Alright. Actually, I got into jazz
because of the drummers (starting with seeing a TV program where I saw Elvin Jones playing with the Coltrane Quartet; the "Classic Quartet").
Rhythms are for me very important in jazz. Melodies are important too (especially when jazz music lacks exciting rhythms), but less as in other music genres.
I always was into drums, even before I was into hardrock.
I learned to know and appreciate many other instrumentalists via drummers. E.g. I got into the Hubbard discography via Elvin Jones.
Exploring Jazz is like exploring cinema. Hopping from people to people. Actors, Directors, Screenwriters, Cameramen, Drummers, Bassplayers, Pianists, Saxaphonists, etc.
In the end I really get into the people. The difference with metal is that in metal the products are more often a band effort, and when I enjoy a Jazz player's style, I can appreciate more albums than only his own solo albums. When Elvin Jones was a sideman for other people, big chance that I want to have those albums too. Same goes for the 1950s albums by Horace Silver and Thelonious Monk with Art Blakey. Blakey fit really well with their music.
Sometimes it works the other way around. I got into Max Roach via Sonny Rollins. And after that I got into Clifford Brown via Max Roach!
So imo it's really cool to keep the horizon as wide as possible. Don't focus too much on the leader, the sidemen are at least as important. I do it like this:
A. Buy an album by artist A (leader of the session).
B. See if I like a performance of one sideman (or more)
C. Track down other albums this sideman appeared on, and it doesn't matter if its his own album (where he is a leader or not).
D. -> A.
This site is helpful to see what some people have done:
http://www.jazzdisco.org/
Browse and enjoy!
You're starting with this way earlier in your life than I so you have lots of time, no worries.
Cheers!
).
