The Best Jazz Albums of the 1970's

An appendix to my book "A History of Jazz Music"

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

The 1940's	The 1950's	The 1960's	The 1970's	The 1980's	The 1990's	The 2000's	The 2010's	The 2020's

TM, ®, Copyright © 2002 Piero Scaruffi

1970 8.5/10 Paul Bley: Improvisie (1970) Marion Brown: Afternoon of a Georgia Faun (1970) Alice Coltrane: Ptah The El Daoud (1970) 8/10 McCoy Tyner: Extensions (1970) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Les Stances A Sophie (1970) 7.5/10 Sonny Sharrock: Monkey-Pockie-Boo (1970) Evan Parker: The Topography of the Lungs (1970) 7/10 Freddie Hubbard: Straight Life (1970) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: With Fontella Bass (1970) Pharoah Sanders: Summon Bukmun Umyun (1970) Jan Garbarek: Afric Pepperbird (1970) Herbie Hancock: Mwandishi (1970) Spontaneous Music Ensemble: So What Do You Think (1970) Alice Coltrane: Journey in Satchidananda (1970) Stanley Turrentine: Sugar (1970) Woody Shaw: Blackstone Legacy (1970) Freddie Hubbard: Red Clay (1970) McCoy Tyner: Asante (1970) Miles Davis: Big Fun (1970) Leon Thomas: Album (1970) Hubert Laws: Afro Classic (1970) John McLaughlin: My Goals Beyond (1970) ICP Orchestra: Groupcomposing (1970) Guenter Hampel: People Symphony (1970) Keith Tippett: Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening (1970) Misha Mengelberg: Instant Composers Pool 005 (1970) Guenter Hampel: Ballet-Symphony (1970) Chris McGregor: And the Brotherhood of Breath (1970) Joe McPhee: Nation Time (1970) Dave Burrell: After Love (1970) 1971 8.5/10 Carla Bley: Escalator Over The Hill (1971) 8/10 Charles Mingus: Let My Children Hear Music (1971) Paul Bley: Dual Unity (1971) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Phase One (1971) Lol Coxhill: Ear Of The Beholder (1971) 7.5/10 Roland Kirk: Natural Black Inventions - Root Strata (1971) Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) Weather Report: Weather Report (1971) 7/10 Jean-Luc Ponty: Open Strings (1971) Pharoah Sanders: Black Unity (1971) Keith Jarrett: Facing You (1971) Mike Westbrook: Metropolis (1971) Willem Breuker: Instant Composers Pool 008 (1971) Jan Garbarek: Sart (1971) Chick Corea: The Gathering (1971) Keith Tippett: Septober Energy (1971) Derek Bailey: Solo Guitar (1971) George Russell: Listen to the Silence (1971) Ornette Coleman: Science Fiction (1971) Freddie Hubbard: First Light (1971) Keith Jarrett: Expectations (1971) Chick Corea: Piano Improvisations (1971) Joe Zawinul: Zawinul (1971) Joe McPhee: Trinity (1971) Oliver Nelson: Swiss Suite (1971) Terje Rypdal: Terje Rypdal (1971) Alice Coltrane: Universal Consciousness (1971) Paul Winter: Icarus (1971) Alice Coltrane: World Galaxy (1971) Paul Winter: Road (1971) Donald Byrd: Ethiopian Knights (1971) Tim Weisberg: Tim Weisberg (1971) Don Ellis: Tears of Joy (1971) 1972 9/10 Anthony Braxton: Saxophone Improvisations (1972) 8.5/10 Dave Holland: Conference of the Birds (1972) 8/10 McCoy Tyner: Sahara (1972) London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Ode (1972) Weather Report: I Sing the Body Electric (1972) 7.5/10 Jean-Luc Ponty: Sonata Erotica (1972) Herbie Hancock: Crossings (1972) John Surman: Westering Home (1972) Chick Corea: Light as a Feather (1972) 7/10 Guenter Hampel: Familie (1972) Chick Corea: Return To Forever (1972) Paul