This thread drew me out of lurking mode and into the forum so here goes. I've been a jazzer all my life and there's just too much great jazz to say something as simple as Diana Krall or Miles Davis. It would be like somebody replying Beatles to a question about rock. My suggestion is this; even though it was bashed by some jazz purists go to the library and get the DVD of the PBS series called "Jazz" by Ken Burns. It starts out with the pioneers like Armstrong and Beiderbecke goes through the swing era of Goodman, Ellington,Basie, etc. into bop like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and then post bop modernists. It kind of leaves off at the fusion era and of course there is a lot of great music since then but that should give you some good ideas of what appeals to you. If you're looking for artists who are currently making waves let us know and I can hip you to some of that stuff.