Help Where to start with jazz?????

If you are really interested in the whole picture, its best to accept it as a continuum. The very best way that I know to hip yourself to this is the Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz. It features essential recordings from the beginning of recorded jazz to the present. By listening to the selections in order you can develop a sense of the organic development of the music, and how it has adopted influences from other strains of contemporary music, from classical to hip hop. The supporting documentation is also superb. Its also a superb introduction to other superior recordings as it includes a detailed discography. Indispensible!

Easy: Kind of Blue. It's the album to start with…and stay with.

Check out "Bird and Diz". Charley Parker and Dizzy Gillespie with Thelonius Monk on piano. Good introduction to the Bop scene.

I *currently* have a pair of MartinLogan SL3s with my DNA 1/B and they sound wonderful, especially on jazz, vocals, strings, etc. I've heard better for rock, but these are still fairly punchy.

Unfortunately we're downsizing and they won't work in the new house. I've got a potential buyer coming by tomorrow, but drop a line if you're interested and I'll let you know if they're still available.