Can you recommend Jazz for some one that doesn't like Jazz?

I think that a big reason for the popularity of "jazz fusion" was because it felt somewhat familiar to rock music fans, yet it also represented a new avenue to explore. So, if "familiarity" is what you're looking for than your mention of Holly Cole might be important, since she tends to cover some well known songs that you are probably already familiar with.

If jazz vocalists are a priority, I'd add Michael Franks to your list.

Crusaders - Chain Reaction" LP is hard not to like.

I'm in the same boat. Most jazz is just too busy and complex for me to enjoy. I like jazz ballads best. Simple and soulful music is my thing. 

Like you, I found Bill Frissell and Pat Matheny to be the most listenable. While both do their share of "complex" stuff, much of their work is more accessible to me. Stanley Turrentine has an album of ballads I like a lot. 

Bottom line for me is "do I feel it". Most jazz feels emotionless to me. It's music for musicians. 

I often peruse posts like this and liten to many of the recommendations. So thanks all. 

Here are two easy ones  

“Swiss Time” by Les McCann & Eddie Harris

“The Girl From Ipanema” by Getz/Gilberto

And a Jazz piano sampler http://open.qobuz.com/playlist/16555554

Herbie Hancock, headhunter

Lee Morgan, sidewinder

come to mind as two that would be hard to ignore regardless of your musical leanings.

@fpomposo

I hope you were just kidding . .

Since when does being an audiophile depend upon being a Jazz lover, or for that matter, a lover of any specific genre?

God asked The Apostle Paul " why do you keep kicking against the pricks?"(funny way of putting it) I admire your tenacity. But why after  30 yrs is of trying are you making another attempt to force something that you just don't like? I ask these things because I mirror your thoughts about jazz .I've tried. But neither it nor female vocals are my cup of tea. It doesn't make me wrong. Nor are those who do like jazz wrong. Nor does it make me inferior. I listen to many different types of music, just not the 2 I spoke of earlier.

Big shout out to @stuartk . Great info. Being a musician I think I understood that already,  instinctively. But  IMO it still sounds disjointed.  I'm not sure I'll try again but I'm not sure I won't either. Never say "never"

Dave Weckl and Jay Oliver - Convergence cd.

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue and other albums.

Lee Ritenour - Six String Theory - A blend of styles ( Jazz, Blues and Classical ). Also, the Stolen Moments album.

Sara K - Hell or High Water, and her other albums  too.

@yoyoyaya +1, Anything, not only on CTI Records (Creed Taylor Inc.) but also Creed Taylor’s KUDU Records whom the recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder made some of the best sounding recordings in those days on those two labels, facts. Creed Taylor's CTI Records and  KUDU Records has an astoundingly large catalog of records/musicians in his roster.  

What @stuartk said 

If you like guitar give “Guitar Forms” by Kenny Burrell a shot. 

Diana Krall, Lyn Stanley, Anne Bisson.

Two titles mentioned previously are worth underscoring and adding to my original list:

1) Herbie Hancock - "Cantaloupe Island"

2) Louis Armstrong - "Satch Plays Fats"

If you can stream it check out KCSM Jazz 91 in San Francisco

Return to Forever should make you a believer

Larry Carlton  -  "Alone But Never Alone"

About as smooth and listenable as it gets. Ebay probably has a copy, cheap.

Bob James

Earl Klugh

grp masters collections from the early 90s have a great mix of various artists.  You can screen the tracks you like and go from there.  Again, Ebay has them cheap.

- Bill Evans trio ’Live at Shelley’s Manne Hole’

- Oscar Peterson ’We Get Requests’

- Ben Webster meets Oscar Peterson

- Jim Hall & Red Mitchell 'Valse Hot'

Or for something more modern and funky look into Jiro Inagaki

And I’ll throw in ’A Oscar Peterson Christmas’ since we are at Christmas Time...

If you can listen to any of those albums and still think jazz sucks than you’re hopeless and should quit being a audiophile and take up some other hobby

I only started listening to Jazz this year. Spotify is your friend. Currently, I'm listening to "70's Japanese Jazz/Funk" playlist. Don't like a song, click next. Like a song, I save to a playlist. Never heard of any of these artists, just the way I prefer vs the same handful of Jazz artists always listed.

Vocal jazz is for you  - Holly Cole , Chantal Chamberland and many others.

I'm surprised that no one has complimented stuartk for his thoughtful and detailed response!  The first albums that really drew me into jazz were Kind Of Blue (Miles Davis, already mentioned) and Giant Steps (John Coltrane).  Louis Armstrong (Satch Plays Fats) is another easy recommendation!

If you have an internet radio tuner there are hundreds of jazz stations to sample various types of music.  A lot of us like different forms [not hard to tell that].  Lee Ritenour is an excellent guitarist a is Peter Frampton  [yes indeed] "Fingerprints" or "Frampton forgets. the words".  

The suggestion to get a guidebook on jazz recordings is the way to go.  A book like the All Music Guide to Jazz not only lists most of the major artists and their recordings, it has a decent rating of each recording so you can sample the best. 

