It's International Jazz Day. Here's a link on how a beginner can assemble a good jazz collection. Nothing we haven't covered multiple times here (and not the end-all, be-all of guides), but good info nonetheless.

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Jazz-Collection

MIGHT make a good sticky, even.

Mr. Summer, your wide-ranging taste in music, and willingness to share, is an inspiration to many here, including myself. Thanks.

Mr. Summer, your wide-ranging taste in music, and willingness to share, is an inspiration to many here, including myself. Thanks.

Oh dang! Now I can feel the pressure! ;)

Thanks. Et tu.

The general advice at the top of the article is very good, but I have a problem with some of the specific recommendations.

While Coltrane was among my first entry points into real jazz, I would not recommend diving into his stuff without some other grounding in jazz. I don't agree with A Love Supreme for beginners. For Coltrane, I might start with Blue Train or My Favorite Things, then Giant Steps, Then maybe Crescent, Live at the Village Vanguard, and then A Love Supreme.

Ella and Louis is a nice record, but plays WC Handy is a better introduction to Pops music.
As for Ella, Best of the Songbooks would be a nice Ella Fitzgerald intro.
Talking Verve Series for Wes Montgomery? Strange recommendation. Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, Full House, or Boss Guitar, all on Riverside are all much better intros into his work.

I disagree with the author of this article dissuading people from buying best of compilations. Many of these, especially on labels like Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, Verve, Atlantic and Columbia are cheap, and good intros to the catalogs of the jazz greats, and not at all a bad way to learn.

That's actually a cool link for someone getting started on Jazz .

While Coltrane was among my first entry points into real jazz, I would not recommend diving into his stuff without some other grounding in jazz. I don't agree with A Love Supreme for beginners. For Coltrane, I might start with Blue Train or My Favorite Things, then Giant Steps, Then maybe Crescent, Live at the Village Vanguard, and then A Love Supreme.

I completely agee. Listening to Coltrane from his later period (1965-67) could dissuade folks from pursuing him any further. He can be challenging.

Start early with Coltrane and work your way forward in time.

It's International Jazz Day. Here's a link on how a beginner can assemble a good jazz collection. Nothing we haven't covered multiple times here (and not the end-all, be-all of guides), but good info nonetheless.

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Jazz-Collection

MIGHT make a good sticky, even.

Cool article, thanks for the link.

International Jazz Day? THAT explains why there are 2 different jazz festivals today on the Eastside and in Edmonds. I thought it was odd to have both at the same time.

Finally, think about investing in a turntable. If you want to talk about getting affordable classics in any genre, you can always find some great deals on vinyl. This is especially true if you don’t mind looking through a store's “bargain basement” used stuff.

Oh no! More competition! :yikes: :D

Very good intro article, but I also agree with some of the later posters: the "best of" and more easily-digestible releases might be a better way to get STARTED with some of these guys, even if there is some validity to the idea that the "best of" compilations are often biased for the company that produced them. Still, a nice intro guideline.

I suspect beyond a very few "special" records like Kind of Blue and Time Out, it would be very difficult to get a group of Jazz enthusiasts to agree on a specific list of what would be best for someone starting out. What appeals to the long-term 'educated' jazz ear may not be so accessible to the newbie's ear, and we each have personal preferences. But you have to start somewhere, and you could do a lot worse than what it says on that page. :yes: :thmbsp: