Miles Davis,extreme Jazz and the death of Jazz

Jazz is probably my favorite music form. Miles Davis one of my favorite musicians. Jazz is not in a "golden age". I wonder if this is due to marketing.Too many players are pushed to the fore front because they are the right age or present the right image. Has MTV contaminated a true American art form? Many of the young artist do have the manners to respect their predecessors but seem to lack the ability to (or are prevented from)presenting their own unique presentation (this is a major component of this art form!). Every once in a while (rarely) I hear no name musicians playing good refreshing new and origianal arrangements. Unfortunately all too rarely. I love the standards, but after thirty years of listening to too much of the same music, no matter how good it is I'm anxious for a fresh idea. Too many Jazz musicians think showing off how well they can play scales is comperable to brilliant improvistation. Another crutch is the plagerizing the licks of others rather than learning to listen and express. Jazz is a highly demanding art form that requires one to innatley undderstand music theory or better yet create their own (such as Parker's Horthology). Another problem with many jazz compostions is the inability to make a complete statement, with a beginning, a middle and this the problem an end. I'm tired of jazz compositions ending with the typical free form jam. Some of the most vile Jazz productions have been "Jazzy" versions of other popular formats. While potentily able to be legtimate forms of art, all too often they come across as the insincere, lazy, money grubbing efforts that they are. moey Many jazz musicians seem to have little respect for their audience. They come ill prepared with out rehearsing using the free form and improvistaional aspects as a lazy excuse for the lack of a professional presentation. I'm tired of paying to see shows that are just fun (sometimes obviously just the opposite) practice/jam sessions. I realize that spontaneity, improvisation and jam sessions are all part of a rich tradition but using these traditions as an excuse for lack of preparation has become abused. Another gripe I have is the use of way too much amplification in small jazz clubs. Why they need it in the first place, I don't know? I think it hurts the art form. The musicians aren't listening to each other as carfully and as such the interplay suffers. Many musicians just seem to be in competion as to who can play louder and as such don't develop the art of using contrasting dynamics. Vocalists are particularly guiltiy of never deveolping their chops. Too often it appears as though the musicians are just patiently waiting to solo with little regard for the piece as a whole. Ther does seem to be some interesting new Afro beat stuff comming along. As it tends to emphazize group more than individual playing maybe it will bring back some of the maturity that seems to have been lost in this art form. Let hope some refreshing stuff comes with it.