The recommendation of the Ken Burns documentary series is also very good because it places the music in a social and historical context and employs narrators who know and love the subject and convey what the music means to them.  The series is long but it is rewarding.  The biggest problem for me was that the series stopped well short of covering what would have been at that time current jazz artists and their music; it was mostly ancient history then, and more so ancient history now.

If you want to hear a decent cross section of jazz development at a particular time, and appreciate how advanced jazz performance was quite a whiles back, sample the top recordings from just one year--1959.  Three giant recording came out that year:  Miles Davis "Kind of Blue," Dave Brubeck "Time Out" and Ornette Coleman "Shape of Jazz to Come."  Of these three, my favorite is "Shape of Jazz to Come."  

Here are a dozen titles I consider a "Jazz Starter Kit:"

1) Dave Brubeck - "Time Out"

2) Miles Davis - "Kind Of Blue"

3 Duke Ellington - "Live At Newport"

4) Duke Ellington - "Blues In Orbit"

5) Lester Young and Teddy Wilson - "Prez And Teddy"

6) Oscar Peterson - "We Get Requests"

7) Monty Alexander, Ray Brown, and Herb Ellis - "Trio"

8) Bill Evans - "Live At The Village Vanguard"

9) Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - "Ella And Louis"

10) Stanley Turrentine - "That's Where It's At"

11) Vince Guaraldi - "Greatest Hits"

12) Ahmad Jamal - "At The Pershing/But Not For Me"

I took it upon myself to learn to like jazz about ten years ago, and it has now become my primary genre. Lots of great recommendations here. In between sampling those, I would recommend finding some higher quality jazz stations and let them play. As you hear things you like, explore those artists further on your subscription platform of choice. 

@stuartk

Wow.  This was a wonderful explanation of what Jazz is.  I listen to Jazz almost as much as Rock and Roll but I dislike heavy improvisational Jazz.  Your descriptions of the different types of Jazz and the various interpretations really gives me more avenues to search.  Thank you for your contribution.

Try "Jazz at the Pawn Shop". A wonderful live recording at a jazz club in Stockholm.

They cover some classics and the sound is amazing.

I can’t recall ever reading a full set of responses and agreeing so thoroughly with them.  There is a lot of great advice above.  A reason to treasure this site.  I’d add to the many excellent recommendations: Herbie Hancock, Headhunters and Cantaloupe Island and one of my favorite songs, Peaches en Regalia by Frank Zappa (he recorded a bunch of versions).  Zappa has a lot of cross-over.  This particular song has no lyrics and is more accessible than a lot of his other music.  With my and the other recommendations above, I’d try stuff out and then dive in to what you find enjoyable.  Have fun!

I love this post!!

@fthompson251 i must be your music doppelgänger!  I’m still trying to “get” traditional jazz after 50+ years.

 Thank you @stuartk , your post was very enlightening and educational!

In addition to the many great recommendations you have received already, here are some jazz artist I enjoy. They tend to stick with a tune but some do improvisation along the way:

Guitar led:

• Chris Standring
• Chuck Loeb
• Les Sabler
• Larry Carlton
• Jeff Lorber
• Paul Brown
• Thom Rotella
• Chieli Minucci
• George Benson
• Earl Klugh
• Acoustic Alchemy

Trumpet led:

• Rick Braun
• Cindy Bradley
• Chet Baker
• Chris Botti

Piano/keyboardled:

• Brian Simpson
• Oli Silk
• Bob James
• Paul Hardcastle

Bass Led:

• Brian Bromberg 

Almost every person who "doesn't like jazz" seems to like simple solo female vocal jazz artists like Norah Jones's first record, Holly Cole's early releases, Sophie Milman, Patricia Barber, even Blossom Dearie.

I found years ago that big band jazz is pretty easy to enjoy & “ understand “ for someone unfamiliar w/ much of jazz as I was. It’s generally more structured w/ less improvisation.

stuartK’s explanation of jazz is excellent & it may sound strange but I really began to appreciate the Grateful Dead after I realized that much of their music follows this jazz format of stating a central theme as a group,  taking turns w/ variations on that theme & then finally returning to that group theme albeit often a bit changed or even expanded. For those who don’t know, Jerry Garcia was a great musician who could play many types of music at a high level. 

Any  Steely Dan record

would be a good intro

I would start with a music appreciation class. Learn how to listen to the musicians interacting with each other. Learn how they are listening to each other and then making incredible music with queues to each other. That is what makes jazz and other forms of improvisational music so incredibly, whether rock, bluegrass, jamband or any other. Sometimes I just focus on one instrument then gradually other players seep into my listening space. It’s a wonderful experience, imho 

Stream a good radio station like WBGO.

Chet Baker…

This album just came out this month, and I think it's an incredible jazz album for anyone who doesn't like jazz. You just have to hear this.

