Starting with the February 28, 1987 issue, Billboard switched from having one “Top Jazz Albums” chart with forty chart positions to having two jazz albums charts: 1) the existing “Top Jazz Albums” chart was reduced to 15 chart positions, and 2) a new “Top Contemporary Jazz Albums” chart premiered with 25 positions. From the aforementioned issue:
We’ve already looked at the #1 contemporary jazz albums of 1987. Here’s a chart of the #1 Top Jazz Albums of 1987:
| Week Ending | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 17 | Tutu | Miles Davis |
| January 31 | A Nice Place to Be | George Howard |
| February 14 | ||
| February 28 | The Other Side of Round Midnight | Dexter Gordon |
| March 14 | ||
| March 28 | ||
| April 11 | ||
| April 25 | ||
| May 9 | ||
| May 23 | ||
| June 6 | ||
| June 20 | Michael Brecker | Michael Brecker |
| July 4 | ||
| July 18 | ||
| August 1 | ||
| August 15 | ||
| August 29 | ||
| September 12 | ||
| September 26 | ||
| October 10 | ||
| October 24 | ||
| November 7 | Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra | Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra |
| November 21 | ||
| December 5 | ||
| December 19 |
#1 Jazz Albums:
1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986
#1 Contemporary Jazz Albums:
1987