Coltrane, interesting choice for a moniker by someone who asks for
"must have" jazz lists. ;-)
The problem is that the field of jazz is so diverse, to recommend recordings
to someone I don't know is a very difficult task. As I understand your post
you are looking for specific recording recommendations, not merely artists. So
as one who's moniker on another site includes 3M (for Miles, Monk, and
Mingus) I'll give it a shot.
First, if you'd like a broad perspective on jazz, a great starting place is the
Smithsonian Jazz boxed set. That will expose you to a good variety of styles
and history.
I think the most accessible jazz artist, and therefore an easy one to start with,
is Dave Brubeck. Most might recommend his "Time Out" album.
But I'll suggest his "Quartet at Carnegie Hall" as a better choice,
because it includes his best known hits but also many other gems for more
variety.
Perhaps the artist with the greatest influence on jazz was Louis Armstrong.
Among all his great recordings try "Ambassador Satch" or
"Plays Fats Waller".
My single top desert island disk would be Miles' "Kind of Blue". It
has received much notoriety in the last several years with multiple reissues.
I've owned it since it came out and still never tire of hearing it. Miles changed
his groups and styles several times over his career so no single album
completely represents him. Since you play guitar you may know Rodrigo's
"Concierto de Aranjuez". If you like that check out Miles and Gil
Evans' "Sketches of Spain" which was based on that theme. And I'll
second Elizabeth's choice of "Bitches Brew" as the best of the
"electric Miles" years.
Back to Rodrigo, for subtle guitar it would be hard to top Jim Hall's
"Concierto" which also features Paul Desmond and Chet Baker.
Another choice with lots of discussion (popularity) since it was reissued is
Oliver Nelson's "Blues and the Abstract Truth".
For stream-of-conscious jazz piano, Keith Jarrett's "Koln Concert"
is a marvel of creativity.
In the '50s there was a rivalry between East Coast and West Coast jazz. Two
records that can give a taste of each would be Blakey and the Jazz
Messengers' "Night In Tunisia" and Jerry Mulligan/Chet Baker's
"California Concerts" respectively.
My listing could go on much longer but others have listed good
recommendations too so I'll end with one with a familiar name, John
Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" . I consider that one of his most
accessible albums so a good place to begin with. It is still melodic and before
he got into his "sheets of sound" and more abstract playing.
Have fun digging, this is a very deep mine.
"must have" jazz lists. ;-)
The problem is that the field of jazz is so diverse, to recommend recordings
to someone I don't know is a very difficult task. As I understand your post
you are looking for specific recording recommendations, not merely artists. So
as one who's moniker on another site includes 3M (for Miles, Monk, and
Mingus) I'll give it a shot.
First, if you'd like a broad perspective on jazz, a great starting place is the
Smithsonian Jazz boxed set. That will expose you to a good variety of styles
and history.
I think the most accessible jazz artist, and therefore an easy one to start with,
is Dave Brubeck. Most might recommend his "Time Out" album.
But I'll suggest his "Quartet at Carnegie Hall" as a better choice,
because it includes his best known hits but also many other gems for more
variety.
Perhaps the artist with the greatest influence on jazz was Louis Armstrong.
Among all his great recordings try "Ambassador Satch" or
"Plays Fats Waller".
My single top desert island disk would be Miles' "Kind of Blue". It
has received much notoriety in the last several years with multiple reissues.
I've owned it since it came out and still never tire of hearing it. Miles changed
his groups and styles several times over his career so no single album
completely represents him. Since you play guitar you may know Rodrigo's
"Concierto de Aranjuez". If you like that check out Miles and Gil
Evans' "Sketches of Spain" which was based on that theme. And I'll
second Elizabeth's choice of "Bitches Brew" as the best of the
"electric Miles" years.
Back to Rodrigo, for subtle guitar it would be hard to top Jim Hall's
"Concierto" which also features Paul Desmond and Chet Baker.
Another choice with lots of discussion (popularity) since it was reissued is
Oliver Nelson's "Blues and the Abstract Truth".
For stream-of-conscious jazz piano, Keith Jarrett's "Koln Concert"
is a marvel of creativity.
In the '50s there was a rivalry between East Coast and West Coast jazz. Two
records that can give a taste of each would be Blakey and the Jazz
Messengers' "Night In Tunisia" and Jerry Mulligan/Chet Baker's
"California Concerts" respectively.
My listing could go on much longer but others have listed good
recommendations too so I'll end with one with a familiar name, John
Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" . I consider that one of his most
accessible albums so a good place to begin with. It is still melodic and before
he got into his "sheets of sound" and more abstract playing.
Have fun digging, this is a very deep mine.