Jazz for someone who doesn't like jazz.

n80, as I suggested earlier there are a multitude of styles/types of jazz.  That is what makes suggestions to a "newbie" so difficult, and the subject so baffling to the newbie themselves.  Many, many great suggestions have been made here and sampling those can be as good an introduction as any.

After my post I considered suggesting the Ken Burns series, but with so much music to listen to I wasn't sure if you'd be willing to watch that much video?  If you watch more you'll certainly find more to explore.

Contrary to many others here I don't consider KOB a good "introduction" album for someone starting out in jazz.  It is one of the best ever recorded but is subtle and complex enough it will not be appreciated by many newbies.  To your credit you've stated you like it.  That suggests you can skip past many of the more "lightweight" suggestions.

So all I'll offer at this point is based on what you've sampled that you do like, continue exploring other recordings by those artists.  You are bound to run into some dead ends but that's OK, just try more recordings.  With that you'll find side men/women with your preferred artists who are interesting and that will lead you to their recordings.  And so on and so on.

@pryso Thanks. I'm not sure that I like Kind of Blue for the right reasons. I'm sure there is depth there that I have not explored or even recognized is there. But, when you are initially drawn to something it is a lot easier to dig deep than when there isn't that initial appeal.
I also like classical music. Not an aficionado by any stretch, but do understand that there is depth and complexity and can sometimes recognize and appreciate it. So that might help some.

If the first (or earliest) bottle of wine I ever drink is a $500 vintage bottle, it is not the same as if I drink that same bottle after having experienced many other bottles over a long period of time (responsibly, of course). Enjoy the wine (or music).

Kind of Blue is an interesting recording. I have multiple copies, including an original "six-eye" stereo version that is the best of the lot among the ones I have, including Japanese reissues. I found it in a thrift store back in the ’80s for fifty cents. Those were the days.

Listen to it and see if you agree with me on this ...

When the first cut starts out, the album sounds like a good studio recording. Good, but not that inspired. Sort of like the musicians were there to collect a paycheck.

Miles takes the lead, then Coltrane comes on second. THEN, Cannonball Adderley takes his turn and plays with an inspiration that is totally infectious to everyone else on the album. He played like Bird reincarnated. From that point on, it becomes one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.

My take has always been that if it weren’t for Cannonball Adderley touching the souls of the other players, and subsequently the end listener, Kind of Blue would have been just another good jazz album.

Your thoughts?

Frank

PS: If you like Kind of Blue, you’ll want this one too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u37RF5xKNq8

These are the best easy listening jazz compilations I've ever heard!

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Blue-Note-Vols/dp/B000005HGV/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=best+of+the+blue+note&qid=1587508736&sr=8-4
Disc: 1 
  1. Blue Train - John Coltrane
  2. Maiden Voyage - Herbie Hancock
  3. Cristo Redentor - Donald Byrd
  4. Moanin' - Are Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
  5. Blues Walk - Lou Donaldson
  6. Song For My Father - Horace Silver
  7. Back At The Chicken Shack - Jimmy Smith
  8. Chitlins Con Carne - Kenny Burrell
  9. The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Blue-Note-Vol/dp/B0002548BA/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=best+of+the+blue+note&qid=1587508792&sr=8-12


1. Senor Blues - Horace Silver
2. Decision - Sonny Rollins
3. Three O'Clock In The Morning - Dexter Gordon
4. Blues March - Art Blakey
5. Wadin' - Horace Parlan
6. The Rumproller - Lee Morgan
7. Somethin' Else - Cannonball Adderley
8. Blue Bossa - Joe Henderson
9. Watermelon - Herbie Hancock