Motian: Conception Vessel (1972) Neil Ardley: Symphony of Amaranths (1972) Dave Liebman: Open Sky (1972) Ornette Coleman: Skies of America (1972) Gato Barbieri: Bolivia (1972) Eric Kloss: One Two Free (1972) Gary Burton: Crystal Silence (1972) Evan Parker: Collective Calls (1972) Guenter Hampel: Angel (1972) Albert Mangelsdorff: Trombirds (1972) Julius Hemphill: Dogon AD (1972) Randy Weston: Tanjah (1972) Guenter Hampel: Waltz For 11 Universes In A Corridor (1972) Joe Henderson: Black Is The Color (1972) Guenter Hampel: Broadway (1972) Nucleus: Belladonna (1972) Miles Davis: On The Corner (1972) Oregon: Music Of Another Present Era (1972) Paul Bley: Open To Love (1972) George Russell: Living Time (1972) McCoy Tyner: Echoes of a Friend (1972) Mahavishnu Orchestra: Birds of Fire (1972) Stanley Cowell: Illusion Suite (1972) Stanley Clarke: Children of Forever (1972) Gary Bartz: Juju Street Songs (1972) Airto Moreira: Free (1972) 1973 8/10 Sam Rivers: Streams (1973) 7.5/10 Roland Kirk: Prepare Thyself To Deal With A Miracle (1973) Dollar Brand: Sangoma (1973) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Fanfare For The Warriors (1973) Don Cherry: Relativity Suite (1973) Cecil Taylor: Spring of Two Blue J's (1973) Keith Jarrett: Solo Concerts (1973) McCoy Tyner: Enlightnment (1973) Herbie Hancock: Sextant (1973) Dave Liebman: Lookout Farm (1973) 7/10 Carla Bley: Tropic Appetites (1973) Dollar Brand: African Space Program (1973) Marion Brown: Geechee Recollections (1973) Frank Wright: Church Number Nine (1973) Gato Barbieri: Latin America (1973) Frank Lowe: Black Beings (1973) Ralph Towner: Diary (1973) Dewey Redman: The Ear of the Behearer (1973) Eberhard Weber: Colours of Chloe (1973) Roswell Rudd: Numatik Swing Band (1973) Oregon: Distant Hills (1973) Dollar Brand: African Portraits (1973) Weather Report: Sweetnighter (1973) Oscar Peterson: Trio (1973) Cecil Taylor: Solo (1973) John Surman: Morning Glory (1973) Betty Carter: Album (1973) Mal Waldron: Up Popped the Devil (1973) Michael Mantler: No Answer (1973) Billy Cobham: Spectrum (1973) Herbie Hancock: Headhunters (1973) Spontaneous Music Ensemble: Mouthpiece (1973) Charles Earland: Leaving This Planet (1973) Flora Purim: Butterfly Dreams (1973) Herbie Hancock: Thrust (1973) Billy Cobham: Crosswinds (1973) Julian Priester: Love Love (1973) 1974 8/10 Sam Rivers: Crystals (1974) Cecil Taylor: Silent Tongues (1974) Steve Lacy: Saxophone Special (1974) Jeanne Lee: Conspiracy (1974) 7.5/10 Leo Smith: Reflectativity (1974) 7/10 Bennie Maupin: The Jewel In The Lotus (1974) Weather Report: Mysterious Traveller (1974) Randy Weston: Blues To Africa (1974) Marion Brown: Sweet Earth Flying (1974) Paul Rutherford: Gentle Harm of the Bourgeoisie (1974) Marvin Peterson: Children of the Fire (1974) John Abercrombie: Timeless (1974) Roswell Rudd: Flexible Flyer (1974) McCoy Tyner: Atlantis (1974) Globe Unity Orchestra: Hamburg '74 (1974) Cecil McBee: Mutima (1974) Mahavishnu Orchestra: Apocalypse (1974) Ralph Towner: Solstice (1974) Terje Rypdal: Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away (1974) Roscoe Mitchell: Solo Saxophone Concerts (1974) Steve Kuhn: Ecstasy (1974) Joe McPhee: Pieces Of Light (1974) Keith Jarrett: Death and the Flower (1974) Steve Kuhn: Trance (1974) Steve Lacy: Scraps (1974) Dave Liebman: Drum Ode (1974) Kenny Barron: Peruvian