Jazz Albums for People Who Do Not Know Where to Start

Jazz carries an unfortunate reputation for being intimidating, as if listening to it requires an advanced conservatory degree or a secret decoder ring. In reality, great jazz is simply about human conversation, infectious rhythm and memorable melody. The easiest way inside is not through academic theory, but through welcoming records that invite you in from the very first bar. From an informal Friday night listening club in a New York apartment where jargon is checked at the door, here are twelve essential entry points into jazz. Spanning intimate trios, breezy vocal duets, hard bop blues and modern crossover funk, each album offers a distinct and welcoming doorway into the music.