The Best Jazz Albums of the 1990's

Selected by piero scaruffi | Best albums of all time | Musicians | Back to music

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

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
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TM, ®, Copyright © 2002 Piero Scaruffi

1990


    7.5/10
  1. Franz Koglmann: The Use of Memory (1990)
  2. Matthew Shipp: Circular Temple (1990)
  3. Bobby Previte: Empty Suits (1990)
    7/10
  4. Don Pullen: Random Thoughts (1990)
  5. Gerry Hemingway: Special Detail (1990)
  6. Michael Formanek: Wide Open Spaces (1990)
  7. Geri Allen: Nurturer (1990)
  8. Marty Ehrlich: Emergency Peace (1990)
  9. Marilyn Crispell: Overlapping Hands (1990)
  10. David Ware: Great Bliss (1990)
  11. Charlie Haden: Dream Keeper (1990)
  12. Butch Morris: Dust To Dust (1990)
  13. Jazz Passengers: Implement Yourself (1990)
  14. Myra Melford: Jump (1990)
  15. Danny Gottlieb: Brooklyn Blues (1990)
  16. Mark Helias: Attack the Future (1990)
  17. Dave Liebman: The Tree (1990)
  18. Paul Plimley: When Silence Pulls (1992)
  19. Elements: Spirit River (1990)
  20. Hank Roberts: Birds Of Prey (1990)
  21. Music Revelation Ensemble: Elec Jazz (1990)
  22. Arcado String Trio: Behind The Myth (1990)
  23. Kenny Wheeler: Music for Large and Small Ensemble (1990)
  24. Bill Frisell: Is That You (1990)
  25. ICP Orchestra: Bospaadje Konijnehol II (1990)
  26. Phil Woods: All Bird's Children (1990)
  27. Philip Catherine: I Remember You (1990)
  28. Joachim Kuehn: Dynamics (1990)
  29. Ray Anderson: What Because (1990)
  30. MUhal Richard Abrams: Blu Blu Blu (1990)
  31. Gerry Hemingway: Down To The Wire (1990)
  32. Terence Blanchard: Terence Blanchard (1990)
  33. Tom Harrell: Form (1990)
  34. Yellowjackets: Green House (1990)
  35. Kenny Wheeler: Widow in the Window (1990)
  36. Egberto Gismondi: Infancia (1990)
  37. Keith Tippett: The Journey (1990)
  38. Dave Weckl: Master Plan (1990)

1991


    7.5/10
  1. Steve Lacy: Remains (1991)
  2. John Butcher: Thirteen Friendly Numbers (1991)
  3. Guy Klucevsek: Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse (1991)
  4. Michael Formanek: Extended Animation (1991)
  5. Bill Frisell: Where in the World (1991)
  6. Charles Gayle: Touchin' On Trane (1991)
    7/10
  7. Randy Weston: Spirits Of Our Ancestors (1991)
  8. Don Byron: Tuskegee Experiments (1991)
  9. Bobby Previte: Weather Clear Track Fast (1991)
  10. Music Revelation Ensemble: After Dark (1991)
  11. Sonny Sharrock: Ask the Ages (1991)
  12. Steve Coleman: Black Science (1991)
  13. Joe Lovano: From the Soul (1991)
  14. David Sanborn: Another Hand (1991)
  15. David Ware: Flight Of I (1991)
  16. Don Pullen: Kele Mou Bana (1991)
  17. Terje Rypdal: Q.E.D. (1991)
  18. Jackie McLean: Rites of Passage (1991)
  19. Joanne Brackeen: Is It Really True (1991)
  20. John Scofield: Grace Under Pressure (1991)
  21. John Patitucci: Heart Of The Bass (1991)
  22. Keith Jarrett: Vienna Concert (1991)
  23. Julius Hemphill: Fat Man And the Hard Blues (1991)
  24. London Jazz Composers' Orchestra: Theoria (1991)
  25. Wynton Marsalis: Blue Interlude (1991)
  26. Marty Ehrlich: Side by Side (1991)
  27. Tim Berne: Can't Put My Finger On It (1991)
  28. Joanne Brackeen: Where Legends Dwell (1991)
  29. Joey Baron: Tongue in Groove (1991)
  30. Max Roach: To the Max (1991)
  31. Robert Dick: Venturi Shadows (1991)
  32. Freddie Hubbard: Temptation (1991)
  33. Fred Hersh: Forward motion (1991)
  34. Steve Swallow: Swallow (1991)
  35. Marcus Roberts: As Serenity Approaches (1991)
  36. Steve Turre: Right There (1991)
  37. Branford Marsalis: The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1991)
  38. Christy Doran: What a Band (1991)