Jeff Parker - The Way Out of Easy

Return to Forever, Romantic Warrior

Jeez, not a lot of love for the "classics" here. ;-)

I'm a big-band and swing guy myself, but I enjoy a lot of "modern" jazz that is tuneful and swings.  Here are what are considered some pretty classic albums and some of my favorites:

Dave Brubeck - Time Out

Jimmy Giuffre - The Jimmy Giuffre 3

John Lewis - Grand Encounter

Charles Mingus - Blues & Roots

Duke Ellington - The Great Paris Concert

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - I Talk With the Spirits

Stan Getz and Jimmy Rowles - The Peacocks

Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Ben Webster - At the Renaissance

Oscar Peterson - Girl Talk (Exclusively for My Friends)

Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster

Sarah Vaughn - Sarah Vaughn (with Clifford Brown, 1954)

Dinah Washington - Dinah Jams

Billie Holiday - Recital (Verve, 1952)

That's just off the top of my head.

Start with Miles Davis Kind of Blue. Listen to the whole album every day for a month.

I subscribe to Qobuz and Tidal using Roon and if I wanted to listen to jazz, from Roon I would go into Genres, then it gives you 20-30 options of what kind of jazz you want to listen to: contemporary, fusion, soul jazz, smooth jazz and many more. Subscribing to Qobuz/Tidal allows you to you to listen to millions of tracks in each genre without ever buying anything

I am exactly like you.  I’ve tried for decades to like jazz.  It just doesn’t grab me much at all.  However, I have one recording I could gladly listen to again and again.  It’s the only jazz record I can say that about and I have a small collection of recordings by very well known jazz artists.

I came across this recording thanks to Michael Fremer.  He was invited to speak at our Audiophile Foundation and he talked about this recording.  I decided that if Michael Fremer recommended it I would buy it.  I have a perfectly good turntable and a relatively large vinyl collection, but I don’t buy LPs any more as I’m hooked on streaming my own large CD collection.  I made an exception and I am very very glad I did.

the recording  is named “Rufus Reid and Caellan Cardello.  It’s just a piano and a double bass.

The recording was done in a small performance space in NYC and billed as “New Directions in Jazz Piano”

@OP Chet Baker, Paul Desmond. And though some people hate CTI recordings, a lot of Wes Montgomery's CTI recordings are very listenable. And speaking of Wes Montgomery, Lee Ritenour's Wes Bound is an outstanding recording - in the quality of its engineering and musicianship.

Think light jazz, like CHRIS BOTTI …..

https://youtu.be/gdwDa3YlgTg

Tom Scott and the LA Express - Tom Cat

Hi,

As is obvious from the posts above, it's a massive field with lots of individual preferences.

Some of my favourite albums:

Anything by Nik Bartsch but especially the Live album

Manu Katche is excellent: albums like Neighbourhood

The Astounding Eyes of Rita by Anouar Brahem I like a lot.  It's a world/jazz fusion type album.

Happy exploring

Check out Norman Brown, Paul Jackson, Jr, Lee Ritenour, Chuck Loeb, Fourplay, The Jeff Lorber Fusion, Yellowjackets with Jimmy Haslip on bass, Weather Report, Return to Forever and The Chick Corea Elektric Band.

In the same boat as you regarding taste in Jazz. I do like Grover Washington's Winelight album and I really like Abrahm Burton’s version of Laura. Stumbled on Dave Koz and Friends Jazzy Christmas album recently and the first track is really special.

Enjoy your pursuit. Maybe report back on what you enjoyed.

Joey Defrancesco multi instrumentalist, if you like Hammond organ he's the guy. Jimmy Smith another great one. Bill Evans great arranger, great bands.

@fthompson251,

Wow! Some very nice suggestions here! Even as @maxwave suggest, some Brazilian Jazz! Nice! Find a college jazz ’radio’ station on the internet, such as Clark Atlanta’s University station WCLK and press play and just listen...And see what you might find and like.

I am not a big Jazz fan, either.  Jazz Fusion, yes, but traditional Jazz, no.  I just never could get into it.  Appreciate the skill, but I'm an old school rock guy.

However, I discovered a band a few years ago that I really enjoy, Bohren & der Club of Gore, a German ambient/jazz band from Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.  Check out the albums "Midnight Radio" (1997), "Sunset Mission" (2000), or "Bohren for Beginners" (2016).  Incredible, in my humble opinion.  Pour a glass of bourbon, dim the lights, and fire up the hash pipe.  You'll be in for a treat.

Here are some of my ideas of accessible, melodic jazz:

Curtis Stigers - Gentleman

Jan Harbeck Quartet - The Sound The Rhythm, Copenhagen Nocturne

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

Lynne Arriale Trio - The Eyes Have It, When You Listen

Mark Isham - Blue Sun

Ellis and Branford Marsalis - Loved Ones

Peter Bernstein - Better Angels

If you like any of those, let me know and I’ll recommend more. 

In your listening to jazz, you've probably noticed that often no two albums by a jazz musician are likely to sound the same.  So try to find the specific albums recommended.

It is important to keep in sight that almost all 20th century most dominant popular music forms originated in the Jazz and blues traditions. Most pop and rock are direct descendants of early combinations of African forms played on European instruments.

Listen to the huge discography available of 5 decades recorded by Duke Ellington; the entire 20th century of music is there. You call it Jazz if you want.