Jazz listening: Is it about the music? Or is it about the sound?

I grew up listening to jazz. Learning names like Miles, Trane, Gordon, etc. it rubbed off. As an adult jazz is 90% of what I listen to. Playing trumpet in school, my first influence was Freddie Hubbard’s First Light LP. What a trumpet player. What an album, and some of CTI’s finest work in 1971. I’ve studied both jazz piano and jazz guitar. One doesn’t have to be a musician to know jazz, but studying does give one insights. I’ve been listening to jazz for 58 years. And I’ve not scratched the surface of available music. 

The music. It’s always about the music. Back in the day those cat's created a music unlike any other. They were nothing short of geniuses for the amount of great music they created. Each band, each musician had something different to offer, and their individual styles were unique. And one could identify them by their signature sound. The music had a solid 30 year run. Everything moves on and nothing stays the same. 

CTI Records: Jim Hall with an all star cast, Concierto. George Benson on records Body Talk and Take 5. Ron Carter, the great bassist may as well have been considered as the house bassist because he’s featured on countless CTI recordings. Freddie Hubbard was simply sublime on First Light. I was finishing high school in 72 and being the first time I’d smoked pot, that album took on a new dimension. 
I loved the rock and soul music of the 60’s and 70’s too. But the jazz was other worldly. And I wasn’t yet 18! After finishing a 4 year stint in the Navy, in 77 I’d discover the feel good music of Chuck Mangione. If you like flugelhorn, he, Freddie Hubbard, and the great Bobby Shew, are your guys. Those were the days.