1992


    8/10
  1. Jane Ira Bloom: Art & Aviation (1992)
    7.5/10
  2. Maria Schneider: Evanescence (1992)
  3. Charles Gayle: Repent (1992)
  4. Geri Allen: Maroons (1992)
  5. Wynton Marsalis: Citi Movement (1992)
  6. Joe Lovano: Universal Language (1992)
  7. Terence Blanchard: The Malcolm X Jazz Suite (1992)
  8. Sergey Kuryokhin: Some Combination of Fingers and Passion (1992)
  9. Medeski Martin and Wood: Notes From the Underground (1992)
    7/10
  10. Courtney Pine: To The Eyes Of Creation (1992)
  11. Hank Roberts: Little Motor People (1992)
  12. Zeena Parkins: Ursa's Door (1992)
  13. Steve Turre: Sanctified Shells (1992)
  14. Charles Gayle: Repent (1992)
  15. Franz Koglmann: L'Heure Bleue (1992)
  16. Michael Mantler: Folly Seeing All This (1992)
  17. Bill Frisell: This Land (1992)
  18. Kenny Wheeler: Kayak (1992)
  19. Aydin Esen: Anadolu (1992)
  20. Hal Russell: Bells (1992)
  21. King Ubu Orchestru: Binaurality (1992)
  22. John Scofield: What We Do (1992)
  23. Mulgrew Miller: Hand In Hand (1992)
  24. Ray Anderson: Every One of Us (1992)
  25. Uri Caine: Sphere Music (1992)
  26. Sonny Simmons: Ancient Ritual (1992)

1993


    8/10
  1. Franz Koglmann: Cantos I-IV (1993)
    7.5/10
  2. Bill Dixon: Vade Mecum (1993)
  3. Marilyn Crispell: Santuerio (1993)
  4. George Lewis: Voyager (1993)
  5. Matthew Shipp: Prism (1993)
    7/10
  6. Bobby Previte: Hue And Cry (1993)
  7. Marty Ehrlich: Can You Hear A Motion (1993)
  8. Music Revelation Ensemble: In The Name Of (1993)
  9. Henry Threadgill: Too Much Sugar For a Dime (1993)
  10. Dave Douglas: Parallel Worlds (1993)
  11. Wynton Marsalis: In This House On This Morning (1993)
  12. Ken Vandermark: Big Head Eddie (1993)
  13. Charles Gayle: Consecration (1993)
  14. Greg Osby: 3D Lifestyles (1993)
  15. Mulgrew Miller: With Our Own Eyes (1993)
  16. John Scofield: Hand Jive (1993)
  17. Steve Coleman: Tao of Mad Phat (1993)
  18. James Ulmer: Harmolodic Guitar with Strings (1993)
  19. Irene Schweizer: Les Diaboliques (1993)
  20. Evan Parker: Synergetics - Phonomanie III (1993)
  21. Dave Liebman: The Seasons (1993)
  22. Joe Maneri: Dahabenzapple (1993)
  23. Joey Baron: Raised Pleasure Dot (1993)
  24. Cecil Taylor: Always A Pleasure (1993)
  25. Charlie Hunter: Trio (1993)
  26. Gerry Hemingway: Demon Chaser (1993)
  27. Jessica Williams: Next Step (1993)
  28. Roger Neumann: Instant Heat (1993)
  29. Yosuke Yamashita: Kurdish Dance (1993)
  30. Tom Harrell: Upswing (1993)
  31. Ray Anderson: Big Band Record (1993)
  32. Arturo Sandoval: Danzon (1993)

