Jazz artists for late starter.

To Dcstep
Are you a politician ? With each new post you make statements but never answer the question asked.
I did a tally of the posters and consensus has it that more dead or retired musicians were listed then live.In fact it wasn't even close.
In Oem's original post he suggests listening to music by dead artists.You took offense to this and i cant see why.
Your argumentative position is uncalled for.
Possibly there are other issues that you have with Oem that doesn't pertain to this thread or maybe you receive enjoyment by being antagonistic.
This is only MHO.I wonder what the other posters think

Dcstep>I love a good argument but i have learned that sometimes an argument cant be won and shouldn't be fought.
You continually distort what is said,refuse to answer questions and you are down right arrogant.
On 6/25 when Jazzbird mentions The Art Ensemble of Chicago,Ornette Coleman and Sun Ra along with some other outstanding artists (good job Jazzbird) you failed to address this list.
When Oem made his initial post on 6/26 you went on the attack and stated more or less that Gawdbless would not like the 3 performers mentioned therefore Oem was entirely wrong.
Oem never mentioned any performer I ask why you didnt disagree with Jazzbird.
Oem said he didnt care for jazz vocals but Billie Holiday knocks him out.You respond with If Gawdbless doesn't like Ella he wont like Billie either.Oem never stated that Gawdbless would like Billie.Then you throw in Cassandra Wilson to compare to Ms.Holiday.You are entitled to your opinion but do you actually believe it??
Oem states that most innovators are gone.You reply with 5 individuals that you say are innovators.Oem asked why do you think that they are.You never answered that question but than go on to call his assertions absurd and ridiculous.
I take up this arguement because I have been asked recently which Jazz artists do I like.My reply was all the dead ones.
That doesn't mean I dislike all that are still alive.In fact I do like many but rather list about 50 that I think were/are exceptional I made a blanket statement.
I could go on about innovation but it seems to me that the young turks from the 80's dropped the ball.Maybe it was the fault of the producers or the record companies I can't say but today its hard to find a Jazz station on radio let alone a live performance and fact is no one really cares.Maybe a few of the hanger- oners and the ones that think the know.

Strateahed> I should have noted that I am hanging on also.Its
sometimes hard to do when my local station plays 4 in a row and its Sade,Kenny G,Spyra Gyra and more Kenny G.
I enjoy Dianne Reeves,I have some of her albums.I would say
she is very underrated with those that are "In The Know"