For me, getting into Jazz was like being that guy who takes 10 minutes to get into a swimming pool.

Prog rock led me to the Canterbury sound. That lead me to more of the rock-based fusion bands (Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago). They led me to the more jazz influenced fusions bands (Mahavishnu Orchestra) They led me to Miles Davis' 'In a Silent Way'. I then took a jazz history class at college and my horizons opened completely from there.

I started with Black Saint & Sinner Lady, mostly because Radiohead mentioned Charles Mingus as an influence. From there I started exploring Miles Davis, Albert Ayler, Lee Morgan, David Brubeck, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker, Mulatu Astatke, Thelonius Monk and my favourite, John Coltrane.

I'm still far from knowledgeable on jazz, but I'm enjoying the voyage of discovery. I'd say listening to any one of those musicians would be a good start.

That's a really good selection of artists to start with. I love them all!

i dunno, i always thought the ideal place would be the less technical, poppier stuff like Manhattan Transfer

Try Fats Domino & BB King, they are brilliant, and their music also helped pioneer early Rock & Roll

BB King is Jazz?

That would definitely not have been a good place for me to start but that certainly underscores the fact that the answer really depends on the person.

I've started to deeply get into jazz this year. It's exciting getting into a whole new genre of music, especially one so wide.

Coltrane's Giant Steps is where I started and it's still one of me faves. I recommend it as a starting point as it is completly accessible. And bloody brilliant.

i just got Black Saint and Giant Steps

haven't listened to them yet, though

'Symphony for Improvisors' by Don Cherry is an incredible listen if you can stomach the song lengths.