New topic
Printable| Author | Message |
Is there any "contemporary"/"smooth" Jazz that anyone here actually likes? ...
I was just wonderin'... At the risk of having bricks thrown at me (yup, I can hear 'em whistling through the air now), are there any artists or albums in this hated genre that anyone likes? I agree, most of the new stuff is pretty stomach churning, but...anyone from back in the day? Maybe some Bob James- Earl Klugh-type stuff? anyway, lemme know... I'll be right here in this box  ....
... [Edited 7/10/07 8:23am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
Some of it I like. I definitely enjoy Bob James, Earl Klugh, Stanley Clarke, George Benson, Pat Metheny…
What I don’t like is how smooth jazz has seemed to eclipse much of any other type of jazz on radio. I also don’t like how there are more and more instrumental renditions of popular songs that are being played on smooth jazz stations. To me it’s just instrumental not necessarily jazz. I almost expect to hear a smooth jazz version of Walk It Out these days. What’s also detrimental is many equate smooth jazz with Kenny G and don't know or want to know anything beyond that. When I’m trapped in a car with only a radio station I’d much rather tune into smooth jazz over the other stations any day. [Edited 7/10/07 8:38am] Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
sade
yup, that's about it. sade. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
JackieBlue said: I also don’t like how there are more and more instrumental renditions of popular songs that are being played on smooth jazz stations. To me it’s just instrumental not necessarily jazz. I almost expect to hear a smooth jazz version of Walk It Out these days. What’s also detrimental is many equate smooth jazz with Kenny G and don't know or want to know anything beyond that. you're right, they throw anything that sounds kind of laid-back all together under that 'Smooth Jazz" umbrella --it could be Kenny Rogers, Air Supply and Sade, and the anouncer will turn around and purr, "smoooth Jazzzzz" 
But another sad thing about that is that in today's atmosphere, the only stations that will play some sophisticated Pop ---like, say, a new Steely Dan or Donald Fagen record-- are these "smooth jazz" type stations---but they'll play it right next to Kenny G and not even wince....and a lot of the people listening don't know or even care about the differences... ... [Edited 7/10/07 9:05am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
You're def right about the sophisticated pop rotation hence why I hate labels. Can't it just be a station that plays a potpourri of good music that's basically along the same vein? You know CD 101.9 (NY) is where I first heard EBTG's Adapt or Die remix album? You'll hear that and Nancy Wilson and Pat Metheny and an Usher instrumental all in the same break. As for Sade, she's like a staple on CD101.9 to the point where a friend of mine asked if she was one of the owners of the station! 
There's not much left on NY radio that's not dominated by hip hop or some derivative of it so smooth jazz or light fm(?)--which I think has changed its format a bit--it's the main station at a spot I frequent and I'm always surprised at their rotation--is all that's left. Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: JackieBlue said: I also don’t like how there are more and more instrumental renditions of popular songs that are being played on smooth jazz stations. To me it’s just instrumental not necessarily jazz. I almost expect to hear a smooth jazz version of Walk It Out these days. What’s also detrimental is many equate smooth jazz with Kenny G and don't know or want to know anything beyond that. you're right, they throw anything that sounds kind of laid-back all together under that 'Smooth Jazz" umbrella --it could be Kenny Rogers, Air Supply and Sade, and the anouncer will turn around and purr, "smoooth Jazzzzz"
But another sad thing about that is that in today's atmosphere, the only stations that will play some sophisticated Pop ---like, say, a new Steely Dan or Donald Fagen record-- are these "smooth jazz" type stations---but they'll play it right next to Kenny G and not even wince....and a lot of the people listening don't know or even care about the differences... ... That's one of the things that pisses me off about this "genre". Not only did they co-opt the term JAZZ and hoodwink people into thinking that's what they're hearing, they're not even consistent in their playlist.  More later, after the cold shower.
tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I like both Bob James
aaaand Earl Klugh I have a handful each of their albums some George Benson, Hubert Laws Larry Grosin & the other guy (forget his name) Maynard Ferguson... Roy Ayers, Quincy... I love musicians I'm getting more & more into the stuff as the days go by... because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
DirtyChris said: I like both Bob James
aaaand Earl Klugh I have a handful each of their albums some George Benson, Hubert Laws Larry Grosin & the other guy (forget his name) Maynard Ferguson... Roy Ayers, Quincy... I love musicians I'm getting more & more into the stuff as the days go by... Yeah, Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, I hear Ya.... just for the record  , here's an example of some albums from back in the day that I really like --and these would probably all be classified under that umbrella nowadays....
a lot of it falls somewhere between Pop with Light Jazz flourishes, instrumental/vocal R&B and Jazz Funk---at any rate, more R&B/Pop than Jazz...but there's something about the feel...somehow it doesn't seem as plastic and sickening as a lot of the new "smooth jazz" stuff.... the compositions and playing had more feeling, more groove, more soul...and less of that "smooth" thing....                       
... [Edited 7/11/07 0:43am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: Yeah, Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, I hear Ya....
just for the record , here's an example of some albums from back in the day that I really like --and these would probably all be classified under that umbrella nowadays....
a lot of it falls somewhere between Pop with Light Jazz flourishes, instrumental/vocal R&B and Jazz Funk---at any rate, more R&B/Pop than Jazz...but there's something about the feel...somehow it doesn't seem as plastic and sickening as a lot of the new "smooth jazz" stuff....I dunno, maybe the compositions and playing had more feeling, more groove, more soul...and less of that "smooth" thing.... [img]a whole mess of goodness was up in here[/img] I'll orgnote you my home address. Please box all of the above and send to me. Thanks! | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I'm familiar with about ten of those albums and agree they'd fit under the umbrella.
I used to run Spellbound on cassette. It was one of the first albums I bought when I started delving into jazz on my own. Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
According to the allmusic entry, smooth jazz is defined as follows:
Smooth Jazz is an outgrowth of fusion, one that emphasizes its polished side. Generally, smooth jazz relies on rhythms and grooves instead of improvisation. There are layers of synthesizers, lite-funk rhythms, lite-funk bass, elastic guitars, and either trumpets, alto, or soprano saxophones. The music isn't cerebral, like hard bop, nor is it gritty and funky like soul-jazz or groove -- it is unobtrusive, slick, and highly polished, where the overall sound matters more than the individual parts. Top artists of the genre include: • Kenny G • The Rippingtons • David Sanborn • Gerald Albright • George Benson • Boney James • Chris Botti • Fourplay • George Howard • Ben Sidran • The Yellowjackets • Alex Bugnon • Bobby Caldwell • Brian Culbertson • Candy Dulfer • Gene Dunlap • Fattburger • Dave Koz • Jeff Lorber • Eric Marienthal I do like some of that, so I guess I don't dislike the genre as a whole. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RipHer2Shreds said: I'll orgnote you my home address. Please box all of the above and send to me. Thanks!
.... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RipHer2Shreds said: According to the allmusic entry, smooth jazz is defined as follows:
Smooth Jazz is an outgrowth of fusion, one that emphasizes its polished side. Generally, smooth jazz relies on rhythms and grooves instead of improvisation. There are layers of synthesizers, lite-funk rhythms, lite-funk bass, elastic guitars, and either trumpets, alto, or soprano saxophones. The music isn't cerebral, like hard bop, nor is it gritty and funky like soul-jazz or groove -- it is unobtrusive, slick, and highly polished, where the overall sound matters more than the individual parts. Top artists of the genre include: • Kenny G • The Rippingtons • David Sanborn • Gerald Albright • George Benson • Boney James • Chris Botti • Fourplay • George Howard • Ben Sidran • The Yellowjackets • Alex Bugnon • Bobby Caldwell • Brian Culbertson • Candy Dulfer • Gene Dunlap • Fattburger • Dave Koz • Jeff Lorber • Eric Marienthal I do like some of that, so I guess I don't dislike the genre as a whole. I agree---there are some people on that list I'd like to do a Flying Jump Kick on, but others that I like...so yeah, I guess I just hate what it turned into.... I guess It also depends on what they're playing. With that list for example, I've heard most of those artists play some things that were pretty Kool, and yet other times I'll hear those same artists play some weak crap that's so annoying that it'd make Jesus Himself start throwing things.... ... [Edited 7/10/07 13:22pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Here are some popular albums...
 
...that probably laid the foundation for what would later be called smooth jazz. As an experiment to verify their schizophrenic playlist (based on what they're claiming to be), I forced myself to listen to the local smooth jazz station (94.7 - The Wave) for 2 hours. Here's a sampling of the tunes they played: What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers Never as Good as the First Time - Sade Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys And the straw that broke the camels back, Lost Without You - Robin Thicke Smooth jazz?
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
JackieBlue said:
You're def right about the sophisticated pop rotation hence why I hate labels. Can't it just be a station that plays a potpourri of good music that's basically along the same vein? That would be better---anything but the term "Smooth Jazz" The real trip is when they want you to alter your music to fit their smooth format! I remember Pat Metheny once mentioned in an interview that some of these lite Wave-- smooth Jazz stations wanted to play a track from one of his Pat Metheny Group albums, but they wanted the group to edit certain passages, the more improvisational stuff in the tune, for a version would be more palatable for their smooth format. Pat was basically like, 'we ain't editing shit-- you can play it or not play it, as far as we're concerned'..... but I guess a lot of musicians trying to make a living can't afford make that choice...and a lot of 'em realize that they have to play a certain way to get any airtime on those stations.... ... [Edited 7/10/07 13:20pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theAudience said: As an experiment to verify their schizophrenic playlist (based on what they're claiming to be), I forced myself to listen to the local smooth jazz station (94.7 - The Wave) for 2 hours. Here's a sampling of the tunes they played: What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers Never as Good as the First Time - Sade Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys And the straw that broke the camels back, Lost Without You - Robin Thicke Smooth jazz?
Xactly!! That would make a very nice music station--but how in Hell is that any kind of jazz?
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theAudience said: Here are some popular albums...
I'm sure the music within is good but that cover?  Mister Magic is actually spitting water (or letting it dribble) onto his chest hair. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: That would be better---anything but the term "Smooth Jazz"
They should stop trying to sound hip and just call it what it is...Easy Listening. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: theAudience said: As an experiment to verify their schizophrenic playlist (based on what they're claiming to be), I forced myself to listen to the local smooth jazz station (94.7 - The Wave) for 2 hours. Here's a sampling of the tunes they played: What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers Never as Good as the First Time - Sade Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys And the straw that broke the camels back, Lost Without You - Robin Thicke Smooth jazz?
Xactly!! That would make a very nice music station--but how in Hell is that any kind of jazz?
... 
My sentiments exactly.....keep jazz out of the description.....  "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."
Dalai Lama | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
The main problem is that there are so many damn labels for music. NOt music labels, labels/categories. Its freaking crazy. And worse than that, theres a freaking chart for everything! I havent looked at billboard in years but i remember when my brother used to buy it every week back in the late 70's and 80's. There were like 10-12 charts. Now everything has a chart, i looked at copy of Billboard recenlty in a store, and its cover to cover charts, there has to be like 60-70, and some real stupid shit too. Crossover,Adult top 40, mainstream rock, music for when the moon is full etc, you get the point. I saw an artist the other day on tv get introduced as having the Number one album on the Latin Fusion Smooth Jazz Trance chart. I mean really can we get back to the old days again, RB/Jazz/Dance/Country/Top100 Songs/Top 200 albums, case closed. Or how about no charts at all. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
RipHer2Shreds said: Smooth Jazz is an outgrowth of fusion, one that emphasizes its polished side. Generally, smooth jazz relies on rhythms and grooves instead of improvisation. There are layers of synthesizers, lite-funk rhythms, lite-funk bass, elastic guitars, and either trumpets, alto, or soprano saxophones. The music isn't cerebral, like hard bop, nor is it gritty and funky like soul-jazz or groove -- it is unobtrusive, slick, and highly polished, where the overall sound matters more than the individual parts.
Top artists of the genre include: • Kenny G Top-o-the-heap. The funny thing is that G-Dog didn't sound that bad when he was Kenny Gorelick... 
...playing with Jeff Lorber. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
lastdecember said: I saw an artist the other day on tv get introduced as having the Number one album on the Latin Fusion Smooth Jazz Trance chart.
that's actually a chart?