Blue (1974) Tete Montoliu: Music for Perla (1974) Bill Watrous: Manhattan Wildlife Refuge (1974) Lonnie Liston Smith: Expansions (1974) Mike Gibbs: Only Chrome Waterfall (1974) McCoy Tyner: Sama Layuca (1974) Oregon: Winter Light (1974) Billy Cobham: Total Eclipse (1974) 1975 7.5/10 Keith Jarrett: The Koeln Concert (1975) Leroy Jenkins' Revolutionary Ensemble: The Psyche (1975) Miles Davis: Pangaea (1975) Evan Parker: Saxophone Solos (1975) Leroy Jenkins: For Players Only (1975) Air: Air Song (1975) Oliver Lake: Heavy Spirits (1975) Kenny Wheeler: Gnu High (1975) Om: Kirikuki (1975) Terje Rypdal: Odyssey (1975) Steve Lacy: Dreams (1975) 7/10 Pat Metheny: Bright Size Life (1975) Lol Coxhill: Welfare State (1975) Anthony Braxton: Five Pieces (1975) Don Pullen: Solo Piano Album (1975) Dexter Gordon: Bouncing' with Dex (1975) Michael Mantler: Michael Mantler - Carla Bley (1975) Sonny Sharrock: Paradise (1975) Dudu Pukwana: Diamond Express (1975) Kenny Barron: Lucifer (1975) Frank Lowe: The Flam (1975) John Surman: S.O.S. (1975) Don Pullen: Healing Force (1975) Miles Davis: Get Up With It (1975) Julius Hemphill: Coon Bid'ness (1975) Gateway Trio: Gateway (1975) Collin Walcott: Cloud Dance (1975) Don Moye: Sun Percussion (1975) Martial Solal: Nothing But Piano (1975) Eberhard Weber: Yellow Fields (1975) Don Pullen: Five To Go (1975) Charles Tolliver: Impact (1975) Dave Liebman: Forgotten Fantasies (1975) Joe McPhee: The Willisau Concert (1975) Yosuke Yamashita: Chiasma (1975) Michael Mantler: The Hapless Child (1975) Dollar Brand: Soweto (1975) Don Pullen: Capricorn Rising (1975) Lol Coxhill: Fleas In Custard (1975) Stanley Clarke: Journey to Love (1975) Enrico Rava: The Pilgrim and the Stars (1975) Manhattan Transfer: Manhattan Transfer (1975) 1976 8/10 Keith Jarrett: Survivors Suite (1976) George Lewis: Solo Trombone Record (1976) 7.5/10 Air: Air Raid (1976) David Murray: Flowers for Albert (1976) Derek Bailey: Company 1 (1976) Jan Garbarek: Dis (1976) Irene Schweizer: Wilde Senoritas (1976) Toshiko Akiyoshi: Road Time (1976) Albert Mangelsdorff: Tromboneliness (1976) Leo Smith: Song of Humanity (1976) 7/10 Tony Coe: Zeitgeist (1976) Ornette Coleman: Dancing in Your Head (1976) Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius (1976) Martial Solal: Movability (1976) Hamiet Bluiett: Endangered Species (1976) Art Lande: Rubisa Patrol (1976) Chick Corea: Romantic Warrior (1976) George Adams: Suite For Swingers (1976) Jean-Luc Ponty: Imaginary Voyage (1976) David Friesen: Star Dance (1976) Dexter Gordon: Biting the Apple (1976) Joachim Kuhn: Springfever (1976) Eberhard Weber: The Following Morning (1976) Lew Tabackin: Dual Nature (1976) Chico Freeman: Morning Prayer (1976) Weather Report: Black Market (1976) Charles Tyler: Saga Out of the Outlaws (1976) Al DiMeola: Land of The Midnight Sun (1976) Woody Shaw: Little Red's Fantasy (1976) Stanley Clarke: School Days (1976) Yosuke Yamashita: Banslikana (1976) Ran Blake: Wende (1976) Guenter Christmann: Solomusiken Fuer Posaune und Kontrabasse (1976) Egberto Gismonti : Danca Das Cabecas (1976) 1977 8/10 George Lewis: Chicago Slow Dance (1977) 7.5/10 Air: Air Time (1977) George Lewis: Shadowgraph (1977) Joe McPhee: Graphics (1977) James Ulmer: Revealing (1977) Pat Metheny: Watercolors (1977) John Scofield: East Meets West (1977) Neil Ardley: Kaleidoscope of