Why Doesn't Contemporary Jazz Get Any Respect?

Just my two cents worth but I believe the way in which we listen to music informs our tastes at any given time. Some may listen to music in an analytical way and "true" jazz may be what they do that with. Some may find the emotional message enough, and certainly either trad jazz or smooth jazz can accomplish that. Sometimes you just want to sit back and not require such a high level of analytical listening or emotional involvement and sonic wallpaper suits that moment. If you were seeking a relaxed, laid back mood and smooth jazz accomplished that for you, who is to naysay the worth of it? I have a large collection of traditional jazz on both LP and CD, and enjoy it immensely and yet there are times when smooth jazz is what the moment and mood requires. To use a cold war analogy, maybe peaceful coexistence is what's called for rather than mutually assured destruction.

Some truth to your comment, Coltrane1, but I think youre forgetting the impact the industry has on whether youre perceived as traditional or smooth jazz. Talent doesnt seem to count for as much as what the producers and marketing execs think your place in the scheme of things is. Are you saleable seems to count more, rightly or wrongly. A very talented musician who thinks he is striving to be perceived as a more "serious" jazz artist may be pigeonholed by the industry as "smooth" jazz. Does that make him less talented than the artists who are put by the industry into the "serious jazz" category? The artist will get airplay when and where the executives think he or she should, and that is a little bit (but not by much) different than it used to be. The thread was why doesnt contemprorary jazz get more respect, and I think at this point in time most acknowledge black musicians' contributions and struggles. I've been a musician for a long time, classically trained from when I was 7 as well as self taught on contemporary music, and I find the comment about "for those who know music" very elitist. Are you saying that those you consider "less knowledgeable" cannot make a determination about what type of jazz they prefer at any given time?

Coltrane, you missed the point entirely. No one equated classical jazz with smooth jazz, the point made was both have their place and each deserves trheir own respect for what they are. And you seem to have answered your own r hetorical question-peace out.

Santana always manages to keep that great tone, whether its his early recordings done with a Gibson SG Standard, or the more contemporary stuff using a Paul Reed Smith. ANd of course the choice of amps and pedals affects tone as well.--Mrmitch