| 1924 | Louis Armstrong joins Sidney Bechet in Clarence Williams's Blue Five. Etc | J(GD) | |
| Bix Beiderbecke, New Orleans Rhythm Kings | Riverboat Shuffle | KBJ | |
| Fletcher Henderson | Copenhagen | J(GD) | |
| (Oct) Louis Armstrong joins Fletcher Henderson’s band, influencing Coleman Hawkins and arranger Don Redman | J(GD) | ||
| Paul Whiteman performs Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in NY | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington’s Washingtonians record, spend the next 3 years developing an original sound | J(GD) | ||
| Bix Beiderbecke and the Wolverines record for Gennett, also with Sioux City Six, which includes C-melody saxophonist Frank Trumbauer | J(GD) | ||
| Jelly Roll Morton records “Dead Man Blues” and “Doctor Jazz” (piano) | J(GD) | ||
| 1925 | Bessie Smith | Sobbin' Hearted Blues | CGJ |
| Bessie Smith w Louis Armstrong | St. Louis Blues | SCCJ | |
| Reckless Blues | J(GD) | ||
| Clarence Williams' Blue Five (w Armstrong, Bechet) | Cake Walking Babies (From Home) | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Fletcher Henderson records “Sugar Foot Stomp” | J(GD) | ||
| Louis Armstrong quits Henderson (Nov) and returns to Chicago, records first batch of Hot Five and Hot Seven (w tuba & drums) records. His early work is still essentially based on embellishments of the theme. | J(GD) | ||
| Sidney Bechet returns to Europe with the Revue Negre starring Josephine Baker | J(GD) | ||
| 1926 | Bessie Smith (w Fletcher Henderson, Joe South) | Lost Your Head Blues | SCCJ |
| Duke Ellington | East St. Louis Toodle-oo (Vocalion) | KBJ | |
| Fletcher Henderson’s band is most popular, uses Don Redman’s arrangements, begins adding members | J(GD) | ||
| Fletcher Henderson (w Coleman Hawkins) | The Stampede | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| Jelly Roll Morton record in Chicago with the The Red Hot Peppers | J(GD) | ||
| Jelly Roll Morton | Dead Man Blues | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| Doctor Jazz | J(GD) | ||
| The Pearls | KBJ | ||
| Black Bottom Stomp | JSA | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Grandpa's Spells | SCCJ | ||
| Louis
Armstrong & His Hot Five "Big Butter And Egg Man From The West" showcases Armstrong's mature, harmony-based style. |
Big Butter And Egg Man From The West | SCCJ | |
| Heebie Jeebies | KBJ | ||
| Paul Whiteman begins using arrangements by Fletcher Henderson, hires Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, etc, | J(GD) | ||
| 1927 | Bessie Smith & James P. Johnson | Back Water Blues | JSA |
| KBJ | |||
| Duke Ellington, now with his own sound different from Don Redman’s, begins playing the Cotton Club, known as “jungle music” (“Black and Tan Fantasy”) | |||
| Duke Ellington | Black & Tan Fantasy | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (Brunswick) | SCCJ | ||
| Bix Beiderbecke peaks with Trumbauer and guitarist Eddie Lang ( “Singin’ The Blues”) | J(GD) | ||
| Frankie Trumbauer (Bix Beiderbecke) | Riverboat Shuffle | SCCJ | |
| Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home) | J(GD) | ||
| JSHA | |||
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Jelly Roll Morton Trio | Wolverine Blues (Take 1) | JSHA | |
| Louis Armstrong (4 sides w Lonnie Johnson stand out:Hotter, I'm not rough) |
S.O.L. Blues | SCCJ | |
| Hotter Than That (w Lonnie Johnson) | J(GD) | ||
| EJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Struttin' With Some Barbecue | SCCJ | ||
| Potato Head Blues | KBJ | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Louis Armstrong meets Earl Hines in Chicago. | J(GD) | ||
| Paul Whiteman | Changes | J(GD) | |
| Lester Young leaves New Orleans to work with King Oliver, Benny Moten, and the Blue Devils. | J(GD) | ||
| Sam Morgan Jazz Band records "best example of NO jazz in its prime in the 1920s" (Samuel Charters) | Bogalousa Strut, Steppin' on the Gas | EJ | |
| Don Redman leaves Henderson to form McKinney's Cotton Pickers | J(GD) | ||
| 1928 | Bix Beiderbecke & Paul Whiteman | From Monday On | JSA |