Rainbows (1977) 7/10 Leroy Jenkins: Solo Concert (1977) Julius Hemphill: Blue Boye (1977) Michael Mantler: Movies (1977) Abdul Wadud: By Myself (1977) Roscoe Mitchell: Nonaah (1977) Joanne Brackeen: Tring A Ling (1977) Art Lande: Desert Marauders (1977) Chico Freeman: Kings of Mali (1977) Art Pepper: No Limit (1977) Arthur Blythe: Metamorphosis (1977) Collin Walcott: Grazing Dreams (1977) David Friesen: Waterfall Rainbow (1977) Dave Holland: Emerald Tears (1977) Grachan Moncur: Shadows (1977) Chico Freeman: Chico (1977) Frank Lowe: Lowe And Behold (1977) Vinny Golia: Spirits In Fellowship (1977) Weather Report: Heavy Weather (1977) Ernie Krivda: Satanic (1977) Derek Bailey: Company 5 (1977) Chico Freeman: No Time Left (1977) Paul Motian: Dance (1977) Hamiet Bluiett: SOS (1977) Jan Garbarek: Places (1977) World Saxophone Quartet: Point Of No Return (1977) John Tchicai: Real (1977) Julius Hemphill: Raw Materials and Residuals (1977) George Russell: Vertical Form 6 (1977) Joanne Brackeen: Aft (1977) Julius Hemphill: Roi Boye and the Gotham Minstrels (1977) Kenny Wheeler: Deer Wan (1977) Irene Schweizer: Hexensabbat (1977) Leroy Jenkins: Lifelong Ambitions (1977) Globe Unity: Pearls (1977) Ralph Towner: Sound And Shadows (1977) Hamiet Bluiett: Birthright (1977) Jean-Luc Ponty: Enigmatic Ocean (1977) Muhal Richard Abrams: 1-OQA+19 (1977) Cecil McBee: Music From the Source (1977) Steve Lacy: Raps (1977) Woody Shaw: Rosewood (1977) Gateway Trio: 2 (1977) Louis Hayes: The Real Thing (1977) McCoy Tyner: Supertrio (1977) Al DiMeola: Elegant Gypsy (1977) Michael Urbaniak: Urbaniak (1977) Keith Jarrett: My Song (1977) Arthur Blythe: Bush Baby (1977) Sheila Jordan: Sheila (1977) 1978 8/10 Leo Smith: Mass on the World (1978) Roscoe Mitchell: LRG-Maze-S II Examples (1978) Leroy Jenkins: Legend of Ai Glatson (1978) Rova Saxophone Quartet: Cinema Rovate (1978) 7.5/10 Gerry Hemingway: Kwambe (1978) Sam Rivers: Waves (1978) George Lewis: Imaginary Suite (1978) 7/10 Don Pullen: Warriors (1978) Guenter Hampel: Oasis (1978) Cecil Taylor: 3 Phasis (1978) Andrew Cyrille: Metamusician's Stomp (1978) Ralph Towner: Batik (1978) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Nice Guys (1978) Carla Bley: Musique Mecanique (1978) Air: Open Air Suit (1978) Marvin Peterson: The Light (1978) Anthony Davis: Of Blues and Dream (1978) Dave Liebman: Pendulum (1978) Pat Metheny: Group (1978) Ernie Krivda: The Alchemist (1978) Evan Parker: Monoceros (1978) Anthony Braxton: For Four Orchestras (1978) Ganelin Trio: Concerto Grosso (1978) Cecil Taylor: Cecil Taylor Unit (1978) James Ulmer: Tales From Captain Black (1978) Oliver Lake: Life Dance Of Is (1978) Lester Bowie: African Children (1978) World Saxophone Quartet: Steppin' With (1978) Guenter Hampel & Jeanne Lee: Oasis (1978) Arthur Blythe: Lenox Avenue Breakdown (1978) Lol Coxhill: Joy Of Paranoia (1978) Paul Winter: Common Ground (1978) Kenny Barron: Innocence (1978) Fred Anderson: Another Place (1978) Guenter Hampel: Freedom Of The Universe (1978) Dewey Redman: Soundsigns (1978) Misha Mengelberg: Pech Onderweg (1978) Anthony Braxton: Birth And Rebirth (1978) Lol Coxhill: Digswell Duets (1978) Chico Freeman: The Outside Within (1978) Egberto Gismondi: Solo (1978) 1979 8/10 Rova Saxophone Quartet: Removal of Secrecy (1979) Lesli Dalaba: Trumpet Songs And Dances (1979) Anthony Braxton: