Jazz artists for late starter.

Lots of all 'round good artists mentioned. Certainly can't go wrong with these many great jazz legends. But let's not forget a whole group of young lions who continue the tradition: trumpeters Roy Hargrove and Nicholas Payton, bassist Christian McBride, sax men Joshua Redman and Branford Marsalis, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and very original guitarist Terence Brewer. For sultry female vocalists, try relative unknown - but very talented - Rene Marie. Cassandra Wilson is very good as well. Good luck and happy listening!

My apologies ... didn't notice that you DON'T care for vocalists. So a few more contemporary artists playing traditional "straight ahead" jazz: Terence Blanchard, John Faddis (has a very well-recorded, large ensemble, hybrid SACD entitled "Remembrances"), and young vibraphonist Stefon Harris.

Karelfd, your point about Joe Zawinul is very well taken. Oscar Peterson recently left this plane as well. So the same logic might also apply. But to weigh in further on the "dead or live" debate ... consider the ever shortening list of highly regarded artists who are still with us. Folks like McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Burrell, Ahmad Jamal, and Marian McPartland are well up in age. I've had the very good fortune to see/hear them in live performances. No matter how resolving one's system is, to me nothing beats "live". Does that mean jazz clubs, concert dates, and festivals die as each of these pass on? This thing called jazz is ever changing ... ever evolving. More than anything else IMHO ... that was Miles' message. The art form needs support to stay alive ... through CD and ticket sales. Many young, up and coming artists are worthy of that support. How else could they survive long enough to hone their craft to possibly some day reach "innovator" status? Just a thought ...

Must everything degenerate into a p***ing contest? Alnolan, with all due respect ... I care. Guess that makes me a "hanger-oner and one that think the(sp) know". I thought we were here to contribute to the A-gon community. I am certainly grateful for all the positive suggestions and recommendations gained from some very generous contributors. My system was built from the knowledge gained on this forum.

FWIW, there are couple of very nice internet accessible jazz radio stations here on the Coast (I happen to be listening to one right now) - KJAZZ in Long Beach and KCSM in the SF Bay Area. With a little searching, many others can be found on-line. Next season, a local performing arts organization is hosting "Blue Note Records Anniversary Tour" ... featuring new generation artists Nicolas Payton and Ravi Coltrane, then a date with Chick Corea, John McGlaughlin, and young turk Christian McBride. I'm subscribed to the series. Dianne Reeves is doing the final concert. I own several of her CD's, will admit that she's no Billie Holiday, but expect to see/hear an excellent performance. If experience is any indication, every show in a sizable venue will be sold out. That said, the art form lives on; and (to me at least) that's a good thing.