Miles Davis,extreme Jazz and the death of Jazz

I am not a jazz scholar either, but would certainly agree that jazz is far past it's golden age, with the 'critical mass' date hovering somewhere around 1974. In recent years, it seems that some interesting stuff has been happening however. This is, of course, overwhelmed by a blanket of overproduced and overmarketed artists and the burden of the 'fuzak' scene to some degree. Some of the folks involved with the AACM collective seem to be producing some intriguing music. I picked up a disc recently by the Ernest Dawkins New Horizons Ensemble that is farily astounding. Henry Threadgill is still producing very innovative music in most of his guises and just about anything that Kahil El'Zabar produces as a solo artist, in collaboration or with the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is fairly crucial music. I have a few discs that Randy Weston did in the mid to late '90's that are quite excellent as well. If you are into free jazz, there still seems to be quite a bit of activity and vital music in this scene currently happening. It requires careful digging, but it seems that quite a bit is still happening, even if we're not able to strut into the Village Vanguard to witness some of the bop-era greats laying down serious grooves as they did in the days of yore. Suffice to say, I haven't given up hope yet!