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
just relistened to two classic jazz albums. Kenny Burrell's midnight blue and Sonny Clark's cool struttin'. Both excellent efforts from two fantastic artists.
I don't have anything to add to the incredible and huge list already mentioned here in terms of recordings. There is a book that I've read awhile back, however, that has helped me understand and enjoy jazz immensely and it might be worthwhile for those who are new to check it out. The book is Jonny King's "An Insider's Guide to Understanding and Listening to Jazz." King's knowledge and prose combined with his enthusiasm make for a quick and entertaining read. Higly recommended.
Stan Getz - Getz/Gilberto
Abbey Lincoln - You Gotta Pay the Band
Phineas Newborn - The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - The Inflated Tear
Horace Silver - Song For My Father
Abdullah Ibrahim - Ekaya
Jimmy Scott - All The Way
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Sarah Vaughn - No Count Sarah
The Bad Plus - Here Are The Vistas
Betty Carter - The Audience With Betty Carter
World Saxophone Quartet - Revue
David Murray - Ming
The Modern Jazz Quartet - Farewell Concert
Joe Pass - Virtuoso
Thelonius Monk - Alone, In San Franscisco
Clifford Brown and Max Roach - Vol.1
Miles Davis - Birth of the Cool
Hampton Hawes - Hampton Hawes Trio, Vol. 1
Terry Gibbs - Latin Connection
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Les Stances A Sophie
Buddy Rich - The Roar of 74
Wes Montgomery - Live at Tsubos's
Mongo Santamaria - Sabroso
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage
Woody Shaw - Stepping Stones
John Zorn - Masada 8
Wynton Marsalis - Black Codes Form the Underground
Branford Marsalis - Trio Jeepy
Jimmy Smith - Organ Grinder Swing
Larry Young - Unity
Oscar Peterson - West Side Story
George Benson - Bad Benson
The Crusaders - Free As the Wind
Count Basie - Atomic Basie
Duke Ellington - Money Jungle
Coleman Hawkins - Hawk Flies High
---outta time, but the list is endless...really