charlie parker
john coltrane
louis armstrong
just look around...

Kind of Blue is definetley a real milestone in the beginning of modal jazz. The band consists of Miles second-formed quintet, Miles, John Conltrane, Wynton Kelley (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). In addition, Cannonbal Adderly plays (from his earlier quintet w/Red Garland and Philly Joe), and Bill Evans joins him (playing all tracks except for Freddie the Freeloader which is Wynton Kelley).

-Suggestion to the guy who started this topic about jazz artists for new listeners, I suggest Milestones, and Round About Midnight.

...Also I really really reccommend Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage. You may have heard of the tune Cantelope Island. And if you like that, get their other album, Empyrian Isles. The quartet is Freddie Hubbard, Herbie (piano) Ron Carter (bass) and Tony Williams (drums). This famous rhythm section also played with Miles` later quintet 1963-66 which included George Coleman on Tenor.. and then Wayne Shorter (tenor)which is possibly the most famous jazz ensemble of the 60s.

If you`re new to jazz, I can defenitely recommend Katie Melua`s album "Call of the Search". She`s got a very nice, clear voice, a good timing and some nice songs like "Crawling up a hill" and "My Aphrodisiac" (<-My favourites).

Kurt Rosenwinkle. the song Conception is awesome

if you want to find the most popular album by an artist/group you like, and i know i can never sort through kazillions of obscure charts someone did, then go to a music database ie iTunes, find the artist, and look up top for top albums. those are the ones you want to look at.