Definitive List Made of 100 Greatest Jazz Albums

Amazon’s editors have pooled together a definitive list of the 100 best jazz albums of all time.

The list of 100 Greatest Jazz Albums includes albums released by Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Louis Armstrong, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones and many others.

You can view the entire list, preview songs, and download albums by following this link, amazon.com

Because of its long, storied history, jazz has existed in recorded form longer than the format, or even concept of the album has, which certainly complicates making such a list.

Amazon recognizes that there were many incredible, influential, and vital jazz musicians who never released a single album–many, if not most of those who created and shaped the genre in its early days are included in that group.

However, this is a list of the greatest jazz albums of all time, not the most influential or innovative jazz musicians of all time. Thus, they implemented a set of selection criteria in order to give the list some legitimate boundaries. In order to qualify for this list, a title must meet the following list of criteria.

The album must be a legitimate album release only: no collections, compilations, singles, or EPs were considered. However, reissues, even those with tacked-on bonus tracks, qualify for inclusion.

While the editors typically only allow one album per artist when constructing such lists, due to the collaborative nature of jazz as an art form, and the drastically different styles played by single artists within one career, they allowed for multiple albums by the same artists to appear on this list.

Of course, Amazon’s editors exercise their judgment regarding quality and/or historical significance. If you disagree with their choices (there’s a chance some will), you can let Amazon know in the customer discussions at the bottom of the web page linked below.

Throughout 2009, Amazon will be creating definitive album lists for a variety of categories. You can view the List of 100 Greatest Jazz Albums by following this link, amazon.com.

Source: (Smooth Jazz Network)


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