I know nothing about jazz, can someone help me out?

Question

I wanted to know what type of jazz would this be considered, I'm going to have to be vague. all I can associate it is with coffee shops, it's probably newer, no vocals, lots of saxophone...
can I get some good albums to purchase to start me out?

Answer 1

You are probably referring to some form of "Bop". The newer forms are just rehashes of older ones.
There are several subgenres, but I won't get into that. Here are some MUST HAVE albums:

KIND OF BLUE by Miles Davis
STRAIGHT NO CHASER by Thelonious Monk
MINGUS AH UM by Charles Mingus
A LOVE SUPREME by John Coltrane
IDLE MOMENTS by Grant Green

Those are all classic jazz albums, but if you want some good NEW jazz, here's what I recommend:

NEW FEATURES by HiM
THE HIDDEN LAND by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
CONSEQUENCE OF CHAOS by Al Di Meola
A LIVINGROOM HUSH by Jaga Jazzist

Answer 2

if your looking for some stuff with lots of saxes then Steve Cole, David Sanborn, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker would be your best bet. Myles Davis is a good trumpet player along with Dizzy Gilepsie.
Any of the old stuff should be good for more classic jazz. Im not very familiar with some of the newer stuff, but there are some good artists out there.
Big band stuff is pretty good too, i mainly listen to Gordon Goodwins Big Phat Band their pretty good.

Answer 3

Spend some time on iTunes listening to various types of jazz. You will soon learn what you like. The neat thing about jazz is that it has never gotten overplayed like some forms of music and there is much great music to be heard that will be new to you. Enjoy some Coltrane, Bird, Parker....yea man.

Answer 4

I'm happy to help a new listener. I has helped in the same way, not too long ago. These are some great albums that I think you're asking for...

Miles Davis Kind of Blue album. It's a great album for a beginner, and it's great even if you've heard a whole lot of jazz. Get it. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:cx8ibk59hakv

Thelonious is another great and important master of jazz. I suggest that you start out with the Monk's Dream album. Don't operate heavy machinery while listening. Monk swings the hardest of any jazz musician, in my little opinion. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:o6rv28or058a

This is the album that really turned me onto jazz. I still enjoy it and respect it. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:tuadqjmbojka

This is a great album, centered around the guitar playing, although McCoy Tyner is at his best (piano player from Coltrane's band). It's another great album that's easy to like. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:2t6fmpsd9f3o

Here's a great album that you really have to hear. I can't even talk about it. The whole band is amazing. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:8g87gjtr86iv

Another great and easy to like album. Freddie Hubbard is at his best through the whole album (on trumpet, fluglehorn). It's a concept album, and it really does flow like the sea, as Herbie intended it to. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:00vsa9cgy23g

Horace Silver plays piano with soul. The songs are great and so is the band. Everything works on this album. It's another easy to like album too. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:6zmyxdgb8oly

Please trust these suggestions. These are classic albums. They are accesible to the beginner's ear.

PS-Here's a modern great. Personally, I think it's a great album. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:51uj6j3371t0

I think the previous answers are good too.