Traditional Jazz (Dixieland)
Dixieland jazz is rooted in New Orleans and features a small ensemble with trumpet, clarinet, trombone, and rhythm section.
- Notable musicians: Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton
- Louis Armstrong - "Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings" (Compilation)
- Jelly Roll Morton - "The Complete Library of Congress Recordings"
Swing
Swing jazz is known for its infectious rhythm and big band orchestration, often featuring brass and woodwind instruments.
- Notable musicians: Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman
- Duke Ellington - "Ellington at Newport"
- Benny Goodman - "The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert"
Bebop
Bebop is characterized by fast tempos, complex harmonies, and intricate improvisation.
- Notable musicians: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk
- Charlie Parker - "Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve"
- Dizzy Gillespie - "Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band Jazz"
Cool Jazz
Cool jazz is marked by its laid-back, smooth sound and a focus on melodic improvisation.
- Notable musicians: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck
- Miles Davis - "Birth of the Cool"
- Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Time Out"
Hard Bop
Hard bop builds on bebop with a stronger emphasis on blues and gospel influences.
- Notable musicians: Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan
- Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - "Moanin'"
- Horace Silver - "Song for My Father”
Modal Jazz
Modal jazz uses modes (scales) rather than traditional chord progressions as a basis for improvisation.
- Notable musicians: Miles Davis (during his "Kind of Blue" era), John Coltrane
- Miles Davis - "Kind of Blue"
- John Coltrane - "A Love Supreme"
Free Jazz
Free jazz is experimental and often characterized by unconventional structures, atonality, and free-form improvisation.
- Notable musicians: Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra
- Ornette Coleman - "The Shape of Jazz to Come"
- Cecil Taylor - "Unit Structures"
Fusion
Fusion jazz combines jazz with elements of rock, funk, and other genres, often featuring electric instruments.
- Notable musicians: Miles Davis (during his fusion period), Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea
- Miles Davis - "Bitches Brew"
- Mahavishnu Orchestra - "The Inner Mounting Flame"
Latin Jazz
Latin jazz blends jazz with Latin American rhythms and instruments, creating a lively and danceable fusion.
- Notable musicians: Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader
- Tito Puente - "Dance Mania"
- Cal Tjader - "Soul Sauce"
Smooth Jazz
Smooth jazz is a commercially oriented subgenre known for its accessible melodies and often features saxophone as the lead instrument.
- Notable musicians: Kenny G, David Sanborn, George Benson
- Grover Washington Jr. - "Winelight"
- Kenny G - "Breathless"
Post-Bop
Post-bop encompasses a range of styles that evolved after the bebop era, often incorporating avant-garde elements.
- Notable musicians: Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock (in his post-bop work)
- Wayne Shorter - "Speak No Evil"
- Herbie Hancock - "Maiden Voyage"
Avant-Garde Jazz
Avant-garde jazz is experimental and pushes the boundaries of traditional jazz, often featuring extended techniques and free improvisation.
- Notable musicians: John Zorn, Albert Ayler, Anthony Braxton
- John Coltrane - "Ascension"
- Albert Ayler - "Spiritual Unity"
