find Weather Report, this is Wayne’s finest hour. Accompanying Shorter’s tenor saxophone on this album is: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). This is hard bop at its best.

This 1967 Blue Note album from McCoy Tyner is the absolute best from this piano giant, all tracks are original compositions. Personnel: McCoy Tyner (piano), Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (bass). Every track on here has since become a jazz standard. Buy this Rudy Van Gelder 24-bit remaster for great sound.

Shepp's 1972 "Attica Blues" was a politically charged album responding to the Attica Prison bloodbath. Shepp is angry here. There are tons of musicians on this album, too many to list. The standouts are: Charles Greenlee (trombone), Roland Wilson (electric bass), Walter Davis, Jr. (electric piano), Marion Brown (alto sax) and Roy Burrowes (trumpet). Many, many others on this classic record!

This 1975 outing by “The Paul Desmond Quartet” features intimate live performances in a Canadian jazz club shortly before the alto saxophonist’s death. Desmond was best known for his work with Dave Brubeck, but for me this is my favorite. With Desmond on this date are: Ed Bickert (guitar), Don Thompson (bass) and Jerry Fuller (drums).

Trumpeter Tomasz Stanko’s 1976 (recorded in 1975) debut album for the ECM label titled “Balladyna” is a true classic. Stanko’s use of unconventional harmonies interconnected to a melancholy structure is almost haunting. Stanko is accompanied here by: Dave Holland (bass), Tomasz Szukalski (saxophone), and Edward Vesala (drums). I find Stanko so easily accessible.

This 1986 album for the Grammavision label is among clarinetist John Carter's very best recordings. A real diamond in the rough for the 1980s. Great freeform jazz fusion. Personnel: John Carter (clarinet), Andrew Cyrille (drums), Richard Davis (bass), Marty Ehrlich (Percussion, bass clarinet, bells & gong), and Baikida Carroll (vocals, percussion).

This 1999 release from Half Note Records, recorded live at the Blue Note in NY in 1998, features some great young talent for the 90s. Though an album of standards, it is nice to see these young men keeping it real. Personnel: Irvin Mayfield (trumpet), Eric Reed (piano), Carlos Enriquez (bass), Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone), Wessell Anderson (sax), and Jaz Sawyer (drums).

This 2004 Origin Records release is yet another prime example of how jazz continues to evolve. Nice balance between covers and originals on the album. Personnel: Mark Taylor (alto and tenor sax), Ryan Burns (keys), Phil Sparks (bass), Matt Jorgensem (drums), Rob Davis and Hans Teubertenor(tenor sax), and David Marriot (trombone).

This 2006 release from the Savoy Jazz label features pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa in duet format. A very progressive album from two artists who show nothing but promise.