[magiccabbage]

  Two jazz/fusion groups that really helped me bridge from an all rock-oriented palette were Snarky Puppy and The Roy Hargrove Quintet.

seen roy hargrove live with Gregory porter - was the best gig i have ever seen!!!!

 

[jasonb]

I listened to all 5 of my latest purchases. All 5 were bought totally unheard, and I love them all.

 

[StanD]

The Dave Weckl Band is worth listening to. Everything they do is superb, "Try it, you'll like it."
 

 

[JoeDoe]

  The Dave Weckl Band is worth listening to. Everything they do is superb, "Try it, you'll like it."
 

+1 

 

[Spyro]

I've been to over 200 concerts and Dave Weckl Band was easily in top 5.   Between Dave and Tom Kennedy (bassist) my jaw was on the floor all night long.  It helped that I was front row too.
 
Ken Navarro has 2 releases out (Dreaming of Trains, Grace of Summer Light) that are really nice transitions into jazz.  Really good uplifting music.  His other releases lean a little bit more "smooth" jazz than I like but these two above are excellent.

 

[StanD]

  I've been to over 200 concerts and Dave Weckl Band was easily in top 5.   Between Dave and Tom Kennedy (bassist) my jaw was on the floor all night long.  It helped that I was front row too.
 
Ken Navarro has 2 releases out (Dreaming of Trains, Grace of Summer Light) that are really nice transitions into jazz.  Really good uplifting music.  His other releases lean a little bit more "smooth" jazz than I like but these two above are excellent.

Weckl is definitely first rate in my book. They are really tight when they play live.
I'll guess that you might like some of the below:
Jean Luc Ponte
Weather Report
Yellowjackets
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Return to Forever - Chic Corea
 
And of course, considering your name, Spyro Gyra. "Walk the Walk" is a nice piece of theirs.

 

[moriez]

Off the top of the head, which artists make music in the vein of Tomasz Stanko (quintet/quartet)? Love some of his stuff.

 

[jasonb]

I'm currently listening to Bitches Brew for the first time... it's quite a challenging listen. There is a lot going on.

 

[JoeDoe]

  I'm currently listening to Bitches Brew for the first time... it's quite a challenging listen. There is a lot going on.

Yes there is. Bitches Brew is an ambitious listen for most. Certainly an album that changed jazz music as it was known then.

 

[wuwhere]

I like this album too, Nefertiti by Miles Davis.
 

 

[TJ Elite]

  I like this album too, Nefertiti by Miles Davis.

The title track Nefertiti is one of my favorite Miles Davis tracks. The basic concept is just so refreshing.

 

[prosperone]

  Yes there is. Bitches Brew is an ambitious listen for most. Certainly an album that changed jazz music as it was known then.

+1
Check out Sketches of Spain, a much easier listen.  One suggested approach to jazz is to start with Davis and then listen to the people he played with, then listen to the people they played with...  Its pretty interesting, and it works (can't remember where I read it originally).
 
Davis played with: Gillespie, Parker, Hawkins, Navarro, Webster, JJ Johnson, Monk, Roach, Mingus, Ellington, Roach, Brown,Rollins, Blakey, Coltrane, Garland, Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Adderley, Gil Evans, Mobley, Carter, Hancock, Sam Rivers, Shorter, Zawinul, McLaughlin, Dejohnette, Jarrett...  A pretty impressive list by any standard.  Spider webbing out from Davis to these players catalogs and then out the the next level can take a long time.  It does however make for a very interesting and focused journey.  I also find it hard to go wrong with any early Blue Note recordings. 

 

[daigo]

  I'm currently listening to Bitches Brew for the first time... it's quite a challenging listen. There is a lot going on.

 
I could barely get through my first listen of that album.  It was very experimental, with some really sharp sounds that weren't what I was expecting from a jazz album.

 

[tattoou2]

Just two suggestions:
 

 

 

[StanD]

Try this, it will surprise you.