Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Most Romantic Jazz Albums

If you watched Samara Joy take home the Best New Artist Grammy this past weekend you know jazz is enjoying a mainstream resurgence with some wonderful new artists leading the way.

I spoke to five of them — Joy, Samora Pinderhughes, Gabrielle Cavassa, Braxton Cook and Sage Bava — and asked each to pick their most romantic jazz album for Valentine's Day. The choices were, as you would expect, inspired.

Then I added in a few choices that simply had to be included. If you are looking for romance on V Day, and isn't that the goal, your search for the perfect music stops at jazz. And these albums are guaranteed elixirs of love. Aural love potions.

John Coltrane, Ballads

This 1963 classic is romance incarnate, and chosen by none other than Grammy-winning Best New Artist Samara Joy. So you're not going to argue with her or a quartet featuring Coltrane, Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Jimmy Garrison. Every note on this masterful collection is smooth, poignant, longing and beautiful. If that's not the perfect soundtrack for Valentine's Day, not sure what is. (As chosen by Samara Joy)

Miles Davis, Sketches Of Spain

How could the combo of one of the most iconic musicians, in any genre, and a country known for its romance and beauty be anything but romantic? Inspired by Flamenco music and teaming with composer and arranger Gil Evans, Davis and Evans crafted a masterpiece that is driven by sensuality and drama. (As chosen by Braxton Cook)

Mel Torme, That's All

One of the great vocalists of all time, Torme, nicknamed "The Velvet Fog" for his indelible smoothness, puts you under his spell immediately with a stunning "I've Got You Under My Skin." Jazz vocalist, devout student of the Great American Songbook Sage Bava picked this one, and it is clear why immediately. Guys, trust me, just pop this on and let the opening piano notes of the title track and Torme's silky delivery of the line "I can only give you love that lasts forever" give you the best V Day ever. (As chosen by Sage Bava)

John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman

This one is such an obvious choice, two out of five artists — Gabrielle Cavassa and Samora Pinderhughes — picked this one. Coltrane and the stellar quartet listed above simply added the magical tones of vocalist Johnny Hartman and the result should be required listening for anyone trying to understand love. Want to win someone's heart for life, all you need is the opening of "You Are Too Beautiful," where Hartman sings, "You are too beautiful, my dear, to be true." (As chosen by Gabrielle Cavassa and Samora Pinderhughes)

Miles Davis, Someday My Prince Will Come

Davis and Coltrane are such giants of the jazz world it's not surprising that of five great young jazz artists they would pick two records each from the titans. And of course Coltrane joins Davis' quartet on the superb title track and the upbeat "Teo." But for pure romance the standout is the gorgeous second song, "Old Folks." (As chosen by Pinderhughes)

Ella Fitzgerald And Louis Armstrong

Two legends, backed by another legend with the Oscar Peterson Quarter. A great jazz vocalist provides the perfect complement to your Valentine's Day with such classic tales of love like "Moonlight In Vermont," "Cheek To Cheek," "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and more. This is what is known as a no-brainer.

Sarah Vaughan, After Hours

Jazz, late night and Valentine's Day is a dream trio, a rock and roll supergroup like Them Crooked Vultures or NBA super team. So you have to have a post-midnight soundtrack planned. And what better than the iconic Vaughan singing songs like, "Summertime," "You Taught Me To Love Again" and obvious tributes to romance like "Thinking Of You.

Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings

In old journalistic terms, stop the presses! Here is the perfect album for Valentine's Day. It's not even the perfect jazz album, it's the perfect album. Chet Baker has been synonymous with romance and love for more than 60 years for good reason. And yes Baker doing "My Funny Valentine" might border on the cliche for Valentine's Day, but there is a reason something becomes a cliche. Because it's so damn good you cannot deny the truthfulness of it. And Baker doing "My Funny Valentine" is not just that damn good, it is a work of art.

Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto

You cannot get smoother than this. Simply cannot be done. This is a timeless classic and one of the most successful jazz albums of all time for a very simple reason, it is love and sex set to music. It is romance, it is sensual, beautiful and magical. This is the original baby-making music.