Jazz Hands

I am ambivalent about West Coast "easier" jazz. Some of it is really great -- Ritenour, Larry Carlton, for example. Other stuff from that region sometimes strikes me almost like Muzak, though that's too harsh. It's "jazz for bourgeois white people," in a way. Nothing wrong with liking what you like -- and not everything has to be Coltrane wailing away, etc. -- but for my tastes, I'd much prefer the "ease" of, say, a Kenny Barron than the schmaltz of a Bob James. But that's me.

@judsauce I gave you my opinion, based on 40 years of listening and learning about jazz. It doesn’t align with yours. We have different tastes.

Because this guy has had a career based on talent that you are all blind in seeing or appreciating.

You’ve phrased this in a way which puts me down. That’s on you. But I don’t doubt his talent. He’s very very talented within a style and genre which I don’t prefer. I’m sure there are people who are very good at golf or sailing. There are experts at making Mac n' Cheese or paper airplanes. They can all be talented experts. I just don’t appreciate those things either.

And you should all be so lucky to be alive at his age.

And now...this. Why would you get so defensive about this artist that you’re saying this? Really, man, you need to understand that people appreciate -- and evaluate -- things differently. I’ll be going now and I know you won’t miss me, but you’ve shown me (and others) who you are. So that’s your burden, now.