| There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth the Salt of My Tears | KBJ | ||
| Duke Ellington | Black Beauty | KBJ | |
| The Mooche | KBJ | ||
| Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra | Four Or Five Times | SCCJ | |
| Louis Armstrong has Earl Hines record with the Hot Fives, setting a pattern for solos. They record "Skip the Gutter", “Weather Bird”. Earl Hines develop "trumpet style" piano. | J(GD) | ||
| Louis Armstrong & Earl Hines, also "Muggles", :Beau Koo Jack" (EJ) | Weather Bird | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five (w Earl Hines) | West End Blues | CGJ | |
| JSHA | |||
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Fletcher Henderson,“King Porter Stomp” | J(GD) | ||
| Johnny Dodds and the Washboard Band, "Bull Fiddle Blues" features the first pizz. Bas solo by Bill Johnson. | EJ | ||
| Fats Waller is well-known by this time as a composer in jazz and theater music | J(GD) | ||
| 1929 | Eddie Condon's Hot Shots | That's A Serious Thing | JSA |
| Eddie Lang & Lonnie Johnson | Handful Of Riffs | JSA | |
| Louis Armstrong transitions to a more mainstream sound with “Ain’t Misbehavin’” | J(GD) | ||
| Louis Armstrong | Ain't Misbehavin' | KBJ | |
| St. Louis Blues | KBJ | ||
| Mound City Blue Bowers w Coleman Hawkins | One Hour | J(GD) | |
| Red Nichols And His Five Pennies | Dinah | SCCJ | |
| Coleman Hawkins uses a new legato style in “One Hour” (Mound City Blue Blowers) | J(GD) | ||
| Bing Crosby popular and creates the template of the pop singer. Mildred Bailey illustrates a different template by providing a feminine touch. | J(GD) | ||
| 1930 | Duke Ellington | Mood Indigo | J(GD) |
| KBJ | |||
| Ethel Waters | I Got Rhythm | KBJ | |
| James P. Johnson | You've Got To Be Modernistic | J(GD) | |
| JSHA | |||
| JSA | |||
| Louis Armstrong | Sweethearts On Parade | SCCJ | |
| Ben Webster arrives in New York with Moten’s band, eventually joins Duke Ellington. | J(GD) | ||
| 1931 | Duke Ellington | Creole Rhapsody | SCCJ |
| Fletcher Henderson Orchestra | Sugar Foot Stomp | KBJ | |
| Louis Armstrong | Stardust | KBJ | |
| Benny Carter, the King of Swing, takes over McKinney's Cotton Pickers | J(GD) | ||
| 1932 | Bennie Moten (w Basie) | Moten Swing | JSA |
| SCCJ | |||
| KBJ | |||
| Boswell Sisters | Everybody Loves My Baby | JSA | |
| Django Reinhardt | Shine | KBJ | |
| Duke Ellington | It Don 't Mean a Thing (If It Ain 't Got That Swing) | KBJ | |
| Sidney Bechet | Maple Leaf Rag | JSA | |
| Benny Carter starts his own band. | J(GD) | ||
| 1933 | Art Tatum | Tiger Rag | CGJ |
| Louis Armstrong | I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues | SCCJ | |
| Count Basie joins Bennie Moten’s band, Kansas City jazz sound starts when Page plays bass instead of tuba | J(GD) | ||
| Lester Young arrives in Kansas City and wins a sax battle with Hawk and Ben Webster, soon joins Count Basie in Moten’s band. | J(GD) | ||
| Coleman Hawkins expands harmony in "Queer Notions", "Heartbreak Blues" (w Henry "Red" Allen) | J(GD) | ||
| 1934 | Django Reinhardt and the Quintettte du Hot Club de France appear. | J(GD) | |
| Django Reinhardt | Dinah | SCCJ | |
| Fletcher Henderson | Hotter Than Hell | KBJ | |
| Wrappin' It Up | SCCJ | ||
| Coleman Hawkins leaves the Fletcher Henderson band and goes to Europe for 5 years. | J(GD) | ||
| Jimmie Lunceford gets his break at the Cotton Club | J(GD) | ||
| Chu Berry joins Henderson’s band. | J(GD) | ||
| Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald both impress at the Apollo Theatre. | J(GD) | ||
| 1935 | Benny Goodman featured the radio program Let's Dance, hits at the Palomar Ballroom (start of "Swing Era") | J(GD) | |
| Benny Goodman Trio | Body & Soul | SCCJ | |
| Fats Waller & His Rhythm | Dinah | JSA | |
| Roy Eldridge joins Fletcher Henderson’s band. | J(GD) | ||
| Billie Holiday records with Teddy Wilson and Lester Young. | J(GD) | ||
| Ella Fitzgerald records with Chick Webb’s orchestra. | J(GD) | ||
