The dreaded 'S' word in jazz
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Topic: The dreaded 'S' word in jazz
Posted By: dwill123
Subject: The dreaded 'S' word in jazz
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 8:36am
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Being new here I wasn't sure where this discussion should go so moderators please feel free to move to more appropriate location. The 'S' word I refer to is "smooth" as in smooth jazz (aka loosely c-jazz or contemporary jazz). A sub genre of jazz where I've seen some raging debates. I personally love it (the good stuff that is). As with one of the negative comments it can be considered warmed over sax-dribble. But in other cases there are some great displays of musicianship and virtuosity. Also there seems to be some good diversity (although slowing down some) in what's available. Some of my favorites the great Rippingtons, Special Efx (w\Chieli Minucci) , David Beniot, Dave Grusin, the late George Howard, others. So what say you. |
Replies:
Posted By: js
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 8:40am
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Smooth jazz has its good artists and albums too. I suppose you could call Miles' "Amandala' smooth jazz, but its a great album. Have you checked out our Post Fusion Contemporary genre here at JMA, thats where artists who blend fusion and Post Bop with a smooth jazz sensibility go.
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 8:44am
| It can be a great music for parties and a relaxed atmosphere. |
Posted By: Prog Geo
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 9:02am
Right. I agree. This kind of music is very appropriate for those cases. |
harmonium.ro wrote:Posted By: Cannonball With Hat
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 10:13am
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I don't know nothings about smooth jazz, but its never been something I've had the desire to investigate. I'll watch those videos provided in the opening post when I have the time.
Having said that...a smooth jazz atmosphere used occasionally amoungst other things could work nicely. ------------- Hit it on Five. Saxophone Scatterbrain Blitzberg Stab them in the ears. |
Posted By: idlero
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 12:27pm
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It is also great for elevators and shops
------------- I think the problem with a lot of the fusion music is that it's extremely predictable, it's a rock rhythm and the solos all play the same stuff and they play it over and over again ... Ken Burns |
Posted By: triceratopsoil
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 12:54pm
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I don't like smooth whiskey and I don't like smooth jazz.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/TullDerGraff" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Freddie Freeloader
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 1:00pm
| I understand the appeal of smooth jazz and I respect the musitians who can be great, but I personally like jazz for the danger... without the rough edges it cannot hold my attention. |
Posted By: Matt
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 3:27pm
Crunchy for me, like a bit of bounce myself. There is always a speed hump and a pothole with me  Musicianship is important but I like them having a go as well with the quicker,harder and louder making it better.    ------------- Matt |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 4:07pm
I may not make friennds with the following comments, but a lot of the 80's ECM jazz was dangerously close to muzak
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Posted By: The Manticore
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 4:23pm
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I look at 'smooth' like this........a lot of people are scared of 'Jazz'. If it is easy to listen to and accessable, then maybe it will lead the occassional bod to listen a bit more and try something a little more involved. It'snot for me, but some of my Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin stuff comes pretty close. ------------- When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading. |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: 27 Apr 2011 at 4:31pm
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Its the "pop" music of jazz.....I don't have a problem with it, I just can't listen to much of it. My wife and I saw Kenny G couple years ago (kinda felt obligated since he is from the Emerald City).....it was a good show, I mean he can play no doubt. He walked the crowd and my wife got serenaded by him.......I was not concerned, I mean he is about 1.5M tall...with heels!
The opening act was Norman Brown...who I enjoyed very much, guitarist along the lines of George Benson. ------------- My jazz collection....a work in progress. |
Posted By: colorofmoney91
Date Posted: 04 May 2011 at 7:20am
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I like very little smooth jazz. I think the only artist I really like in that form is Earl Klugh. I generally go for speedy fusion jazz or energetic avant jazz.
