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
For something completely different, try these:

****Bill Frisell, Matt Chamberlain, Tucker Martine and Lee Townsend – "Floratone"

****Charlie Hunter Trio – "Mistico"

More fun than a barrel of monkeys.
Many years ago I would really not know what to buy. Just buying a nice front cover did not help.
Then I subscribed to JAZZIZ magazine, which once a month sends me the magazine and a CD with a selection of different Jazz artists. Their CD´s are very high quality, and from what you hear you can go out and explore those artists other albums. In Amazon you can listen to them and decide.
I also listen a lot to SMOOTHJAZZ.COM while sitting at my computer and allthough quite repetitve often I come across some new jazz which I like and instantly order through a link on their web page.
I discovered new artists and new music through these methods and now my jazz collection numbers almost 500 CD´s.
Eljaro, an excellent response. The best option is always to find a source (live or recorded) where you can appreciate what you like before parting with your money. I suppose our suggestions are just a chance to share our personal revelations and fill in potential gaps with our own tastes. The gamble remains with the buyer!

Of course, my suggestions are objective and no one could possibly fail to share my enthusiasm and admiration for each one :-)
A must-own CD is Chris Potter's "Follow the Red Line" ... simply substantial in every way