| Count Basie takes over Bennie Moten’s band | J(GD) | ||
| 1936 | Andy Kirk, Mary Lou Williams | Walkin' and Singin' | J(GD) |
| Andy Kirk/Mary Lou Williams "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" | J(GD) | ||
| Benny Goodman quartet with Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa | J(GD) | ||
| Benny Goodman | Dinah | J(GD) | |
| King Porter Stomp | KBJ | ||
| Count Basie (w Lester Young) | Oh! Lady Be Good | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| Duke Ellington | Echoes of Harlem (Cootie's Concerto) | KBJ | |
| Fats Waller | Christopher Columbus | J(GD) | |
| Fletcher Henderson (feat. Roy Eldridge) | Blue Lou | J(GD) | |
| Roy Eldridge forms his own 9-piece band. | J(GD) | ||
| Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra | Organ Grinder's Swing | SCCJ | |
| Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra | Swing That Music | JSA | |
| Meade "Lux" Lewis | Honky Tonk Train (Blues) | JSA | |
| 1937 | Benny Goodman | Sing, Sing, Sing | KBJ |
| Billie Holiday | A Sailboat in the Moonlight | J(GD) | |
| Without Your Love | KBJ | ||
| He's Funny That Way | SCCJ | ||
| Mean To Me | JSA | ||
| Chick Webb vs Benny Goodman band at the Savoy. | J(GD) | ||
| Chick Webb & His Orchestra | Harlem Congo | JSA | |
| KBJ | |||
| Count Basie & His Orchestra | One O'Clock Jump | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| Django Reinhardt | Minor Swing | JSA | |
| Duke Ellington | Diminuendo In Blue & Crescendo In Blue | SCCJ | |
| The New East St. Louis Toodle-O | SCCJ | ||
| Fats Waller | I Ain't Got Nobody | SCCJ | |
| Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra | For Dancers Only | JSA | |
| KBJ | |||
| Meade 'Lux' Lewis | Honky Tonk Train Blues | SCCJ | |
| Robert Johnson | Hellhound on My Trail | SCCJ | |
| Chu Berry joins Cab Calloway’s band. | J(GD) | ||
| Sidney Bechet | Dear Old Southland (instr.) | KBJ | |
| 1938 | Artie Shaw | Begin the Beguine | KBJ |
| Benny Carter/Django Reinhardt | I'm Coming, Virginia | J(GD) | |
| Billie Holiday, Lester Young | Back In Your Own Back Yard | CGJ | |
| Count Basie And His Orchestra | Doggin' Around | SCCJ | |
| Jumpin' at the Woodside | KBJ | ||
| Sent for You Yesterday | KBJ | ||
| Jelly Roll Morton | Maple Leaf Rag | SCCJ | |
| Mary Lou Williams, Andy Kirk & His Clouds Of Joy | Mary's Idea | JSA | |
| Pete Johnson w Big Joe Turner | It's All Right Baby | J(GD) | |
| The Benny Goodman Sextet | Rose Room | KBJ | |
| Ella Fitzgerald, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket" | J(GD) | ||
| Benny Goodman featured at Carnegie Hall | J(GD) | ||
| Gene Krupa starts his own band and hires Roy Eldridge | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington meets Billy Strayhorn | J(GD) | ||
| Glen Miller starts his band | J(GD) | ||
| 1939 | Art Tatum | Over The Rainbow | J(GD) |
| Benny Goodman & His Orchestra | Honeysuckle Rose | JSA | |
| Billie Holiday | Strange Fruit | KBJ | |
| Charlie Christian | Seven Come Eleven | JSHA | |
| Coleman Hawkins | Body & Soul | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Count Basie And His Orchestra (Lester Young) | Taxi War Dance | CGJ | |
| JSHA | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Lester Leaps In | KBJ | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Jelly Roll Morton | King Porter Stomp | SCCJ | |
| Jimmie Lunceford | Lunceford Special | SCCJ | |
| Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) | J(GD) | ||
| Annie Laurie | |||
| Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra | When Lights Are Low | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, “Take the A Train” | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington hires bassist Jimmy Blanton | J(GD) | ||
| Charlie Parker arrives in New York. He makes a personal musical breakthrough while playing “Cherokee”. | J(GD) | ||
| Louis Armstrong | Rockin ' Chair | KBJ | |
| 1940 | Art Tatum | Tiger Rag | JSA |
| Artie Shaw records “Star Dust” with strings, focusing on melody more than dancing | J(GD) | ||
