Help Where to start with jazz?????

I have a big jazz collection. I usually recommend Thelonious Monk--Monk's Dream, Charles Mingus--Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Jackie McLean--One Step Beyond, Grant Green- Born to Be Blue. Email me if you want others.

Bassie Jam is a MUST have.

Try to find some various artists complilations and then buy individual albums by the artists you like best. See where it leads, I think discovering music that is new to you is the best part of this hobby.

i agree with many above, but 'must starts' to add:

dave brubek - time out

sonny rollins - saxaphone colossus

herbie handcock - headhunters (this may stretch your limits at first, but i would bet you grow to love it in time).

enjoy...

"The Sound of Jazz" an album on Columbia that was an outshoot of one-of TV show in the late fifties should give you some insight into various jazz performers of the period. A visit to the bookshop to pick up one of the guides to Jazz would be a great help also. Not to be difficult, but the world of Jazz is really big so don't get upset if you go down a few paths that don't lead to something you like; double back and go another way until you find a style or artists that you connect with. Good luck.