Higher resolution Jazz

The first RCA Living Stereo was 1954 if memory serves. Actually, '54 through 1960 was what we refer to as the Golden Age of classical music.

I spent many years becoming an "Audiophile", until one day I realized I was trying to hear the differences in wire. If you're still trying to hear the differences in wire, what difference does the music make?

I hope you're back Elizabeth, I believe you're post summed it all up.

Enjoy the music.

B Limo-

as my reference disc I use;
Jamie Cullum- Twentysomething CD/SACD (2004) Verve

this is a killer release totally recorded in the analog domain for compact disc. The result is simply outstanding!
The best and last track on the disc is a "live" offering from the BBC studio- 1 take, minimal microphone usage. Test drive it for yourself. Happy Listening!

Xrcds or anything utilizing K2 mastering always sound good to me...Big band era has some seminal releases but often subpar sonics...like others have stated.
..late 1950s on up is usually hi quality recording...note-im a jazz enthusiast and not a scholar... But sold advice from jazzheads so far...I also have some Concord releases... Impeccable sound

As has been pointed there are a lot of very good sounding "older" Jazz recordings; albeit, and thankfully, with a different sonic aesthetic than the squeaky clean sound of some modern or "audiophile" recordings which doesn't serve the music nearly as well. Here are some recs (in no particular order) with outstanding sound and which are a good primer for jazz novices, and welcome to the wonderful world of Jazz:

Oliver Nelson "Blues And The Abstract Truth"
Art Pepper "Meets The Rhythm Section"
Wayne Shorter "Atlantis"
Sonny Rollins "Way Out West"
Chick Corea "Three Quartets"
Kenny Barron "Live At Fat Tuesday's"
Stan Getz "The Lost Sessions"
John Coltrane "Soultrane"
Pepper Adams "Urban Dreams"
Paul Desmond "My Funny Valentine"
Sarah Vaughn "Live In Japan"
Cannonball Adderly Qt with Nancy Wilson
Miles Davis "Someday My Prince Will Come"
Bill Evans "Quintessense"
Freddie Hubbard "Open Sesame"