I've recently acquired an interest in jazz. Instead of going to HMV and buying all the Kenny G. off the shelves right away, I'm asking people what CDs/Artists/etc they would recommend. Thoughts, people?

Heh. Same here. I've heard that Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" album is a good place to start. It really depends what kind of jazz you like.

Kenny G. Is evil. He's not at all good. My Jazz teacher reccomended that you never listen to Kenny G. for jazz music.

However he did strongly reccomend anything by Miles Davis, espcially 'Kinda Blue'. You could always go old school with Charlie Parker and gang.

Try these; some of my uncle's favs ^.^

Traditional and Big Band Jazz:
Louis Armstrong-Hot Fives and Hot Sevens
Duke Ellington-And His Mother Called Him Bill
Duke Ellington-Far East Suite
Toshiko Akiyoshi-Toshiko Akiyoshi Lew Tabakin Big Band

Bebop Era Jazz:
Charlie Parker-Savoy and Dial Master Takes
Charlie Parker-Jazz at Massey Hall
Dizzy Gillespie-Shaw 'Nuff
Thelonious Monk-Brilliant Corners

Post Bop and Mainstream Jazz:
Miles Davis-Kind of Blue
Miles Davis-Miles Smiles
John Coltrane-Crescent
John Coltrane-A Love Supreme
Charles Mingus-Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus
Wayne Shorter-Footprints Live!

Avant Garde Jazz:
Ornette Coleman-The Shape of Jazz to Come
Circle(Chick Corea et al)-Paris Concert
John Coltrane-Live at the Village Vanguard-The Master Takes

Jazz is a pretty big scope nowadays, and a whole lot of different styles are considered jazz. It depends on what you're going for if you're into jazz.

Old style? Most of what Jujemu mentioned is quite good. I'd recommend a couple of others, notably Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert (a 1 1/2 hour solo piano improvisation). Also, if you're into super-fast piano stuff, check out Oscar Peterson (in his Trio, usually) - his piano style is absolutely stunning.

When buying Chick Corea, beware of which period of his career you get from. When he's into his Elektric Band time, it gets pretty (no wait -- VERY) hard to appreciate. Get his older stuff, which is easier to listen to.

If you're open to more modern jazz stuff, try :

Smooth Jazz (what Kenny G falls under, although he's really pushing the boundary between this and elevator muzak)
- Fourplay (during Lee Ritenour's time : Fourplay, Elixir, Best of Fourplay)
- The Rippingtons (classics, all of them)
- Lee Ritenour (his solo albums are quite good too)

Funk/Fusion (if you're into drum grooves, and the like. I know this is pushing it ^^)
- Dave Weckl Band (the recent Live album is very good)
- Casiopea (Japanese group, from the 80s, and still going strong)


Regarding Kenny G

Many people in the jazz community find him to be pretty lousy nowadays. Back when he made that big album with the Rippingtons (Moonlighting), he was rather interesting. Later on as his albums got really commercial and kinda lost their technical appeal.

The jazz community has him to thank for popularizing the genre (particularly Smooth Jazz), but as mentioned above, it's not recommended if you're into studying or picking up jazz.

What about Grover Washington Jr.? And may I suggest the early Arakawa Band--if you can find any of their music, that is.