Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Davis's Kind of Blue

you could list many here....5 that would be no-brainers might be;

Billie Holliday, Songs for Distingue Lovers.

Ben Webster, Live at the Renniasance

Ellington, Jazz Party in Stereo

Ellington-Armstrong, Together for the First Time

Johnney Hodges, Blues-a-Plenty

all classics and all wonderfully recorded with inspired performances.

if you can get the Classic Records 45rpm versions (Analog Productions for the Webster) that would be the best way to hear these....but in any format they are excellent.

Cannonball Adderly "Somethin Else"

Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" "Saxaphone Colosus"

Lee Morgan "The Sidewinder"

Herbie Hancock "Maiden Voyage"

John Coltrane "Ballads" "Blue Train"

Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain"

Eric Dolphy "Out to Lunch"

So many more.....have fun!

miles' - relaxin', blue moods, bags' groove

dolphy - iron man

coltrane - crescent, giant steps, alternate takes

thelonius monk - straight, no chaser; criss-cross; brilliant corners

when you want to get more adventurous:

art ensemble of chicago - 'les stances a sophie', people in sorrow (+ lots more, esp. the late 60's early 70's stuff)

evan parker - toward the margins, breaths and heartbeats (+ lots more... but this stuff is way out there...)

sun ra - too much to list...

and, if you can tolerate lo-fi:

billie holiday - the golden years (vols. 1 + 2)

Coltrane - Giant Steps
Coltrane - Blue Train
Davis - Sketches of Spain
Davis - Milestones
Coltrane - Village Vanguard Sessions
Hancock - Maiden Voyage

The suggestions already given are great, but I would also recommend from Horace Silver-Song For My Father, the Stylings of..., and The Cape Verdean Blues.

I also like Stan Getz /Charlie Byrd-Jazz Samba.

In reality the list is endless. :-)

Regards,
Todd