Jazz recommendations for a beginner?

For singers, if you like Krall, you'll love Shirley Horn, she is a bit slower, but eminently a better jazz singer and piano player than Krall. For piano try Bill Evans. For Sax try Houston Persons and Scott Hamilton. For guitar try Joe Pass. For clarinet try Peplowski. For bass try Ray Brown or Charlie Haden. Most of the works by these artists are easily digested, not discordant or avante guard. If this interests you, individual CD's can be recommended or you can find them on a web site, All Music (which also has a guide out as does Penguin, I think). Jazz has a huge discography to explore - read up and enjoy.

Ben, just what in your estimation defines traditional jazz? I'm curious, not that I don't appreciate Davis, Coltrane, etc, but I certainly found them to be an acquired taste, and not necessarily mainstream, either now or in the era when they performed.

Ben, Firstly let me say that I addressed my comments to you because of earlier comments you made several years ago and which are referred to in this thread. You undoubtedly have a great depth of knowledge on this subject and I should think we would both agree on most things. However, where we part ways is your reaction to an inquiry of a newbie to jazz based on his inability to understand Davis' music and the fact that he likes Krall - you (and others more by implication) seem to want to dismiss him and assign him to the dust bins of elevator music. I would think those of us who heard and appreciated the music of Davis et al were well prepared to hear it thru past experience with the works of other jazz musicians. At best your post makes you sound elitist. Were I you, I would have (and actually did) post a list of good jazz practioners, whose recordings are easy to obtain, and enjoy, without an inate or acquired understanding of jazz. I wouldn't dismiss a classical newbie just because he couldn't comprehend Mahler. We who know should try to lead these folks by introducing them gently. I appoligize in advance for the sermon.