| Artie Shaw & His Orchestra | Star Dust | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| Cab Calloway & His Orchestra | Hard Times (Topsy Turvy) | JSA | |
| Duke Ellington | Concerto For Cootie | SCCJ | |
| Conga Brava | J(GD) | ||
| Cotton Tail | JSHA | ||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Harlem Air-Shaft | CGJ | ||
| JSHA | |||
| In A Mellotone | SCCJ | ||
| Ko-Ko | JSA | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Chocolate Dandies (Eldridge, Benny Carter) | I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| Kenny Clarke is let go from Teddy Hill’s swing band for playing drums in a new bebop style | J(GD) | ||
| Minton’s Playhouse jam sessions begin birthing bebop. | J(GD) | ||
| 1941 | Benny Goodman Featuring Charlie Christian | Breakfast Feud [Composite] | SCCJ |
| I Found A New Baby | SCCJ | ||
| Charlie Christian | Swing To Bop (Topsy) | J(GD) | |
| Billie Holiday | All of Me | SCCJ | |
| Solitude | KBJ | ||
| Duke Ellington, ”Jump For Joy” musical | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington | Blue Serge | SCCJ | |
| Take the ''A'' train | KBJ | ||
| Gene Krupa & His Orchestra | Drum Boogie | KBJ | |
| Let Me Off Uptown | JSA | ||
| Rockin' Chair | SCCJ | ||
| After You've Gone | JSHA | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie leaves Cab Calloway’s band | J(GD) | ||
| 1942 | Chick Webb w Ella Fitzgerald | A-Tisket, A-Tasket | KBJ |
| Tommy Dorsey | Well, Git It! | KBJ | |
| Dizzy Gillespie meets Charlie Parker in Earl Hines’ big band. | J(GD) | ||
| 1943 | Art Tatum | Three Little Words | KBJ |
| Duke Ellington, “Black, Brown and Beige” | J(GD) | ||
| Coleman Hawkins Quartet | The Man I Love | SCCJ | |
| 1944 | Glen Miller Orchestra | In the Mood | KBJ |
| Pete Johnson & 'Big' Joe Turner | Rebecca | KBJ | |
| Sidney Bechet | Blue Horizon | SCCJ | |
| Thelonious Monk’s "'Round Midnight" recorded by Cootie Williams. | J(GD) | ||
| Coleman Hawkins plays with Thelonious Monk. | J(GD) | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie meets Charlie Parker again in Billy Ekstine's band. By the end of the year they begin doing small combo sessions. | J(GD) | ||
| 1945 | Bunk's Brass Band | In Gloryland | JSA |
| Charlie Parker | Ko Ko | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Dizzy Gillespie, “Salt Peanuts”, "A Night in Tunisia" | J(GD) | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie | Salt Peanuts | KBJ | |
| Groovin' high | KBJ | ||
| I Can't Get Started | SCCJ | ||
| Shaw 'Nuff | JSHA | ||
| JSA | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, “Ko-Ko”, “Now’s the Time”, “Billie’s Bounce” | J(GD) | ||
| Charlie Parker hires Miles Davis | J(GD) | ||
| Don Byas And Slam Stewart | I Got Rhythm | SCCJ | |
| Mary Lou Williams | Virgo (From The Zodiac Suite) | JSA | |
| 1946 | Charlie Parker With Jazz At The Philharmonic | Lady, Be Good | SCCJ |
| Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie separate in California when Bird stays on the West Coast. | J(GD) | ||
| Dexter Gordon | Dexter Digs In | CGJ | |
| Dexter Rides Again | JSA | ||
| Long Tall Dexter | J(GD) | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie starts writing bebop for big band when he returns to New York. | J(GD) | ||
| Thelonious Monk’s "'Round Midnight" recorded by Dizzy Gillespie with added intro. | J(GD) | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie | Things to Come | CGJ | |
| JSHA | |||
| Duke Ellington | Transblucency | JSHA | |
| Lennie Tristano arrives in New York and plays with the beboppers. | J(GD) | ||
| Lester Young-Buddy Rich Trio | I Want To Be Happy | JSA | |
| Sun Ra (Herman Blount) plays in Fletcher Henderson's band. | |||
| Sarah Vaughan headlines at the Café Society. | |||
| End of the "Swing Era": 8 major big bands disband at the end of the year. | BBR | ||
| 1947 | Bud Powell | Indiana | JSA |
| Somebody Loves Me | SCCJ | ||
| Charlie Parker records for Dial, but plays badly. | J(GD) | ||
| Charlie Parker | Little Benny | SCCJ | |
| Embraceable You | J(GD) | ||