1994


    8/10
  1. Myra Melford: Even the Sounds Shine (1994)
    7.5/10
  2. Toshiko Akiyoshi: Desert Lady (1994)
  3. Matthew Shipp: Critical Mass (1994)
    7/10
  4. David Ware: Cryptology (1994)
  5. Henry Threadgill: Carry The Day (1994)
  6. Ken Vandermark: Solid Action (1994)
  7. Steve Coleman: Def Trance Beat (1994)
  8. Misha Mengelberg: Mix (1994)
  9. Bobby Previte: Slay The Suitors (1994)
  10. Joshua Redman: Moodswing (1994)
  11. Franklin Kiermyer: Solomon's Daughter (1994)
  12. Mark Helias: Loopin' the Cool (1994)
  13. Jessica Williams: Momentum (1994)
  14. Vinnie Colaiuta: Vinnie Colaiuta (1994)

1995


    7.5/10
  1. Butch Morris: Testament (1995)
  2. Dave Douglas: In Our Lifetime (1995)
  3. Matthew Shipp: The Flow of X (1995)
  4. Ned Rothenberg: Power Lines (1995)
  5. Marty Ehrlich: Just Before The Dawn (1995)
    7/10
  6. Charlie Hunter: Bing Bing Bing (1995)
  7. Marvin Peterson: African Portraits (1995)
  8. Guy Klucevsek: Citrus My Love (1995)
  9. Matthew Shipp: Symbol Systems (1995)
  10. Gerry Hemingway: Marmalade King (1995)
  11. Steve Turre: Rhythm Within (1995)
  12. Medeski Martin and Wood: Friday Afternoon In The Universe (1995)
  13. Reggie Workman: Cerebral Caverns (1995)
  14. MUhal Richard Abrams: One Line Two Views (1995)
  15. Dave Douglas: Five (1995)
  16. Bill Frisell: Go West (1995)
  17. David Ware: Dao (1995)
  18. Henry Threadgill: Makin' a Move (1995)
  19. Dave Holland: Dream of the Elders (1995)
  20. David Ware: Oblations and Blessings (1995)
  21. Paul Plimley: Everything in Stage (1995)
  22. Matthew Shipp: Before the World (1995)
  23. Don Byron: Music for Six Musicians (1995)
  24. Uri Caine: Toys (1995)

1996


    8/10
  1. Guillermo Gregorio: Approximately (1996)
  2. Ivo Perelman: Seeds, Visions and Counterpoint (1996)
    7.5/10
  3. Michael Formanek: Nature of the Beast (1996)
    7/10
  4. David Ware: Wisdom of Uncertainty (1996)
  5. Maria Schneider: Coming About (1996)
  6. Kenny Wheeler: Siren's Song (1996)
  7. Gerry Hemingway: Perfect World (1996)
  8. Matthew Shipp: By the Law of Music (1996)
  9. Ivo Perelman: Sound Hiearchy (1996)
  10. Courtney Pine: Modern Day Jazz Stories (1996)
  11. Joshua Redman: Freedom In The Groove (1996)
  12. Branford Marsalis: The Dark Keys (1996)
  13. Henry Threadgill: Where's Your Cup (1996)
  14. Evan Parker: Toward the Margins (1996)
  15. Sylvie Courvoisier: Ocre (1996)

1997


    8/10
  1. Guillermo Gregorio: Ellipsis (1997)
    7.5/10
  2. Matthew Shipp: Strata (1997)
  3. Steve Coleman: Genesis (1997)
  4. Marcus Roberts: Blues for the New Millennium (1997)
    7/10
  5. ICP Orchestra: Jubilee Varia (1997)
  6. Tim Berne: Insomnia (1997)
  7. Vandermark 5: Single Piece Flow (1997)
  8. Dave Liebman: Time Immemorial (1997)
  9. Wynton Marsalis: Blood on the Fields (1997)
  10. Franz Koglmann: O Moon My Pin Up (1997)
  11. Courtney Pine: Underground (1997)
  12. Leo Smith: Golden Hearts Remembrance (1997)
  13. Keith Tippett: Colours Fulfilled (1997)
  14. Joe Lovano: Trio Fascination (1997)
  15. Dave Liebman: The Elements - Water (1997)
  16. Satoko Fujii: South Wind (1997), 7/10

1998


    7.5/10
  1. Dave Douglas: Convergence (1998)
    7/10
  2. Guillermo Gregorio: Background Music (1998)
  3. Paul Plimley: Sensology (1998)
  4. Vandermark 5: Target Dr Flag (1998)
  5. Free Radicals: The Rising Tide Sinks All (1998)
  6. Zeena Parkins: Pan-Acousticon (1998)
  7. Evan Parker: Drawn Inward (1998)
  8. Dave Holland: Points of View (1998)
  9. Dave Holland: Prime Directive (1998)

1999


    7.5/10
  1. Jane Ira Bloom: The Red Quartets (1999)
  2. Steve Coleman: The Sonic Language of Myth - Believing Learning Knowing (1999)
  3. Marty Ehrlich: Malinke's Dance (1999)
  4. Bill Dixon: Papyrus I (1999)
  5. Guillermo Gregorio: Red Cubed (1999)
  6. Nels Cline: The Inkling (1999)
    7/10
  7. Paul Dunmall: Bebop Starburst (1999)
  8. Matthew Shipp: Expansion Power Release (1999)
  9. Misha Mengelberg: Solo (1999)
  10. Marilyn Crispell: Red (1999)
  11. Marilyn Crispell: Blue (1999)
  12. Evan Parker: After Appleby (1999)
  13. Joshua Redman: Beyond (1999)
  14. Maybe Monday: Saturn's Finger (1999)
  15. Branford Marsalis: Contemporary Jazz (1999)
  16. Terence Blanchard: Wandering Moon (1999)
  17. Richard Lee Johnson: Fingertip Ship (Metro Blue, 1999)
  18. Ocre:
    Y2K Deux Pianos (1999)

The best of the decade

  1. Guillermo Gregorio: Approximately (1996)
  2. Franz Koglmann: Cantos I-IV (1993)
  3. Ivo Perelman: Seeds, Visions and Counterpoint (1996)
  4. Jane Ira Bloom: Art & Aviation (1992)
  5. Myra Melford: Even the Sounds Shine (1994)
  6. Butch Morris: Testament (1995)
  7. Guillermo Gregorio: Ellipsis (1997)
  8. Franz Koglmann: The Use of Memory (1990)
  9. Matthew Shipp: Circular Temple (1990)
  10. Maria Schneider: Evanescence (1992)
  11. Bill Dixon: Vade Mecum (1993)
  12. Steve Lacy: Remains (1991)
  13. Jane Ira Bloom: The Red Quartets (1999)
  14. Steve Coleman: The Sonic Language of Myth - Believing Learning Knowing (1999)
  15. Matthew Shipp: Strata (1997)
  16. Steve Coleman: Genesis (1997)
  17. Marcus Roberts: Blues for the New Millennium (1997)
  18. Toshiko Akiyoshi: Desert Lady (1994)
  19. Matthew Shipp: Critical Mass (1994)
  20. John Butcher: Thirteen Friendly Numbers (1991)
  21. Dave Douglas: In Our Lifetime (1995)
  22. Geri Allen: Maroons (1992)
  23. Guy Klucevsek: Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse (1991)
  24. Michael Formanek: Extended Animation (1991)
  25. Wynton Marsalis: Citi Movement (1992)
  26. Joe Lovano: Universal Language (1992)
  27. Terence Blanchard: The Malcolm X Jazz Suite (1992)
  28. Matthew Shipp: The Flow of X (1995)
  29. Sergey Kuryokhin: Some Combination of Fingers and Passion (1992)
  30. Medeski Martin and Wood: Notes From the Underground (1992)
  31. Marilyn Crispell: Santuerio (1993)
  32. Michael Formanek: Nature of the Beast (1996)
  33. Marty Ehrlich: Malinke's Dance (1999)
  34. Dave Douglas: Convergence (1998)
TM, ®, Copyright © 2002 Piero Scaruffi