To appreciate and like jazz one has to understand, and more importantly, "HEAR and PROCESS" the chord structures and chord progressions. Without that ability, jazz sounds like a lot of unstructured notes randomly put together. The term Jazz was coined in the late 19th century based on the music genre originated from New Orleans but classical composers like Bach and Mozart could have been called the jazz musicians in their days. Just listen to any classical performance that is called "Variations on a theme by ...." and if you can make out the melody on each variation then you can "hear" jazz. Jazz has evolved into many forms but if you give the chord progression of a song to a group of jazz musicians they can play together based on it without needing to know what song they are playing. Each musician can take turn improvising using that progression while the others provide support based on the same. If you can hear when one of them stray from the progression then you can "hear" jazz. If you can't chances are you won't like jazz. Some of these chords and progressions can be very complex. Brazilian jazz has very weird chords and you have to be able to recognize them when you hear them. Most popular music has simpler chords and progressions with an easily recognized melody.
Can you recommend Jazz for some one that doesn't like Jazz?
Let me explain, I have tried to like jazz for over 30 years. I rarely find something I like. To me it sounds too disjointed, like everyone is trying to out do the others and they are all playing a different song. I know there has to be some good instrumental smooth jazz artists I am missing. If you have any suggestions of whom to try let me know. Some that are on my Jazz playlist is Pat Metheny-"It's for you" Bill Frisell _"Heard it through the grapevine" Holly Cole, George Benson... for an example of things I do like.
I'd love to have a 100 song Jazz playlist. So what'ch got for me?
Thanks