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Klactoveedsedstene | SCCJ | ||
| Scrapple from the Apple | KBJ | ||
| Crazeology | SCCJ | ||
| Dexter Gordon | Bikini | SCCJ | |
| Dizzy Gillespie & Gil Evans "Cubana Be/ Cubana Bop" introduces modal orchestral writing | J(GD) | ||
| Dizzy Gillespie | Manteca | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| Erroll Garner | Fantasy On Frankie And Johnny | SCCJ | |
| Gene Norman w Red Norvo And Stan Getz | Body & Soul | SCCJ | |
| Thelonious Monk, “Thelonious”, "'Round Midnight", signed to Blue Note. | J(GD) | ||
| Thelonious Monk | Thelonious | J(GD) | |
| Woody Herman & His Orchestra | Four Brothers | JSHA | |
| JSA | |||
| 1948 | Charlie Parker | Parker's Mood | SCCJ |
| Charlie Parker (w a young Miles Davis), “Embraceable You” | J(GD) | ||
| Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra | Tanga | JSA | |
| Tadd Dameron forms a small band with Fats Navarro which prefigures cool jazz. | J(GD) | ||
| Tadd Dameron | Lady Bird | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| Thelonious Monk | Epistrophy | KBJ | |
| Evidence | SCCJ | ||
| Misterioso | JSHA | ||
| JSA | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Lionel Hampton hires Wes Montgomery. | J(GD) | ||
| Coleman Hawkins plays 1st solo sax piece “Picasso” (based on “Body & Soul”) | J(GD) | ||
| 1949 | Art Tatum | Willow Weep For Me | SCCJ |
| Bud Powell | Tempus Fugue-It | J(GD) | |
| Charlie Parker ('with Strings') | Just Friends | KBJ | |
| George Shearing Quintet | September In The Rain | JSA | |
| Lennie Tristano | Crosscurrents | SCCJ | |
| Subconscious Lee | CGJ | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Wow | JSA | ||
| Miles Davis and the 'Birth of the Cool' sessions with Gil Evans, Lee Konitz, John Lewis, Gerry Mulligan, etc. | J(GD) | ||
| Miles Davis Nonet | Boplicity | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| Lennie Tristano holds free improv sessions. | J(GD) | ||
| 1950 | Bud Powell | Get Happy | KBJ |
| Count Basie Octet | The Golden Bullet | JSA | |
| Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Stan Getz, etc | No Figs | JSHA | |
| Miles Davis | Moon Dreams | KBJ | |
| Charles Mingus plays in a trio with Red Norvo and Tal Farlow. | J(GD) | ||
| 1951 | Bud Powell Trio | Night In Tunisia | SCCJ |
| Bud Powell, “Un Poco Loco” | J(GD) | ||
| Shorty Rogers & His Giants | Popo | JSA | |
| Thelonious Monk | Criss-Cross | SCCJ | |
| Straight, No Chaser | KBJ | ||
| Dave Brubeck meets Paul Desmond. | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington loses Johnny Hodges | J(GD) | ||
| 1952 | Billie Holiday | These Foolish Things | SCCJ |
| Gerry Mulligan’s quartet with Chet Baker and Chico Hamilton sets the standard for West Coast jazz. | J(GD) | ||
| Gerry Mulligan Quartet With Chet Baker | Walkin' Shoes | KBJ | |
| JSA | |||
| Frank Sinatra | The Birth of the Blues | J(GD) | |
| John Lewis forms the Modern Jazz Quartet, featuring Milt Jackson and Kenny Clarke | J(GD) | ||
| Modern Jazz Quartet | All The Things You Are | J(GD) | |
| Stan Kenton | 23 Degrees North, 82 Degrees West | JSA | |
| My Lady | JSHA | ||
| Dexter Gordon, “The Chase”, “Rubaiyat” | J(GD) | ||
| 1953 | Charlie Parker | Now's The Time | J(GD) |
| Jazz at Massey Hall concert with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell and Max Roach. | J(GD) | ||
| Charles Mingus joins the Jazz Composers Workshop. Mingus forms a record label (Debut) with Max Roach | J(GD) | ||
| Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers | Doodlin' | KBJ | |
| Horace Silver, "Opus de Funk". | J(GD) | ||
| George Russell’s “Lydian Chromatic Concept” | J(GD) | ||
| 1954 | Clifford Brown-Max Roach Quintet | Daahoud | JSA |
| I Get a Kick Out of You | KBJ | ||
| Miles Davis | Moon Dreams | J(GD) | |
| Sarah Vaughan | They Can't Take that away From Me | KBJ | |
| The Modern Jazz Quartet | Django | JSA | |
| KBJ | |||
| Thelonious Monk | Blues Improvisation (Excerpt from "Bags' Groove") | SCCJ | |
| Smoke Gets in Your Eyes | SCCJ | ||