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Posted By: idlero
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 9:34am
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------------- I think the problem with a lot of the fusion music is that it's extremely predictable, it's a rock rhythm and the solos all play the same stuff and they play it over and over again ... Ken Burns |
Posted By: Kazuhiro
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 7:00pm
I always listen to fusion and smooth jazz. The chance that I love it is this exactly. And, my father recommended me the tune of Perez Prado. When I was a grade-schooler, those events all had me. It was surely carved in my brain though I did not understand it at that time.
I had music and hard rock in surroundings in the 80's that became popular since then.
And, the starting point of my music was in smooth jazz/fusion and Latin-American music now though jazz rock/fusion occupied the specific gravity.
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Posted By: poorslyn
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 8:28pm
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my fave smooth jazz must be `Blue Mitchell` , his early 70`s Mainstream label issues were really cool but also a listening blast. |
Posted By: Kazuhiro
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 10:28am
I saw this video for the first time. It was a good tune. Thank you. However, it was possible to listen to it a little for me as a part of Soul/Funk Jazz. I am not so well versed for smooth jazz.
I thought that Amandla of Miles Davis that John had referred in this thread before was a good example as smooth jazz. Or, I submit Atlantis of Wayne Shorter as an example.
In addition, the music recalled at once for me was Fourplay and Urban Knights.
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Posted By: poorslyn
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 7:18pm
hmmm, the vinyl version [on mainstream] is the real source for his cool but intoxicating jazz blues fusion, go get it , vinyl or cd reissue. an absolute treat.
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Posted By: poorslyn
Date Posted: 22 May 2011 at 9:12pm
| the video of blue mitchell is the last track on the relevant album,. the previous tracks are cooler! |
Posted By: The Hepcat
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2011 at 11:26pm
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I honestly like smooth jazz. Now I doubt I'd ever buy any and I don't have any, and I know generally it is simple sax (maybe others) over, barely, a drum beat...but it is soothing. At a restaurant or just generally in the background, it's really nice. I like falling asleep to it sometimes. I prefer "normal" jazz though for sure.
Or for a short version ^  ------------- My fav jazz artist is Charlie. He hangs out in the park with his sax and is a character out of the 1940's. He's not great, but is improving each day and damn he has heart. That's what its all about! |
Posted By: davidrydelnik
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 2:39am
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I suppose everyone has their own tastes. And everyone's tastes are developed in different ways. So, if you like it, that's cool. If you don't that's cool. BUT...the thing that really kills me is when I tell people that I listen to jazz and they say something like "oh, it's so relaxing". Or when I tell them I am a jazz musician, smooth jazz is what usually pops into their minds. That, unfortunately, is the downside I see to it. But it can be a good gateway for someone to appreciate music without words, however, it is seldom a gateway into discovering other genres of jazz. ------------- Jazz Trumpeter, Vocalist, Trombonist, Guitarist...internet marketer and fitness geek. <a href="http://davidrydelnik.com" _fcksavedurl="http://davidrydelnik.com"> |
Posted By: dreadpirateroberts
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 6:06am
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Well said - the immediate association of the word 'jazz' with 'relaxing'
is misleading. It's a bit like when I hear people tell me they like
jazz (or any style of music) but what they're really saying is that they
a certain subset. Like when a metal head tells me they love metal but 'metal' for them = about 4 bands only, each playing the same sub-genre 
------------- We are men of action. Lies do not become us. http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/dreadpirateroberts%28member%29.aspx?reviews=all/" rel="nofollow - Reviews... |
Posted By: js
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 6:59am
These people probably wouldn't appreciate the fact that a lot of jazz records I own are not the least bit relaxing, ha. 
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Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2013 at 7:12am
 most probably those people never listen to double LP of solo sax improvisation?  |
Posted By: davidrydelnik
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2013 at 8:51pm
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When most people tell me it's relaxing, I whip out my laptop, open itunes, cue up a section of John Coltrane's "Ascension" and I say "is that relaxing enough for ya? Huh?" and then I laugh with fiendish glee.
------------- Jazz Trumpeter, Vocalist, Trombonist, Guitarist...internet marketer and fitness geek. <a href="http://davidrydelnik.com" _fcksavedurl="http://davidrydelnik.com"> |