Hey folks, I've been wanting to get into jazz for a while now, but I'm not sure where to start. Since most of what I listen to is pop/arabesque-heavy, I'm stumbling right out of the gate. What are your recommendations? For example, instead of album suggestions, how do you approach it? What should I pay attention to on my first listen to really enjoy it? If you have one, would you recommend a starting path?
Where should I start with jazz?
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Start with one of the most relaxing jazz pieces, like Miles Davis' "Blue in Green" or Coltrane's "Blue Train." Focus on the tempo and instruments of the piece, try to capture the soul of the melody. The important thing is to enjoy and love jazz from the very first listen, above all else.
Dude, starting out with jazz was kinda confusing for me too, honestly. I remember listening to a Miles Davis album once and thinking, "What the hell is this?"
But then I slowly realized that with jazz, there’s no rushing it—you gotta feel it, you know?
My advice? Start by just listening without forcing it. Like, try stuff that’s more melodic and familiar first, stuff that you can actually enjoy. Maybe Louis Armstrong’s *"What A Wonderful World"* or Esperanza Spalding’s *"Black Gold"*—those kinds of tracks. The easiest way to start loving jazz is to connect it to the instrumentation and harmonies you already dig in other genres. So if you’re into pop or arabesque, try finding those same emotions in jazz.
Don’t force yourself to love something right away like I did at first. Just crack the door open, and let jazz pull you into its rhythm.