Straight-ahead Jazz

Straight-ahead jazz is a subgenre characterized by its adherence to traditional jazz principles, emphasizing strong melodies, complex harmonies, and improvisation within a structured framework. Emerging in the 1980s, it drew from the bebop and hard bop traditions of the 1940s-60s, with a focus on acoustic instrumentation and a revival of classic jazz values. During its 1980s-90s heyday, straight-ahead jazz flourished as a reaction to the commercialism of smooth jazz and the avant-garde experimentation of free jazz. This genre celebrates the artistry of individual musicians, often featuring virtuosic instrumentalists and nuanced vocalists. With its roots in African-American musical heritage, straight-ahead jazz pays homage to the past while pushing the boundaries of jazz expression. It differs from other styles in its commitment to musical storytelling, lyrical depth, and a dynamic balance between composition and improvisation, setting it apart from more experimental or commercially driven forms of jazz.

Latest Straight-ahead Jazz Release
undefined album image
Split Decision
Ep - 6 Tracks - Released August 22, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 89 Straight-ahead Jazz artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 1,617 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Straight-ahead Jazz artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
Alexa Tarantino
Alexander Claffy
Ari Hoenig
Belmont Central
Ben Markley
Ben Wolfe
Benito Gonzalez
Bill Charlap Trio
Bill Parker
Bill Walton
Billy Drummond
Black Art Jazz Collective
Blue Note All-Stars
Bobby Watson
CLC TRIO
Carl Winther
Carl Winther Trio
Chad Lefkowitz-Brown
Christian Jacob
Christian McBride
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Clovis Nicolas
Cole Peers trio
Danton Boller
David Finck
Dayna Stephens
Dick Oatts
Dmitry Baevsky
Doug Weiss
Douglas Ruby Trio
Ehud Asherie
Emmet Cohen
Endea Owens
Eric Alexander
Ernest Turner
Farmer Street Quartet
Fats Navarro
Gabe Katona
Gene Hart Trio
George Kuntz Four
Gerald Clayton
Gerry Gibbs
Glenn Zaleski
Grace Kelly
Gregory Hutchinson
Gábor Bolla
Ira Coleman
Isaiah J. Thompson
Jack Wilson
Jacky Terrasson
Jaleel Shaw
Jasper Somsen
Javon Jackson
Jerry Weldon
Joe Farnsworth
Joe Martin
Joshua Redman
Kenny Burrell
Kirk Lightsey
Larry Koonse
Loft Trio
Mabon Clarke Quartet
Marcus Printup
Massimo Faraò
Maurice Font
Metropolitan Jazz Affair
Michael Weiss
Mike Richmond
Motor City Jazz Octet
Neil Swainson
Oleg Butman
Orrin Evans
Pasquale Grasso
Peter Washington
Phil Yoon
Ray Drummond
Roy Hargrove Quintet
Sharel Cassity
Shelly Berg Trio
Spike Wilner Trio
Stephen Riley
Steve Johns
Steve Nelson
Tamir Hendelman
The Jazz Messengers
The Jazz Trio
Tim Armacost
Tim Franks Trio
Yotam Silberstein
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Kenny Burrell
Gene Hart Trio
Tim Franks Trio
Cole Peers trio
Massimo Faraò
Carl Winther
Loft Trio
Bill Charlap Trio
Bill Parker
Bill Walton
Belmont Central
George Kuntz Four
Mabon Clarke Quartet
Stephen Riley
Joshua Redman
Douglas Ruby Trio
Christian McBride
Jacky Terrasson
Gerald Clayton
David Finck
Joe Farnsworth
Carl Winther Trio
Farmer Street Quartet
Grace Kelly
Jasper Somsen
Peter Washington
Emmet Cohen
Pasquale Grasso
Maurice Font
Gregory Hutchinson
Fats Navarro
Joe Martin
Chad Lefkowitz-Brown
Bobby Watson
Orrin Evans
Ari Hoenig
Glenn Zaleski
Jaleel Shaw
Clovis Nicolas
Ray Drummond
Dmitry Baevsky
Doug Weiss
Yotam Silberstein
Billy Drummond
Gábor Bolla
Christian Jacob
Alexander Claffy
Javon Jackson
Ira Coleman
Ben Wolfe
Isaiah J. Thompson
CLC TRIO
Spike Wilner Trio
The Jazz Messengers
Sharel Cassity
Mike Richmond
Eric Alexander
Roy Hargrove Quintet
Neil Swainson
Shelly Berg Trio
Jerry Weldon
Dick Oatts
Jack Wilson
Endea Owens
Marcus Printup
The Jazz Trio
Dayna Stephens
Alexa Tarantino
Blue Note All-Stars
Tamir Hendelman
Danton Boller
Tim Armacost
Metropolitan Jazz Affair
Michael Weiss
Larry Koonse
Benito Gonzalez
Steve Johns
Ehud Asherie
Black Art Jazz Collective
Gerry Gibbs
Kirk Lightsey
Gabe Katona
Steve Nelson
Ernest Turner
Phil Yoon
Oleg Butman
Motor City Jazz Octet
Ben Markley