So it has only been in the last year or so that I've grown to appreciate and enjoy jazz, and now I listen to it quite a lot at work and in the evening. However, I tend to listen to just the same few musicians (Cannonball Adderley, Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davies, Ahmad Jamal, Thelonious Monk and The Oscar Peterson Trio) though, and I'm looking to branch out.
So, Hubski, do you have any recommendations?
Personally I really like Charles Mingus. He has some really fun bass lines that I feel most other jazz musicians overlook. In my opinion, Mingus is the best jazz bassist. He understood both his instrument and the role it could play in a composition better than any other bassist has. Mingus is the guy I can always listen to.
If you want something a little more modern, check out Herbie Hancock. He has some interesting electronic jazz music that feels kinda experimental while still staying firmly in the territory of jazz.
And then there's the 80's take on jazz with Jaco Pastorious. He's just a wicked awesome electric bassist. I've actually studied this guy when I started playing electric, and some of his compositions are incredibly complex.