10 Gateway Jazz Albums for People Who Think They Hate Jazz
If jazz sounds like chaos to you, you’re not alone. But your problem isn’t jazz — it’s bad recommendations.
In this video, I’m giving you 10 modern jazz albums that will completely change how you think about the genre. No dusty museum pieces, no ten-minute sax solos that sound like a crying baby — just music with groove, melody, and feeling.
These albums are perfect gateway records for anyone who wants to get jazz without a theory degree. We’ll cover everything from London’s new jazz wave to cinematic Chicago beats, Montreal’s best jazz trio and laid-back Toronto grooves.
???? What you’ll learn:
– Quick history of jazz : from bebop to modern jazz
– Why most people think they hate jazz (and why they’re wrong)
– How to listen for groove, pocket, ghost notes and feel — not just solos
– How modern artists are redefining jazz for a new generation
???? Albums featured:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Quick history of jazz
06:58 Nubya Garcia – Odyssey
08:11 Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
09:16 Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – That Wasn’t a Dream
10:25 Misc – Partager l’Ambulance
12:06 Ezra Collective – Where I’m Meant to Be
13:00 Makaya McCraven – In These Times
13:51 GoGo Penguin – From The North (Live)
14:56 Yussef Kamaal – Black Focus
15:40 KOKOROKO – Could We Be More
17:41 BADBADNOTGOOD – IV
???? Drop your “conversion” album or song in the comments!
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Originally posted by UC4k1JdPZakp3KiUOiiw4Cug at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOUihO7gLgM
???? Drop your “conversion" album in the comments!
???? Subscribe for more: honest hi-fi reviews, music discoveries, and gear tips for small spaces.
I showed this video to a buddy of mine — he’s basically a walking music encyclopedia — and he totally backed your picks. He also recommended Gling-Gló by Björk Guðmundsdóttir & tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar. I already knew it, and yeah, it’s a killer album.
I love your recommendations. A few of them I knew, most of them I didn't, and even if I am listening to jazz, I'll listen to those over the weekend ????
One of the main gateways for me was "I Think You're Awesome"'s album "Books". It has a bit of the "Misc – Partager l’Ambulance" about it actually, both in terms of graphics and sound. To me this was a great transition from indie pop/rock to jazz. Shout out also to Charlotte Greve / Wood River's album "More Than I Can See". I enjoy you videos, thanks
Great video. I am heading over to Tidal, to check these out. All ways looking for some new Jazz discoveries .KB
Why the history of jazz…. Get to albums man…
Black Classical Music is a triumph. It will be someday be put with the greater albums ever made
Yussef Dayes is top shelf.
I remember watching a video of him playing live a few years back and was blown away
The assignment was well understood with this one. I would absolutely recommend the Makaya McCraven, BBNG, and Yusef Dayes records to anyone trying to get into so called jazz music and those are also some of my favorites of all time. I now play in a standards group and I've developed more of an appreciation for classic bebop, but I didn't really start getting into jazz until I heard some of the Norwegian ECM adjacent cats like Jaga Jazzist after the usual gateways like Miles' "Kind of Blue". Other than those I would definitely throw Alfa Mists' "Antiphon", Kamasi Washington's "The Epic", and just about anything on the Gondwana or International Anthem label families out there. A bit of an aside: I was lucky enough to see Makaya and his band play "In These Times" live at a festival in 2023 and it was one of the best performances I've ever seen. The energy exchange between the band and audience could make you cry.
Longtime jazz fan – and learned a ton from this! Love your approach- keep it up!
Me , I love Bossa Nova Jazz I even use this song to test new equipment ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ppmTFXA30s This band is incredible in all their music 😉
Je suis encore un peu traumatisé par ma dernière expérience de jazz au Dièse Onze, mais je vais essayer d'écouter une couple de suggestions 😉
One of my favorites modern Jazz records is Liminal Space by Ill Considered. Unfortunately, not a great gateway, is pretty intense.
Wow, that's a lot to unpack. I guess my discovery streaming list is loaded now. Thank you.
I've started jazz with Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (probably the one album most people start with)
I have since tried Thelonious Monk – Monk's Dream which is a personal favorite of mine.
Haven't gotten much further in Monk's discography.
I tried John Coltrane – A Love Supreme that didn't go well.
I have sampled some Charles Mingus, a little hit or miss for me)
Recently, I've been discovering Pharaoh Sanders and I quite like it. I listened to the collaboration album with Floating Points (electronic music producer) and it's quite nice. I'll probably try to get the LP
But your list is great as it is recent acts.
I agree to me jazz is a live experience. I enjoy it more in person. Nowadays, I don't have much occasion though.
But for people on the fence, if there's some live jazz near, try to go see it
Listen to Miles' In A Silent Way. It's more proto-electronica than trad jazz; years ahead of its time.
Pat Martino – El hombre
Wes Montgomery – Full house
excellent segment..thanks for sharing.
Very good list. Thank you so much! I'm going to take a look at all these records.
Great recommendations. I missed some Kamasi Washington on the list, but there are some great picks. Waiting for the next one!
Thanks for the suggestions! My gateways were the samples on Digable Planets' Blowout Comb, and Jacques Loussier's Play Bach No.1.