Help me build up a jazz album collection. Can you suggest a must have album?

spenav- Yes I have seen that list and there are many of those kinds of lists on the internet. I have also used those recommendations as well to build a library of albums but I noticed those lists typically have the greats like Miles, Coltrane, Getz, Ellington, Ella, Gillespie, etc. I was also interested in the Agone audiophile choices since often that list is deeper with lesser known but exceptional artists. And additionally the brands,labels, the particular issues of albums that really tend to sound stellar. After all, guys and gals here have exceptional gear and want to hear (often) great recordings. Thanks again…….

One of the great things about Jazz for audiophiles is that most of it was recorded live. So even on a studio recording, the entire band is in the studio playing at the same time. No overdubs. No solos dropped in by some star who was never in the same city as everyone else.  Many of the best albums were recorded before overdub technology even existed. before transistors replaced tubes. The recording equipment was simple and as a result, pure.

And except for an electric bass or an organ, almost all the instruments are acoustic and unamplified. Until the mid sixties, that's all there was. So the opportunity to recreate the event in your listening room is much better. Your brain can know what a real trumpet or piano or bass is supposed to sound like. Consequently, it can tell when any new tweak or piece of gear makes those instruments sound more real. By contrast, the sound of an electric guitar or keyboard is a combination of the settings to player choses, the amp, the speaker and the microphone placed in front of that speaker. Not to mention the choices the engineer and producer make to modify that sound.

And there is so much great jazz out there. Cheap in used record store bins, and almost free to stream. Right now I'm being blown away by a 24/96 recording of a piano trio I'd never heard of until this thread...Esbjorn Svevsson Trio. They have 7 albums I can stream. Miles Davis has more than 150. I prefer vinyl, but there is no way I could own 2% of what I can get on line from Amazon Music,  $9 a month if you already have Amazon Prime. 

Good jazz on a great stereo is the best bang per entertainment buck you can buy.

The 50 best jazz albums of all time

Thanks for posting this list. I already have about half of these on vinyl. Now I have the other half in a playlist on Amazon Music. Good news is most of them are hi-rez!

There are no must have albums you should listen different jazz musicians and  get a feeling and your own taste of what you like in jazz.