When did a gateway to modern jazz finally click for you?

[Jonathan.J]

I’ve been trying to get into more modern jazz, but every playlist I find just feels too chaotic or academic. I put on that new album by Alfa Mist hoping for something with a solid groove, and while I liked the vibe, it still didn’t quite click for me. What was the gateway artist or record that made it finally make sense for you?

[Emily31]

GoGo Penguin was my gateway I heard their grooves and it clicked that modern jazz could be propulsive and patient at the same time I stopped chasing complex chords and started listening to the pocket

[Scarlett.A]

I went digging into Makaya McCraven In These Times and the way the drums line up with the samples finally made sense to me the groove carried me through each track

[VioletJH]

Maybe the problem is not the artist but the way playlists smear the tempo and mood I tried listening to a full album straight through in a quiet room and still felt a bit lost

[Mila_B]

I keep returning to Kamasi Washington in small doses but the scale makes me glaze over I wish a single tight groove record had happened sooner