Alto Saxophone Improvisations (1979) Dollar Brand: African Marketplace (1979) 7.5/10 Martial Solal: Four Keys (1979) Terje Rypdal: Descendre (1979) Jack DeJohnette: Special Edition (1979) Andrew Cyrille: Nuba (1979) 7/10 Charles Noyes: Free Mammals (1980) Betty Carter: The Audience (1979) Art Pepper: Straight Life (1979) Anthony Davis: Hidden Voices (1979) Errol Parker: Doodles (1979) Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen: Dancing On The Tables (1979) Amina Claudine Myers: Song For Mother Earth (1979) George Lewis: Homage to Charles Parker (1979) Paul Motian: Le Voyage (1979) Bunky Green: Places We've Never Been (1979) John Surman: Upon Reflection (1979) Joseph Jarman: Magic Triangle (1979) Anthony Braxton: One in Two (1979) Woody Shaw: Woody III (1979) Max Roach: Pictures In A Frame (1979) Ralph Towner: Solo Concert (1979) Kenny Wheeler: Around 6 (1979) Billy Bang: Distinction Without A Difference (1979) Cecil McBee: Alternate Spaces (1979) Fred Anderson: Dark Day (1979) Al DiMeola: Splendido Hotel (1979) String Trio Of New York: First String (1979) Pat Metheny: American Garage (1979) Billy Bang: Sweet Space (1979) Paul Lytton: The Inclined Stick (1979) Warren Vache: Polished Brass (1979) Eberhard Weber: Fluid Rustle (1979) Guenter Christmann: Weavers (1979)

The best of the decade Anthony Braxton: Saxophone Improvisations (1972) Carla Bley: Escalator Over The Hill (1971) Keith Jarrett: Survivors Suite (1976) Sam Rivers: Streams (1973) Paul Bley: Improvisie (1970) Marion Brown: Afternoon of a Georgia Faun (1970) Leo Smith: Mass on the World (1978) Sam Rivers: Crystals (1974) Cecil Taylor: Silent Tongues (1974) Steve Lacy: Saxophone Special (1974) Rova Saxophone Quartet: Removal of Secrecy (1979) George Lewis: Solo Trombone Record (1976) Roland Kirk: Prepare Thyself To Deal With A Miracle (1973) George Lewis: Chicago Slow Dance (1977) Alice Coltrane: Ptah The El Daoud (1970) McCoy Tyner: Extensions (1970) Roscoe Mitchell: LRG-Maze-S II Examples (1978) Leroy Jenkins: Legend of Ai Glatson (1978) Dave Holland: Conference of the Birds (1972) Charles Mingus: Let My Children Hear Music (1971) McCoy Tyner: Sahara (1972) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Les Stances A Sophie (1970) Jeanne Lee: Conspiracy (1974) Keith Jarrett: The Koeln Concert (1975) Revolutionary Ensemble: The Psyche (1975) Miles Davis: Pangaea (1975) Evan Parker: Saxophone Solos (1975) Leroy Jenkins: For Players Only (1975) Air: Air Time (1977) Paul Bley: Dual Unity (1971) Air: Air Raid (1976) George Lewis: Shadowgraph (1977) Leo Smith: Reflectativity (1974) Art Ensemble Of Chicago: Phase One (1971) Joe McPhee: Graphics (1977) Rova Saxophone Quartet: Cinema Rovate (1978) Air: Air Song (1975) Gerry Hemingway: Kwambe (1978) David Murray: Flowers for Albert (1976) Roland Kirk: Natural Black Inventions - Root Strata (1971) Oliver Lake: Heavy Spirits (1975) Weather Report: I Sing the Body Electric (1972) Kenny Wheeler: Gnu High (1975) Derek Bailey: Company 1 (1976) Jan Garbarek: Dis (1976) Jean-Luc Ponty: Sonata Erotica (1972) James Ulmer: Revealing (1977) Pat Metheny: Watercolors (1977) Sonny Sharrock: Monkey-Pockie-Boo (1970) Irene Schweizer: Wilde Senoritas (1976) London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Ode (1972) Toshiko Akiyoshi: Road Time (1976)

TM, ®, Copyright © 2002 Piero Scaruffi