Why Doesn't Contemporary Jazz Get Any Respect?

It's the old music-as-art vs. music-as-product argument.

For me the "irritating" nature of true jazz (and all artistic music!) is communication direct from the hearts and souls of the musicians, as opposed to the drab dullness of most smooth jazz sonic wallpaper.

Good musicianship is not enough. It takes passion to transcend music to the level of art.

Let the flames begin!

First of all the statement that smooth jazz musicians are some of the best musician in the world is completely false and is an insult to those musicans who dedicate their lives to the art.

The word Jazz in smooth jazz is completely misused. It is in fact instrumental pop. It is popular because, surprise it is pop music. It is shallow and lacks any real emotional depth, it has nothing to say. It's only goal is to offend no-one and thus it is played in elevators everywhere.

It does offend me as commercial garbage masquerading as music, pretending to be some form of Jazz (an art form)and that is why you find such harsh critisism. Like saying that celine Dion or Mariah Carey is a great jazz singer, that is the level of absurdity we are talking about.

I can not tell you how sad it makes me to know that people mistake this "smooth jazz" for Jazz or even to label it as music at all. To do that is to miss the incredible depth of expression that real music has to offer. Find music that shows you something, that tells a story, that is made with passion, joy or pain and revel in it.

Leave the smooth jazz for the elevators and let som real music into your life.

Why are some Blue Note LP's bringing upwards to $3200.00? (Chad Kassem told me at 1995 Winter CES sold an original "Candy" for that figure). Certainly they are rare, certainly there were few made. They sold new for less than $10.00. Supply and demand?

I'm not looking for a fight. But does anyone see any Smooth Jazz CD or record selling for that much in the future, even without taking devaluation of the Dollar into account? This is an honest question.

I'd like to go slightly off topic for a moment if I may. I picked up a movie the other night on DVD called *For love of country* The Arturo Sandoval story. I would think all jazz music lovers will enjoy this movie. Andy Garcia does a bang up job playing the part of Arturo. Check it out at your local Blockbusters the music is fantastic!

What Sdcampbell and others have said about smooth jazz is what I was saying about classical Pops concerts. While it may be played by a symphony orchestra in a symphony concert venue, it is not classical music. The name sais it all, it is pop music. Same here. To the traditional jazz listener, it may be called smooth jazz, but is isn't jazz. There is no improvisation to speak of. This does not make it bad music; its success is proof enough that is is good music to those who like it.