One of the rules of life that I live by is that “It’s not so much ‘I know what I like’ as ‘I like what I know.’” Most people don’t appreciate jazz because they have no frame of reference. Back when it first began, people liked it because the musicians were playing songs that were familiar to them, such as “I Got Rhythm” or “Body and Soul.” Either that, or the bands played music made for dancing, which gave us the “Swing Era” or music for moods to be wooed (think Julie London) or easy access coolness as in Dave Brubeck.
Just because someone doesn’t like jazz now doesn’t mean they won’t eventually become fans. Skeptics make the best converts. Ever hear of the Apostle Paul? He was Saul of Tarsus who attacked the faithful before he “saw the light.”
So, where can you start with your friend who thinks they will never become a jazz fan? The answer lays in history; get them interested in the types of music that made jazz popular in various times past. People flocked to hear various jazz artists like they do today for rock and pop stars. We jazz fans need to remember why people like “what they like.”
Here is a list of artists and albums that will get your friends on the right path. I’ve also given reasons for the picks, and for what type of friend each artist is directed toward.
Louis Armstrong: Satch Plays Fats and Satch Plays W.C. Handy. There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t love the joyful voice of Louis Armstrong, who is caught here during his renaissance in the mid 50s on a pair of sessions. He revisits the music of the great jazz/pop composer Fats Waller and blues icon W.C. Handy, thereby letting the neophyte appreciate “traditional” jazz playing as well as learning songs from the jazz canon.
Ella Fitzgerald: The Cole Porter Songbook, The Rodgers and Hart Songbook. My younger daughter told me that it was the joy of Ella Fitzgerald’s voice on her “Songbook” series that made her fall in love with jazz. Hearing her do “Too Darned Hot” or “Johnny One Note” will get your friend in the right direction- Sarah Vaughan: In The Land of Hi Fi, With Clifford Brown. Yes, I’m including a lot of vocalists, but they make all sorts of jazz accessible. Her session with Clifford
Brown introduces people to one of the best trumpet players everywhere, and the joy of small group bebop is completely accessible in the Hi Fi disc with Roy Haynes on drums - Billie Holiday: The Quintessential Billie Holiday, The Commodore Recordings. Billie Holiday’s voice was her most joyful during the 30s and 40s, and the Quintessential also
includes her classic meetings with tenor saxist Lester Young. She also will introduce you to some of the best Tin Pan Alley tunes ever put into The Great American Songbook - Diana Krall: All For You-Here’s a singer who’s still around, and this dedication to Nat King Cole is a gem.
John Pizzarelli: Live at Birdland, Salutes Johnny Mercer. Johnny Pizzarelli plays amazing guitar, sings like Dean Martin 
and works a crowd like Mort Sahl. These two concert sets make jazz fun- Duke Ellington: Live At Newport. This 2 disc set features the wildly energetic “Dimuendo and Crescendo in Blue” that
even the most ardent jazz hater will get caught up with. The energy here is infectious - Stan Getz: Getz/ Gilberto, Jazz Samba-Stan Getz’s tenor is an invitation to jazz all by itself, but when he met with Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto for these sessions, the fad of bossa nova hit the US shores and made some of the
greatest music known to mankind. NO ONE doesn’t love this stuff. - Count Basie: The Best Of, Benny Goodman: Carnegie Hall Concert, Woody Herman: Thundering Herds 45-47. I lump these together, as they are the best of the Big Band Era. Count Basie’s Kansas City swing is caught here in
all it’s glory. Benny Goodman’s Carnegie Hall concert shows you why the clarinetist was “The King of Swing” while Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd swung with more enthusiasm than anyone deserved. - Miles Davis: Kind of Blue. Everyone likes this one. It’s moody, hip, the solos aren’t too left of center, and Miles Davis’ horn is tender as the night. Miles Ahead with orchestration by Gil Evans is a close second and Sketches of Spain has yet
to be rejected by any of my “non-jazz” friends. - Chet Baker: The Best of Chet Baker Sings, The Route. Baker’s trumpet, voice and looks defined “West Coast Cool.” He’s the ultimate understated crooner, both in singing and playing style, and his mid 50s sessions are the apotheosis of his
career. He still influences half of today’s vocalists - Pat Metheny: Pat Metheny Group, Still Life Talking, Letter From Home. Pat Metheny is arguably the most important guitarist in jazz today. He’s the perfect door to jazz for all of your rock guitar fans, as he’ll blow all your Page and Bonamassa fans away with his chops, but his lyricism will win over the ladies. Even my a-musical wife
likes him!
- Herbie Hancock: Head Hunters, Al Dimeola: Elegant Gypsy-Splendido Hotel, Weather Report: Heavy Weather. Here are the three albums that mixed the best of jazz and rock. Hancock leans toward the electric funk side, Di Meola is for guitar
fans, and Weather Report made for incredible textures. Can’t go wrong! - Wes Montgomery: The Incredible Jazz Guitar, Bumpin’. Here’s THE most influential guitarist in jazz, and these two
albums have him in easy-access settings. - Art Tatum: With Ben Webster. Eventually you’re going to have to introduce your friend to the fantastic fingers of pianist Art
Tatum, and this meeting with the foggy toned tenor of Ben Webster is an absolute delight. - John Coltrane: With Johnny Hartman, Ballads, Giant Steps. The first two albums capture the iconic tenor saxist in his most mellow and easy entry leveled. Giant Steps will impress your hard rockers with the
frenetic title track.
That’s a good start. Are there others? Of course-we’re just talking about whetting the palate of the un-enlightened. Start small, and watch the growth!