BEST little know Jazz Album that you ever heard?

Mine would be Blue Mitchell's "Step Lightly." It was his first date as a leader for Blue Note. It was recorded in 1963 but by the time I got released in 980, Blue was already dead. That's insane.

For a first date, this is an astounding recording, so assured and polished. And Blue's trumpet playing, as always, was divine. If you live in the New York metro area, you might have already heard parts of the title cut--its opening bars were used as the intro the WNYC-FM's Brian Lehrer show for decades.

My favorite cut is the ballad, "Cry Me a River." When Blue finally starts his solo, it's co clear and affecting that this often covered tune sounds fresh again..

Another that might be considered “little known” as a jazz album, but certainly not unfamiliar in terms of the music it contains is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. 
 

‘Tis the Season!

I second Blue Mitchell with The Thing To Do (RGV Edition)

Not much of a jazz-hound but John McLaughlin's first album: Extrapolation. 

Charlie Haden "The Montreal Tapes with Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell" (one of several "Montreal Tapes" recordings).  It's essentially the Ornette Coleman quartet without, well..........Ornette Coleman!  They pull it off on a well-recorded piece that's worth exploring.

Frank Morgan "Mood Indigo".  Way, way WAY underrated and relatively little-known alto sax player who was something of a Charlie Parker protege'.

Woody Shaw "In My Own Sweet Way".  Another (underrated) trumpet player who was held in very high regard by none other than Miles Davis.