Jazz artists for late starter.

The Lynne Arriale Trio from the mid to late 90s. I haven't heard her more recent cds. Lynne leads this piano trio playing a very melodic, lyrical piano. Drummer Steve Davis has a very unique style and uses sticks most of the time.

Lots of all 'round good artists mentioned. Certainly can't go wrong with these many great jazz legends. But let's not forget a whole group of young lions who continue the tradition: trumpeters Roy Hargrove and Nicholas Payton, bassist Christian McBride, sax men Joshua Redman and Branford Marsalis, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, and very original guitarist Terence Brewer. For sultry female vocalists, try relative unknown - but very talented - Rene Marie. Cassandra Wilson is very good as well. Good luck and happy listening!

Remember, he doesn't like vocalists. (Hate to see someone miss so much good stuff, but...)

My apologies ... didn't notice that you DON'T care for vocalists. So a few more contemporary artists playing traditional "straight ahead" jazz: Terence Blanchard, John Faddis (has a very well-recorded, large ensemble, hybrid SACD entitled "Remembrances"), and young vibraphonist Stefon Harris.

A few I believe I haven't seen so far: Carla Bley (even if you don't like it, you should have heard Escalator Over The Hill once), Charlie Haden, Gary Burton, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Red Garland Quintet, John Patitucci, Dave Holland Quintet, Lounge Lizards, oh, and another spectacular drummer: Cindy Blackman.

You may also want to include examples of European jazz from a multitude of origins and influences. Without any claim for being complete or even a particularly well studied selection, I'd just throw in some unavoidable ones:

Django Reinhardt (sort of "founding father" of European jazz), Esbjorn Svensson Trio (ESP), Niels Orsted Pedersen, Nils Petter Molvaer (pure adrenaline), Hein van de Geyn (though I'm sorry to say, avoid the critically acclaimed latest record with Lee Konitz, which is terribly uninspired), Wolfgang Haffner, Albert Mangelsdorf, United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Toots Thielemans, Bert Joris Quartet, Marc Moulin, Renaud Garcia-Fons Trio, Martial Solal, Eric Truffaz, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Jan Garbarek, Miroslav Vitous and Joe Zawinul (who have been living in the US for ages of course but always sound/ sounded, well, different somehow).

OK, next!