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

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

The Coltrane album called "Coltrane" on Impulse is often overlooked, but has some of the best really intense blowing you'll hear from him. Then his Ballads album, and his album with Johnny Hartman, show you what he can do in a completely different direction. I've listened to all 3 of those records some many times I've lost count, and still love them.

Also sometimes overlooked is the last Miles Davis quintet (with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, etc.). Two of my favorites of that period are "ESP" and "Nefertiti". Great, great tunes, and incredible interplay.

I love Thelonius Monk and have for 40 years, but finding the right album to start somebody with is not so easy. His albums can be a little inconsistent, and his approach puts off some people, for a variety of reasons. If it's still around, a compilation called Ballads, which consists of Riverside material, is the best intro I've ever found, and even as someone who likes the individual records, I have really, really enjoyed that compilation--very well chosen. That having been said, I bought the whole Riverside box, and listening to large parts of that over and over as well. I would say his live albums generally are safe bets.

Finally, Bill Evans' live material from the Village Vanguard in the early 60's is as classic as jazz ever gets, although it's quite a bit "straighter" then the other stuff we're talking about.

There is tons of fabulous stuff out there...what a great chance to discover good things!

All of the above postings were great and no one has mentioned Charles Mingus... It sounds like you like "cool" or "smooth" jazz. Can you elaborate about what you like to listen to...
To end I'll mention Oliver Nelson's Blues in the Abstract Truth... A must..