Jazz for someone who doesn't like jazz.

The way I've always expanded my interests in music, whether jazz or otherwise, is to first listen at the gut level to what moves me without getting caught up in other people's suggestions...then grow out from that center by finding out more about the artists and their influences and contemporaries, who they recorded with, who they mention in liner notes, etc. I started with Billie Holiday 35 years ago and am still finding new artists this way. With all the tools we have these days to sample music –  Amazon, YouTube, Spotify, etc. – there is no end to what you can find. I'd also strongly suggest to get out and see as much live performance as you can once we have closed this COVID chapter...so much of jazz is about interplay, and you can't always grasp that in a recording...but you can sure feel it live. Enjoy! 

@mdemaio Thank you for your response. And sure, seeing what comes naturally and what hooks you is great. As you say....."there is no end to what you can find" but that very reason can make it a challenge to dive into any genre unguided. The signal to noise ratio is low. One could spend hours and hours listening to garbage and then wrongly assume "jazz is not for me".

And even though I've only been a member here for a year or so, I've come to trust the good judgement and good taste of some of these folks. That helps narrow the field and increases chances of "success" in my opinion.

Even in the case of rock and R&B which I know pretty well I have gotten recommendations here on great music that I now love that I might never have come across otherwise.

In any case, you are correct, the interconnectedness of jazz makes it an interesting and twisting path and I'm still enjoying that. The Ken Burns series is helpful on that account as well.

So far I have to admit that I'm still a little luke warm on jazz. I do recognize in it enough to keep me listening though. The hook may come later. It might not. But, learning about it will not have been a waste of time even if it doesn't hook me in.

I do plan on seeing some live jazz as soon as possible.

+1 on  Halie Loren!

John Scofield's "Überjam" and "Überjam Deaux"

Seriously, give Danny Gatton a listen. He is a virtuoso guitarist (Vince Gill nicknamed him The Humbler) who mixes Jazz, Rockabilly, Hillbilly (he’s a master at the Merle Travis style), and Blues styles. There are some YouTube videos in which Danny shows guitarists how he does it. Incredible technique, but more than just that. A very cool musician's musician.