| Miles Davis beats drugs and heads towards hard bop in Walkin’. | J(GD) | ||
| Ornette Coleman composes "Lonely Woman" (but won't record it for 5 years). | |||
| Charles Mingus plays with Art Tatum. | J(GD) | ||
| 1955 | Cecil Taylor | Rick Kick Shaw | KBJ |
| Erroll Garner Trio | I'll Remember April | JSA | |
| Sonny Rollins, 'Worktime'. | J(GD) | ||
| Horace Silver & The Jazz Messengers | The Preacher | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| Miles Davis plays "'Round Midnight" at the Newport Jazz Festival and has a comeback. | J(GD) | ||
| Miles Davis’ first great quintet with John Coltrane ('Round about Midnight) | J(GD) | ||
| Thelonious Monk signed to Riverside. | J(GD) | ||
| 1956 | Art Tatum | Too Marvelous For Words | SCCJ |
| Billie Holiday | God Bless the Child | KBJ | |
| Chico Hamilton Quintet | Jonaleh | JSA | |
| Clifford Brown | A Night In Tunisia | J(GD) | |
| Clifford Brown w Sonny Rollins | Gertrude's Bounce | CGJ | |
| George Russell "Jazz Workshop" | J(GD) | ||
| George Russell | Concerto For Billy the Kid | J(GD) | |
| Horace Silver leaves the Jazz Messengers. | J(GD) | ||
| Horace Silver | Senor Blues | JSHA | |
| Lucky Thompson Trio | Tricrotism | JSA | |
| Nat "King" Cole & His Trio | When I Grow Too Old To Dream | JSA | |
| Sarah Vaughan | Dancing in the Dark | SCCJ | |
| Sonny Rollins, 'Saxophone Colossus'. | J(GD) | ||
| Sonny Rollins | St. Thomas | JSA | |
| KBJ | |||
| Pent-Up House | SCCJ | ||
| Blue 7 | SCCJ | ||
| Cecil Taylor does a run at the Five Spot (including Steve Lacy). He records 'Jazz Advance'. | |||
| Sun Ra & His Arkestra | Call For All Demons | JSA | |
| Thelonious Monk 'Brilliant Corners' w Sonny Rollins, "Rhythm-a-ning" | J(GD) | ||
| Bill Evans, "Waltz for Debby" | J(GD) | ||
| John Lewis talks about “Third Stream” music. | J(GD) | ||
| Charles Mingus, 'Pithecanthropus Erectus' | J(GD) | ||
| Duke Ellington gets a career boost at Newport Jazz from Paul Gonsalves’ sax solo | J(GD) | ||
| 1957 | Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (w McLean) | Cranky Spanky | JSHA |
| Billie Holiday | Fine and Mellow | KBJ | |
| Charles Mingus | Haitian Fight Song | SCCJ | |
| Duke Ellington | Prelude To A Kiss | JSHA | |
| Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald | Stompin' At The Savoy | JSA | |
| Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson | Blues In The Closet | JSA | |
| Thelonious Monk | I Should Care | SCCJ | |
| Cecil Tayor plays at Newport but without much impact. | |||
| Miles Davis and Gil Evans 'Miles Ahead' | J(GD) | ||
| 1958 | Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers | Moanin' | JSA |
| Count Basie & His Orchestra | Meet B. B. | JSA | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | Blue Skies | J(GD) | |
| Gil Evans | King Porter Stomp | J(GD) | |
| Horace Silver Quintet | Moon Rays | SCCJ | |
| Dave Brubeck Quartet, 'Time Out'. | J(GD) | ||
| Bill Evans, 'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' (“Peace Piece”) | J(GD) | ||
| Miles Davis | Two Bass Hit | CGJ | |
| Miles Davis, 'Porgy and Bess', 'Elevator to the Gallows' | J(GD) | ||
| Miles Davis With Gil Evans' Orchestra | Summertime | JSA | |
| SCCJ | |||
| The score for "I Want to Live" includes cool jazz players like Gerry Mulligan. | |||
| Gil Evans, “King Porter Stomp”, 'New Bottle, Old Wine' (w Adderley) | J(GD) | ||
| Coltrane plays on Cecil Taylor's album 'Hard Driving Jazz' ('Coltrane Time'). | |||
| Eric Dolphy arrives in New York and plays with Chico Hamilton's band. | |||
| Ornette Coleman records 'Something Else' and 'Tomorrow Is the Question'. | J(GD) | ||
| 1959 | Bill Evans, 'Portrait in Jazz' | J(GD) | |
| Bill Evans Trio | Blue In Green | SCCJ | |
| Duke Ellington scores "Anatomy of A Murder". | |||
| John Lewis scores "Odds Against Tomorrow". | |||
| Eric Dolphy begins playing with Charles Mingus. | |||
| Charles Mingus | Better Git It In Your Soul | JSA | |
| Boogie Stop Shuffle | J(GD) | ||
| Fables Of Faubus | JSHA | ||
| Dave Brubeck Quartet | Blue Rondo A La Turk | JSHA | |
