The Stunning Recording thread is primarily Classical links and I have ordered a "Starter Set" including Holst and Stravinski with a couple of others. The only Jazz link that is surviving is one for the Oscar Peterson Trio. I have never listened to Jazz although I think my dad was a Jazz fan in his day. I would order a Jazz "Starter Set" if I had any idea where to start. Any of you guys have Jazz reco's?

I think the two I suggested in the Pandoras box thread are pretty good because they are more easy listening.

One thing you can do is check out your local library. Its a great way to listen to stuff if you are not sure you will like it.

You are referencing the Dave Brubeck and Chick Corea? I'll give them a spin - so to speak. I also called my brother and asked for recos.

Yup.

I'd recommend Kind of Blue or Birth of the Cool by Miles Davis and My Favorite Things by John Coltrane, in addition to the others.

If you like vocal jazz, anything by Ella Fitzgerald is a must.

Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is a must have. If you like it, then I would recommend any of his recordings on the Prestige label. Try Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and Charles Mingus' Ah Um! next. If you find that you prefer more recently made jazz, look at The Rippingtons' Moonlighting and Acoustic Alchemy's Back on the Case. If you really like some of these suggestions, let me know and I can suggest others with a similar sound. The good news is, like classical, many of these recordings can be found relatively inexpensively.

Excellent...your suggestions with Kcarlile for Miles Davis - My brother also said he is a must have definately puts him in the Set. I think I would also check some of the more recent stuff as well

I have more than 20 of Miles Davis' CDs. My favorites were recorded in the 1950s and early to mid 1960s. Miles always had good recording engineers and producers with him through his career and I can't think of a single poorly recorded album of his. Miles also had an ear for talent and had many excellent musicians backing him.

A little known recording called Jazz at the Pawnshop, and several follow-ons

Another is called Digital Duke, a modern day tribute to Duke Ellington

Both are specialty recordings on audiophile labels - if memory serves

I have found that for quite some time now, Jazz and Classical recordings, regardless of the vehicle(CD or Vinyl) in terms of "audiophile" quality and consistency, they have generally always been the best. It has been no accident that reviewers tend to use this type of music for judging equipment. The trouble with pop or rock is that songs on the album can be recorded at several different venues with different producers and recording engineers hence an inconsistency in the entire process and outcome.

OR, it could just be that the musicians on Jazz and Classical are that much better.