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theAudience said: The funny thing is that G-Dog didn't sound that bad when he was Kenny Gorelick...
...playing with Jeff Lorber. Yup, I agree with that, it really does depend on what these artists are playing-- On albums like Water Sign, Wizard Island, Galaxian, and It's A Fact, It was as if Jeff Lorber made Gorelick actually play ---Kenny used to have decent R&B chops on the tenor also, an instrument he apparently forgot about... but once he went solo, he decided to just coast on some slicked out noodling, remembering to insert some circular breathing tricks so the crowd would go, 'OOOOH', and 'AAAAHHHH'..... ... [Edited 7/10/07 15:03pm] [Edited 7/11/07 0:18am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I would put Kem into this category. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: but once he went solo, he decided to just coast on some slicked out noodling, remembering to insert some circular breathing tricks so the crowd would go, 'OOOOH', and 'AAAAHHHH'..... I wonder if he still holds the world's record for holding a note for over 45 minutes. 
tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: DirtyChris said: I like both Bob James
aaaand Earl Klugh I have a handful each of their albums some George Benson, Hubert Laws Larry Grosin & the other guy (forget his name) Maynard Ferguson... Roy Ayers, Quincy... I love musicians I'm getting more & more into the stuff as the days go by... Yeah, Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen, I hear Ya.... just for the record , here's an example of some albums from back in the day that I really like --and these would probably all be classified under that umbrella nowadays....
a lot of it falls somewhere between Pop with Light Jazz flourishes, instrumental/vocal R&B and Jazz Funk---at any rate, more R&B/Pop than Jazz...but there's something about the feel...somehow it doesn't seem as plastic and sickening as a lot of the new "smooth jazz" stuff....I dunno, maybe the compositions and playing had more feeling, more groove, more soul...and less of that "smooth" thing.... I used to have that Rainbow Seeker and All Fly Home on vinyl and that Everybody Loves The Sunshine  because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said: just for the record , here's an example of some albums from back in the day that I really like --and these would probably all be classified under that umbrella nowadays....
a lot of it falls somewhere between Pop with Light Jazz flourishes, instrumental/vocal R&B and Jazz Funk---at any rate, more R&B/Pop than Jazz...but there's something about the feel...somehow it doesn't seem as plastic and sickening as a lot of the new "smooth jazz" stuff....I dunno, maybe the compositions and playing had more feeling, more groove, more soul...and less of that "smooth" thing.... [img]s-load of cool albums[/img] I was/am a big fan of the style of music represented by the albums you've listed. All that music still had some ooomph to it. Once the smooth jazz moniker appeared, it seemed that everything these stations played sounded like an aural lobotomy designed to put you in a coma. 
I'd have to think really hard to come up with something comtemporary that compares to those albums. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
paligap said:
Now, that's what I'm talking about. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
theAudience said: I was/am a big fan of the style of music represented by the albums you've listed. All that music still had some ooomph to it. Once the smooth jazz moniker appeared, it seemed that everything these stations played sounded like an aural lobotomy designed to put you in a coma.
I'd have to think really hard to come up with something comtemporary that compares to those albums. tA Agreed. The albums mentioned by Pali represented a certain distinction in Jazz and set high standard . | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
MsLegs said: theAudience said: I was/am a big fan of the style of music represented by the albums you've listed. All that music still had some ooomph to it. Once the smooth jazz moniker appeared, it seemed that everything these stations played sounded like an aural lobotomy designed to put you in a coma.
I'd have to think really hard to come up with something comtemporary that compares to those albums. tA Agreed. The albums mentioned by Pali represented a certain distinction in Jazz and set high standard .well, in that kind of Pop/Soul-Jazz, anyway... it had some serious thought and feeling, not like what they're doling out now, that "aural lobotomy" music, as tA put it... ...I guess this really just comes full circle... it's the same things we've all been complaining about in today's Pop music in general..although there are exceptions, a lot of that thought feel, soul and groove are gone ...as JackieBlue was saying earlier, it's certainly all but disappeared from the airwaves... ... [Edited 7/11/07 0:48am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |