This is the second post in a series on jazz albums. You can check out the previous post previous post for saxophone albums, including some thoughts on shopping for vinyl.
I've included both traditional and electronic albums on this list, with a range of 50 years between the oldest and most recent album. And since these posts are more of an entry-level introduction, I like to include a quick overview of the styles mentioned:
Swing Simple, clear melodies with a strong, danceable beat
Big Band Large ensembles with an emphasis on arrangement
Bebop/Bop Fast and complex with lots of improvisation
Hard Bop An extension of bebop with a rhythm and blues influence
West Coast/Cool Jazz A calmer, more formal response to bebop and hardbop
Post-bop Mixes elements of bop and hard bop with free jazz
Fusion Extensive use of electronic instruments and technology
As always, hit me up and let me know about your favorites or any that I might have missed.


Piano Starts Here
Art Tatum
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Year Recorded
1933 & 1949
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Label
Columbia
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Style
Swing
-
Collaborators
------------
-
Listening


Handful of Keys
Fats Waller & His Rhythm
-
Year Recorded
1938
-
Label
RCA Victor
-
Style
Swing
-
Collaborators
Herman Autrey
Gene Sedric
Al Casey
Cedric Wallace
Slick Jones -
Listening


The Amazing Bud Powell
Bud Powell
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Year Released
1952
-
Label
Blue Note
-
Style
Bebop
-
Collaborators
Fats Navarro
Sonny Rollins
Tommy Potter
Roy Haynes
Curly Russell
Max Roach -
Listening


Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
-
Year Released
1956
-
Label
Columbia
-
Style
Big Band
-
Collaborators
Cat Anderson
Quentin Jackson
Johnny Hodges
Jimmy Hamilton
Jimmy Woode
Sam Woodyard -
Listening


Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
-
Year Released
1957
-
Label
Riverside
-
Style
Hard Bop
-
Collaborators
Ernie Henry
Sonny Rollins
Oscar Pettiford
Max Roach
Clark Terry
Paul Chambers -
Listening


The Atomic Mr. Basie
Count Basie
-
Year Released
1958
-
Label
Roulette
-
Style
Big Band
-
Collaborators
Thad Jones
Al Grey
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Eddie Jones
Freddie Green
Sonny Payne
Joe Williams -
Listening


Time Out
Dave Brubeck Quartet
-
Year Released
1959
-
Label
Columbia
-
Style
West Coast
-
Collaborators
Paul Desmond
Eugene Wright
Joe Morello -
Listening


Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
-
Year Released
1961
-
Label
Riverside
-
Style
Post-bop
-
Collaborators
Scott LaFaro
Paul Motian -
Listening


Night Train
Oscar Peterson Trio
-
Year Released
1963
-
Label
Verve
-
Style
Swing
-
Collaborators
Ray Brown
Ed Thigpen -
Listening


The Real McCoy
McCoy Tyner
-
Year Released
1967
-
Label
Blue Note
-
Style
Post-bop
-
Collaborators
Joe Henderson
Ron Carter
Elvin Jones -
Listening


Return to Forever
Chick Corea
-
Year Released
1972
-
Label
ECM
-
Style
Fusion
-
Collaborators
Stanley Clarke
Joe Farrell
Airto Moreira
Flora Purim -
Listening


Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
-
Year Released
1973
-
Label
Columbia
-
Style
Fusion
-
Collaborators
Bennie Maupin
Paul Jackson
Harvey Mason
Bill Summers -
Listening