A good number of people do not appreciate jazz when they begin this journey. But as they listen, they develop an ability to hear and relate emotionally to the music. There is broad agreement as to who the masters of this art form are. Books like The 101 Best Jazz Albums by Len Lyons are helpful. A beginner like yourself would probably benefit from a chronological approach. Four suggestions from traditional jazz would be:
Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, 1928 (Smithsonian)
The Billy Holiday Story, Vol. II (Columbia, 1935-41)
Duke Ellington - 1940 (Smithsonian)
Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian
From modern jazz, you might consider any of the following:
The Very Best of Bird (The "Dial Sessions")
Bird/The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes)
Dizzy Gillespie: In the Beginning
Thelonious Monk: The Complete Genius
The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. I
Clifford Brown: The Quintet
Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus and More
Miles Davis/Gil Evans - Porgy and Bess
Wes Montgomery: While We're Young
John Coltrane: Giant Steps
The Best of John Coltrane: His Greatest Years
Bill Evans: The Village Vanguard Sessions
Oliver Nelson: The Blues and the Abstract Truth
I note that you are will be listening to CDs rather than LPs. Suffice it to say, there are many great recordings on LP -- like Clifford Brown With Strings -- that are difficult to recommend on CD. This is a subject for another thread, but thought I should give you a heads up on the problem of unlistenable CD transfers.
Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines, 1928 (Smithsonian)
The Billy Holiday Story, Vol. II (Columbia, 1935-41)
Duke Ellington - 1940 (Smithsonian)
Solo Flight: The Genius of Charlie Christian
From modern jazz, you might consider any of the following:
The Very Best of Bird (The "Dial Sessions")
Bird/The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes)
Dizzy Gillespie: In the Beginning
Thelonious Monk: The Complete Genius
The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. I
Clifford Brown: The Quintet
Sonny Rollins: Saxophone Colossus and More
Miles Davis/Gil Evans - Porgy and Bess
Wes Montgomery: While We're Young
John Coltrane: Giant Steps
The Best of John Coltrane: His Greatest Years
Bill Evans: The Village Vanguard Sessions
Oliver Nelson: The Blues and the Abstract Truth
I note that you are will be listening to CDs rather than LPs. Suffice it to say, there are many great recordings on LP -- like Clifford Brown With Strings -- that are difficult to recommend on CD. This is a subject for another thread, but thought I should give you a heads up on the problem of unlistenable CD transfers.