Smooth Jazz

[joe2758]

Do many or any musicians set out to play smooth jazz, or do people just fall into it? Are there musicians who enjoy playing it as their primary style, or do most of these musicians go home after the gig and play Charlie Parker solos?

[Bobby Timmons]

I actually like smooth jazz. When I was a child my Dad would put on the smooth jazz station for me sometimes when I'd go to sleep and I thought it was comforting.

There is good vocab a lot of the time and it can be chill. Although I prefer trad or neo trad so don't work on smooth at all. And smooth jazz is received as even cheesier than trad jazz so I wouldn't set out to perform it.

[joe2758]

I actually like smooth jazz. When I was a child my Dad would put on the smooth jazz station for me sometimes when I'd go to sleep and I thought it was comforting.

Well that's a sweet sentiment and understandable. My only association is the dentist office.

[SandChannel]

Smooth jazz seems a bit like instrumental R&B music. I dig some of it. And those cats made fortunes back in the late 90s / early 00s selling it.

[pamosmusic]

Do many or any musicians set out to play smooth jazz, or do people just fall into it? Are there musicians who enjoy playing it as their primary style, or do most of these musicians go home after the gig and play Charlie Parker solos?

Theres a whole spectrum. Definitely some cash grabbers.

But also some people like Dave Koz and Chris Botti who are fantastic players and seem to be into the music, body and soul, as it were.

People like Benson and Wes who go into it and don’t compromise an inch on the technical/musical side of their playing.

So lots of great music being made in the genre.

Something I’ll also say is that there’s a lot of overlap in what we might call “smooth jazz” with what might also be called gospel, or R&B, coming out black churches. And there’s enormous artistry and attention to detail and production value in that music. So there’s a thriving smooth jazz thing that just lives on charts that aren’t jazz charts and that people don’t always identify as jazz or are coming to by a different route.

[AllanAllen]

There's a guy out here who plays smooth jazz along to tracks. He's really nice and sat in with my group once, killer talent and he could roll with the punches of a live band better than I do.

He said he used to be a professional musician, but now he's got a real job. I can say, with my taste of being a working musician. It ain't like you want it to be.

[mr. beaumont]

"Smooth jazz" is too broad a term sometimes...

When it's being made by real live grooving musicians, it can be great stuff.

[joe2758]

"Smooth jazz" is too broad a term sometimes...

ugh i was waiting for that comment lol

anything with a rainstick

[wolflen]

I don't like the term jazz..much less smooth..

the stations that cater to this "style"..some remind me of the term "easy listening"
save us...if I hear "my funny valentine" done al la Johnny Smith .. grrrr

what the Sat stations offer is a better mix..but it seems every guitarist is doing a Wes tribute mixed with
shred arps and scale runs .. ok while tech perfect I feel my teeth getting cavities.

I realize this is an economic concern for the stations..a good slice of people listen and like this style.
Every now and again I hear Miles .. All Blues..smooth jazz???--lord have mercy

[Christian Miller]

I like my jazz like I like my peanut butter.

With chunks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pamosmusic]

I like my jazz like I like my peanut butter.

With chunks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

*eyeroll*

[mr. beaumont]

I am the embodiment of chunky jazz.

[Betz]

Would Chet Baker be considered smooth jazz when compared to Miles?

[joe2758]

no

[Betz]

Good.

[mr. beaumont]

Chet did this record, which has some smooth elements...overall, the tunes are interesting enough harmonically that I can write off the cheesy keyboard sounds as just a product of their era. I mean, it's Chet, so it's worth hearing.

I've actually grown to love this record.

[joe2758]

I stand corrected! That is some challenging music to listen to

[mr. beaumont]

I figured out the chords to the first tune years ago, I'll see if I can find them somewhere or remember it. If you play it as a samba on guitar, it's actually a really lovely tune.