Best Jazz

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Best 1 Kind of Blue
Kind of Blue

Kind of Blue, released in 1959, is arguably the most iconic jazz album of all time. Featuring a stellar lineup including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb,...

10.0 Brilliant
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2 The Bridge (Bron/Broen)
The Bridge (Bron/Broen)

The Bridge is a gripping crime drama that originated in Denmark and Sweden, with remakes in other countries. It follows Saga Norén, a brilliant but socially awkward detective, as she investigates a mu...

9.9 Brilliant
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3 A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme

A Love Supreme is widely considered Coltrane's magnum opus, a four-part suite expressing a profound spiritual journey. Recorded in 1964 with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones, it features e...

9.9 Brilliant
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4 A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is a deeply spiritual and intense four-part suite that stands as John Coltrane's magnum opus. Recorded in 1964, it captures the saxophonist at the height of his powers, channeling his d...

9.8 Brilliant
5 To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' is a sprawling, ambitious work exploring themes of race, identity, and systemic oppression. Featuring a blend of jazz, funk, and hip-hop, the albums intricate pr...

9.8 Brilliant
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6 Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue' is a cornerstone of jazz, renowned for its modal approach and relaxed atmosphere. Clocking in at just under 45 minutes, it's a masterclass in understated brilliance. The a...

9.7 Brilliant
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7 Friday Afternoon in Chicago - Tortoise
Friday Afternoon in Chicago - Tortoise

Tortoise's 'Friday Afternoon in Chicago' is a seminal work in post-rock, blending elements of jazz, dub, and minimalism into a uniquely textured sound. The album features intricate, interlocking rhyth...

9.6 Brilliant
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8 Voodoo - D'Angelo
Voodoo - D'Angelo

Released in 2000, 'Voodoo' is the definitive neo-soul album. D'Angelo moved away from the polished production of his debut to embrace a raw, loose, and heavily syncopated sound inspired by Sly Stone a...

9.6 Brilliant
9 Kids on the Slope
Kids on the Slope

Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, this series is a love letter to jazz music set in 1960s Japan. It tells the story of an introverted classical pianist who discovers the freedom of jazz through a rebel...

9.6 Brilliant
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10 Innervisions
Innervisions

Innervisions (1973) is a powerful and politically charged album addressing social injustice, spirituality, and personal reflection. Tracks like 'Living for the City' and 'Higher Ground' are iconic, sh...

9.5 Brilliant
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11 Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich, a jazz drumming legend, was renowned for his unparalleled technical brilliance and blistering speed. A child prodigy, Rich mastered complex rhythms and improvisational techniques at a youn...

9.5 Brilliant
12 Gretsch USA Custom
Gretsch USA Custom

Gretsch USA Custom is legendary for its 'Great Gretsch Sound,' characterized by the unique maple/gumwood shell formula. These drums are synonymous with jazz and classic rock, offering a punchy, warm,...

9.5 Brilliant
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13 The Köln Concert
The Köln Concert

Eric Dolphy's 1975 solo piano recording captures his avant-garde genius. The Köln Concert features extended improvisations, unconventional techniques, and a raw energy that redefined jazz's boundaries...

9.5 Brilliant
14 Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author renowned for his surreal and dreamlike narratives that blend elements of magical realism, postmodernism, and pop culture. His novels, such as 'Kafka on the Shore'...

9.4 Excellent
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15 Hohner Golden Melody
Hohner Golden Melody

The Hohner Golden Melody is unique because it is tuned to equal temperament, making it the perfect choice for playing melodies and jazz solos where chords are less important. Its rounded, retro design...

9.4 Excellent
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16 Ella and Louis - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Ella and Louis - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Ella and Louis is a masterclass in vocal jazz, pairing the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald with the legendary Louis Armstrong. Backed by the Oscar Peterson Quartet, the duo navigates a collection of Grea...

9.4 Excellent
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17 Little Simz - Silk for the Soul
Little Simz - Silk for the Soul

Little Simzs 'Silk for the Soul' is a bold and ambitious hip-hop album that seamlessly blends jazz, spoken word, and experimental soundscapes. The album tackles themes of identity, social justice, and...

9.3 Excellent
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18 Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Kind of Blue, released in 1959 but defining the 1960s sound, is arguably the most popular and influential jazz album of all time. Pioneering modal jazz, it moves away from traditional chord progressio...

9.3 Excellent
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19 Brown Sugar - D'Angelo
Brown Sugar - D'Angelo

D'Angelo's 1995 debut 'Brown Sugar' is often credited with helping to launch the neo-soul movement. With its blend of classic soul, funk, and hip-hop, the album introduced the world to a young artist...

9.3 Excellent
20 Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack
Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack

Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop soundtrack is a genre-bending masterpiece, seamlessly blending jazz, funk, blues, and orchestral elements to create a unique and unforgettable sonic landscape. Tracks like 'T...

9.2 Excellent
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21 Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones is a legendary producer, arranger, composer, and musician whose career spans decades and genres. His work with Michael Jackson on 'Thriller,' 'Bad,' and 'Dangerous' redefined pop music an...

9.2 Excellent
22 What Happened, Miss Simone?
What Happened, Miss Simone?

This documentary provides a raw and unflinching look at the life of Nina Simone, one of the most influential and complex artists of the 20th century. Using rare footage and personal diaries, the film...

9.2 Excellent
23 Blue - Joni Mitchell
Blue - Joni Mitchell

Blue is the definitive confessional singer-songwriter album. Joni Mitchells voice, combined with her unique guitar tunings and piano arrangements, creates an intimacy that feels like reading a private...

9.2 Excellent
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24 Great Pretender
Great Pretender

Great Pretender is a stylish, globe-trotting heist anime that follows Makoto Edamura, a self-proclaimed 'greatest swindler in Japan.' After attempting to scam a French tourist, he finds himself entang...

9.2 Excellent
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25 La La Land
La La Land

La La Land (2016) is a visually stunning and emotionally poignant musical that pays homage to classic Hollywood while exploring the struggles of pursuing artistic dreams. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone d...

9.2 Excellent
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26 Kamasi Washington - The Epic
Kamasi Washington - The Epic

Kamasi Washington's 2015 album blends jazz, hip-hop, and classical influences in a 2-hour epic. Featuring a 15-piece ensemble, it reimagines jazz as a modern, genre-defying art form. The album's thema...

9.1 Excellent
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27 Nujabes - Modal Soul
Nujabes - Modal Soul
Free Plan Available From Free (streaming) or $10-25 (physical CD/vinyl)

Nujabes' 'Modal Soul' is a masterpiece of lo-fi hip-hop, blending jazzy samples with mellow beats and soulful melodies. The album's warm, analog sound and introspective atmosphere create a uniquely co...

9.0 Excellent
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28 Kendrick Lamar - *To Pimp a Butterfly* (2015)
Kendrick Lamar - *To Pimp a Butterfly* (2015)

*To Pimp a Butterfly* is a complex and politically charged album that blends hip-hop with jazz, funk, and spoken word. Kendrick Lamar's lyrical prowess and insightful social commentary explore themes...

9.0 Excellent
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29 Vater M1
Vater M1
From $15-20/pair

Vater M1 drumsticks are crafted from maple, known for its warmer, more mellow tone compared to hickory. The barrel tip delivers a focused, articulate sound, making them a favorite among jazz and studi...

9.0 Excellent
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30 Blackstar
Blackstar

Released just days before his death in 2016, Blackstar (2016) is a haunting and deeply moving work of art. The album blends jazz, experimental rock, and avant-garde elements, creating a complex and la...

8.9 Very Good
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