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Benny Carter made his recording debut in 1927. Six decades later, he was still going strong, having made a mark as an alto saxophonist, bandleader, composer, and arranger. This 1962 album has his most famous song, "When Lights Are Low."

On the liner notes of A Love Supreme, John Coltrane describes how studies of Eastern religions –- particularly Sufism –- transformed his life. Along with its religious undertones, the album has great jazz sets, including solos by pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison.

J.J. Johnson is often termed the greatest jazz trombonist of all time. He introduced staccato phrasing to the difficult instrument and played with unprecedented speed. This two-volume set includes most of Johnson's hits.

"A Night in Tunisia" is frequently called Dizzy Gillespie's greatest composition. The Complete RCA Victor Recordings has two versions of it, as well as titles such as "Hey Pete! Let's Eat More Meat" that capture the playful humor of Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band. The album tracks Gillespie's development from 1937-1949, when he rose from an experimental soloist to a jazz legend.

In 1956, Louis Armstrong was an international star at the height of his popularity. He also was one of the first to sing in "scat" style, essentially trying to sound out the notes instead of the words. Among many treats, The Best of the Decca Years has one of the best scat solos of all time — "Up a Lazy River."

Criticized for his violent temper on and off stage, Charles Mingus nonetheless became one of the greatest bassists in jazz history. Pithecanthropus Erectus was one of the precursors of the 1960s free jazz movement, as its title track is one of the first examples of musicians freely interpreting systems of notes.

Irakere was formed in Havana, Cuba in the late 1960s by the masterful pianist Jesus Chucho Valdes. Its music ranges from Afro-Cuban to bop. The album, The Best of Irakere, has a playful cover of a Mozart concerto, among other diverse tracks.

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean wrote the liner notes for Let Freedom Ring, proclaiming that bebop artists could break away from the genre and develop their own sound. McLean did just that, creating an intense, distinctive style that diverged from his early "hard bop" years in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Fletcher Henderson and saxophonist Don Redman invented a mechanism for ensemble playing that fueled the initial swing craze. Henderson's innovative style is apparent on Ken Burns Jazz: Fletcher Henderson, which spotlights his achievements from 1924-1940.

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is frequently cited as being the best-selling jazz album in history. Released in 1959, this classic from the master trumpeter has sold more than five million copies and is still going.