| JSA | |||
| Take Five | KBJ | ||
| John Coltrane | Giant Steps | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| Miles Davis, 'Kind of Blue' sets up modal jazz, “So What”, "Blue in Green", "Flamenco Sketches" | J(GD) | ||
| Miles Davis | Blue in Green | CGJ | |
| Flamenco Sketches | JSHA | ||
| So What | J(GD) | ||
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| SCCJ | |||
| Mississippi Fred McDowell | Soon One Mornin' (Death come a creepin' in my room) | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| Ornette Coleman makes a splash at the Five Spot, begins recording for Atlantic (The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, This Is Our Music, Free Jazz) | |||
| Ornette Coleman | Chronology | KBJ | |
| Congeniality | SCCJ | ||
| Lonely Woman | J(GD) | ||
| SCCJ | |||
| Ramblin' | JSA | ||
| Oscar Peterson Trio | Ol' Man River | JSA | |
| 1960 | Cannonball Adderley | Work Song | JSA |
| Charles Mingus / Eric Dolphy | Original Faubus Fables | KBJ | |
| Miles Davis/Gil Evans, 'Sketches of Spain' | J(GD) | ||
| John Coltrane | My Favorite Things, Part 1 (Single Version) | JSA | |
| Modern Jazz Quartet | Django | SCCJ | |
| Ornette Coleman Double Quartet (with Eric Dolphy) | Free Jazz | SCCJ | |
| John Coltrane & Don Cherry record 'The Avant-Garde'. | |||
| Sarah Vaughan | Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams | JSA | |
| Wes Montgomery | West Coast Blues | SCCJ | |
| John Lewis and Gunther Schuller record Jazz Abstractions (with guests Eric Dolphy and Ornette Coleman: "Abstractions" and "Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk." ). | |||
| Ornette Coleman records 'Free Jazz'. | |||
| 1961 | Bill Evans, 'The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings' | J(GD) | |
| Bill Evans | Waltz For Debby | JSA | |
| Solar | CGJ | ||
| JSHA | |||
| John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy tour Europe together. | |||
| John Coltrane, "Chasin' the Trane" | J(GD) | ||
| Cecil Taylor (w Archie Shepp, Gil Evans) | Bulbs | J(GD) | |
| George Russell Sextet | 'Round Midnight | JSA | |
| Cecil Taylor begins playing with Archie Shepp, Jimmy Lyons and Sunny Murray. | |||
| Sun Ra arrives in New York. | |||
| Muhal Richard Abrams forms the Experimental Band. | |||
| Sarah Vaughan | Ain't No Use | SCCJ | |
| 1962 | John Coltrane & Duke Ellington | In a Sentimental Mood | KBJ |
| Mongo Santamaria | Watermelon Man | J(GD) | |
| Sarah Vaughan (w Barney Kessel) | Baby, Won't You Please Come Home | J(GD) | |
| Stan Getz & Charlie Bird (release Jazz Samba) | Desafinado | KBJ | |
| Samba Dees Days | J(GD) | ||
| Cecil Taylor plays with Albert Ayler in Copenhagen. | |||
| Sonny Rollins' 'Our Man in Jazz' touches on free playing. | |||
| Thelonious Monk signed to Columbia | J(GD) | ||
| Thelonious Monk | Rhythm-a-ning | J(GD) | |
| 1963 | Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers | One By One | JSA |
| Charles Mingus | Hora Decubitus | SCCJ | |
| John Coltrane | Alabama | SCCJ | |
| The Promise | JSHA | ||
| Your Lady | CGJ | ||
| Louis Armstrong | Hello, Dolly! | KBJ | |
| Miles Davis forms his 2nd great quintet | J(GD) | ||
| Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto | The Girl From Ipanema | JSA | |
| 1964 | Albert Ayler releases 'Spiritual Unity'. | Ghosts: First Variation | JSHA |
| Dexter Gordon | Tanya | KBJ | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To | SCCJ | |
| John Coltrane | Acknowledgement (from A Love Supreme) | J(GD) | |
| KBJ | |||
| JSA | |||
| Wayne Shorter joins Miles Davis’ quintet | J(GD) | ||
| 1965 | Ella Fitzgerald With Duke Ellington Orchestra | Cotton Tail | JSA |
| Herbie Hancock | Maiden Voyage | JSHA | |
| Jimmy Smith (w Kenny Burrell) | The Organ Grinder's Swing | J(GD) | |
| Miles Davis | E.S.P. | J(GD) | |
| JSA | |||
| KBJ | |||
| John Coltrane, 'Ascension' | J(GD) | ||
| Muhal Richard Abrams starts the AACM in Chicago. | |||
| Wes Montgomery | Twisted Blues | J(GD) | |
| 1966 | Alber Ayler | Ghosts | J(GD) |
