Jazz Recommendations


I am just starting to get into Jazz. I recently bought Thelonious Monk Quartet "Live at Monterey" and was blown away. Could you recommend other mainstream Jazz recordings that I should have in a basic collection to help me get started.
kadlec
Charlie Brown Christmas -- Good one, Musikdok! Kadlec, you should have that for the holidays. A tasty and original job by Guaraldi. Gifted young pianist Cyrus Chestnut (saw him play with Betty Carter) has a new CD out -- A Charlie Brown Christmas, believe it or not! Saw it the other day but stupidly did not pick it up.
Excellent historical list posted by sdcampbell. Pioneer jazz pianist Art Tatum certainly deserves his place there, but I have to admit his virtuosity awed me but never warmed my heart much. My own pick for piano virtuoso with roots in swing: Earl Hines. ........ Not sure early jazz guitarists Django Reinhardt (stuff with violinist Stephane Grappelli in Quintet of Hot Club of France is good place to start) and Charlie Christian (good stuff with Count Basie and Benny Goodman) have received mention yet. There.
Take in a movie while you're at it ... Robert Altman's _Kansas City_ has the best jazz blowing and cuttin' sequences I've seen in a fictional film. Good flick, too. David Murray, Joshua Redman and Ron Carter were a few of the musicians who recreated the blowing sessions of KC in the 30's for the movie.
Sdcampbell, posting on this thread is not what will get you in trouble with us. It's NOT posting that'll be problematic! Thanks for the great insights. (Though my music budget can already feel the impending strain...)
Sdcampbell I have to concur with Fpeel. I can already see our section of Jazz 101 is filling up rapidly. Thanks for all that you have offered us in this thread. I for one, have been educated. Also would like to say that this has been one of the most civil, pleasant, enlightening threads that I have seen on this site in a good while. Don't ever hesitate from submitting your opinions. No matter how many times