The 19 Best Latin Jazz Albums of All Time

Mambo-era big bands, bossa nova crossovers and Grammy-winning modern suites all trace back to the same clave. Some of these records filled dance halls; others quietly rewired how jazz musicians think about rhythm.

1. 1
   Getz/Gilberto

   Stan Getz and João Gilberto's 1964 bossa nova crossover that won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Kenya

   Machito and His Afro-Cubans' 1958 big-band landmark arranged by Mario Bauzá and A.K. Salim.
   809pts
3. 3
   Afro

   Dizzy Gillespie's 1954 suite fusing bebop with Afro-Cuban rhythm, arranged by Chico O'Farrill.
   647pts
4. 4
   Nocturne

   Charlie Haden's 2001 album of Cuban and Mexican boleros that won the Latin jazz Grammy.
   624pts
5. 5
   Esta Plena

   Miguel Zenón's 2009 album weaving Puerto Rican plena into modern jazz composition.
   560pts
6. 6
   Soul Sauce

   Cal Tjader's 1965 vibraphone-led hit album built around the Dizzy Gillespie tune Guachi Guaro.
   560pts
7. 7
   Dance Mania

   Tito Puente's 1958 mambo masterpiece, one of the best-selling Latin records of its era.
   485pts
8. 8
   Azúcar Pa' Ti

   Eddie Palmieri's 1965 La Perfecta album featuring the extended descarga Azúcar.
   485pts
9. 9
   Rumba Para Monk

   Jerry González and the Fort Apache Band's 1988 reimagining of Thelonious Monk tunes as Afro-Cuban jazz.
   397pts
10. 10
    Chucho's Steps

    Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers' 2010 album that won the Latin jazz Grammy.
    397pts
11. 11
    My Spanish Heart

    Chick Corea's 1976 double album drawing on flamenco and Latin roots with jazz-fusion firepower.
    397pts
12. 12
    Acid

    Ray Barretto's 1968 boogaloo-era album blending Latin percussion, soul and jazz improvisation.
    291pts
13. 13
    El Sonido Nuevo

    Cal Tjader and Eddie Palmieri's 1966 collaboration of vibes, piano and hard-driving Latin rhythm.
    291pts
14. 14
    Spain

    Michel Camilo and flamenco guitarist Tomatito's 2000 duo album that won a Latin Grammy.
    291pts
15. 15
    PanaMonk

    Danilo Pérez's 1996 album recasting Thelonious Monk through Panamanian and pan-American rhythm.
    291pts
16. 16
    Habana

    Roy Hargrove's Crisol project, recorded after a Havana festival, won the 1998 Latin jazz Grammy.
    291pts
17. 17
    Supernova

    Gonzalo Rubalcaba's 2001 album that won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.
    291pts
18. 18
    Portraits of Cuba

    Paquito D'Rivera's 1996 Grammy-winning big-band tribute to classic Cuban songs.
    0pts
19. 19
    The Offense of the Drum

    Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's 2014 Grammy-winning big-band album.
    0pts

Comments