Here's my first take at 10 of the top fifty jazz albums, beginning from the bottom. I haven't completely done the math, so it's possible that this will change as I work through the next 40, but I'm not planning on it. My criteria included vocal jazz (though I don't have many), plus a few compilations for the earlier guys. I've done my best not to be pretentious (but will be called on it numerous times no doubt), and focused primarily on music that I've listened to regularly, rather than that which I found important, but could never find a reason to pop in my CD player.

50. Lee Konitz - Another Shade of Blue (1999)

49. Gil Evans - Out of the Cool (1960)

48. Hampton Hawes - For Real (1958)

47. Chick Corea - The Complete "Is" Sessions (1969)

46. Bill Evans - Undercurrent (1963)

45. Art Blakey - Night at Birdland (Vol. 2, but both are great) (1954)

44. Nat Adderley - Work Song (1961)

43. Dusko Goykovich - Soul Connection (1994)

42. Clark Terry (w. Thelonious Monk) - In Orbit (1958)

41. Mal Waldron - The Quest (1961)

40. Teri Thornton - Devil May Care (1961) (vocal)