John Coltrane or Miles Davis?
 

When i first started listening to jazz (not to long ago) these were the two artists everyone repeatedly recommended to me. Which do you prefer and why? and do you think this is a good starting point for someone who wants to start listening to more jazz or would you have recommended a different artist?

The first two jazz albums i listened to all the way through were John Coltranes Blue train and Miles Davis Kind of blue. Although i preferred John Coltranes' Blue Train album, neither album were the kind of jazz i was looking for at the time.

I prefer Miles end-to-end - whole career string. I prefer many of the directions he went in (and created). I dig me Coltrane lots too but for another thing, Coltrane appears on a lot of Miles's lead material, but Miles does not appear on any of Coltrane's lead material -- so with Miles's material you can have both.

Like half-drag said, with Miles you get some Coltrane, too. Plus, Bitches Brew is a ride. Miles wins this one.

what jazz were you looking for at the time? sidney bechet? louis armstrong?

...pat metheny?

Miles definitely. He is much more experimental, takes jazz to a new level.

Coltrane, i like the kick he had in his music.

I've listened to Miles more but I think if I listened to some more Coltrane I might like it better

I like Coltrane's hard bop and modal stuff more than Davis', but I like Davis' fusion stuff more than anything Coltrane did.