| Cecil Taylor | Enter Evening | SCCJ | |
| The AACM record for Delmark. | |||
| Clark Terry-Bob Brookmeyer Quintet | Haig & Haig | JSA | |
| Duke Ellington | Isfahan | JSA | |
| Tourist Point of View | KBJ | ||
| Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery | King Of The Road | JSA | |
| 1967 | Duke Ellington | Blood Count | J(GD) |
| Gary Burton | The New National Anthem | JSA | |
| Miles Davis | Masqualero | JSHA | |
| Sarah Vaughan | All Alone | SCCJ | |
| John Coltrane records 'Interstellar Space' | ec | ||
| Miles Davis, Bitches Brew | J(GD) | ||
| 1968 | Tomny Williams, John McLaughlin, Larry Young record "Emergency" | J(GD) | |
| Miles Davis " Filles de Kilamanjaro " uses Gil Evans with electric jazz | J(GD) | ||
| Chick Corea | Matrix | JSA | |
| Steps | JSHA | ||
| 1969 | Miles Davis | Miles Runs The Voodoo Down | JSA |
| (Records "In A Silent Way" and "Bitches Brew" using John McLaughlin) | J(GD) | ||
| Spanish Key | KBJ | ||
| 1971 | Ornette Coleman | Civilization Day | JSHA |
| Monk’s last recording. | J(GD) | ||
| 1972 | Mahavishnu Orchestra ("The Inner Mounting Flame") | Celestial Terrestrial Commuters | JSA |
| Chick Corea forms Return to Forever, dabbling in fusion and Brazilian styles of music, later adding Bill Connors and Al Dimeola. | |||
| Ornette Coleman and the London Symphony Orchestra: 'Skies of America', soon forms the electric band Prime Time. | J(GD) | ||
| Weather Report | Surucucu | JSHA | |
| 1973 | Herbie Hancock | Chameleon | JSHA |
| Watermelon Man | JSA | ||
| Mahavishnu Orchestra records "Birds of Fire" | J(GD) | ||
| Sarah Vaughan | My Funny Valentine | SCCJ | |
| 1974 | Cecil Taylor | Jitney No | JSA |
| Keith Jarrett | Long As You Know You're Living Yours | J(GD) | |
| Loft Jazz era begins. | |||
| Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band | Long Yellow Road | JSA | |
| 1975 | Dick Hyman | Maple Leaf Rag | JSA |
| Grover Washington, Jr. | Mister Magic | KBJ | |
| Keith Jarrett records "The Koln Concert" | |||
| David Murray arrives in New York. | |||
| Pat Metheny | Bright Size Life | JSA | |
| 1976 | Anthony Braxton | Creative Orchestra Music (March) | J(GD) |
| Anthony Braxton & Muhal Richard Abrams | Maple Leaf Rag | JSA | |
| Weather Report (records "Heavt Weather") | Birdland | CGJ | |
| JSA | |||
| Teen Town | J(GD) | ||
| 1977 | Keith Jarrett | My Song | JSA |
| 1978 | Irakere | Iya | JSA |
| Sonny Rollins | Autumn Nocturne | J(GD) | |
| 1980 | Art Ensemble Of Chicago | Bush Magic | JSA |
| 1981 | World Saxophone Quartet | Steppin' | JSA |
| SCCJ | |||
| 1983 | Herbie Hancock | Rockit | KBJ |
| 1985 | Abdullah Ibrahim | Manenberg (Revisited) | JSA |
| Steve Coleman Group | The Glide Was In The Ride | JSA | |
| 1986 | Miles Davis | Tutu | J(GD) |
| Wynton Marsalis Quartet | Soon All Will Know | KBJ | |
| 1987 | Michael Brecker | Nothing Personal | JSA |
| 1989 | Tito Puente | Airegin | JSA |
| 1992 | Wynton Marsalis | Take the ''A'' train 92 | KBJ |
| Down The Avenue | JSA | ||
| 1993 | Wynton Marsalis | Processional | J(GD) |
| 1994 | Ron Carter & M.C. Solaar | Un Ange En Danger | KBJ |
| Ronald Shannon Jackson | Now's The Time | J(GD) | |
| 1995 | Nguyen Le | Ting Ning | JSA |
| 1996 | David Murray | El Matador | J(GD) |
| 1997 | Masada | Kilayim | JSA |
| Medeski, Martin & Wood | Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho | JSA | |
| 1998 | Cassandra Wilson | Death Letter | KBJ |
| John Scofield w Medeski, Martin and Wood | Chank | J(GD) | |
| 1999 | Martial Solal & Johnny Griffin | Neutralisme | JSA |
| 2000 | Cecil Taylor | Willisau Concert, Pt 3 | J(GD) |
| 2001 | Jason Moran | Planet Rock | J(GD) |
| You've Got to Be Modernistic | J(GD) | ||
| 2003 | Tomasz Stanko | Suspended Night Variation VIII | JSA |
J(GD): Jazz (Giddins/Deveaux)
SCCJ: The Smithsonian Collection Of Classic Jazz
JSA: Jazz, The Smithsonian Anthology
KBJ: Ken Burns Jazz Box
JSHA: Jazz Styles History & Analysis (Gridley)
CGJ: Concise Guide To Jazz 3rd Ed (Gridley)EJ: Early Jazz (Schuller)BBR: Big Band Renaissance
