great topic
right now im listening to some MJQ - i love john lewis' style, his solo on 'django' (from the album django) is exquisite!
bud powell has already been mentioned - people should check out 'the amazing bud powell vol 1' and 2. and 'the scene changes' (that album is worth it for the cover alone).
andrew hill as mentioned earlier - so far ive only listened to 'black fire' and 'judgement' (which has bobby hutcherson on vibes - maybe one day we can have a vibraphone post?). both are brilliant, its quite challenging music, rhythmically (try tapping your feat to 'pumpkin' from black fire...)
my favorite monk lp is 'chriss-cross' - its pretty much perfect music to me, i know practically every note by heart but i'll never get tired of listening to it.
ahmad jamal's 'the awakening' is probably my favorite trio album - really beautiful music, i was listening to that long before i really became interested in jazz.
herbie hancock's 'maiden voyage', and his playing on bobby hutchersons 'oblique'
never really got into keith jarrett so much, but i really like 'belonging'
then theres jaki byard - i havent really listened to any of his albums as leader yet, but check out his playing on booker ervins 'heavy' - great album!
im interested in getting to know some mal waldron as well, he plays on 'percussion bittersweet' and i have his album 'the quest' which has some great songs. he has some trio albums that are meant to be good too.
i think ill be trying some herbie nichols next though, i have the complete blue note recordings, awaiting listening...