JAM: October/November 2001 Issue: Coda

Arturo's Outburst

Arturo Sandoval

It was interesting to note how word of Arturo Sandoval's reprimand of Smooth Jazz 106.5 at last July's Blues & Jazz fest spread like a blast furnace wind across an already steamy metro. It even made the pages of The Kansas City Star (where, we're happy to report, jazz has been getting a lot more ink lately).

Was Sandoval out of line? Or right on target? All depends on your point of view, I guess. Is Mariah Carey a jazz artist? Or Whitney Houston? Or (heaven forbid) Michael Bolton? Of course not. Yet the word "jazz" follows their respective pop renderings on a daily basis, both here and in similar formats across the country.

In all fairness, it must also be said that Smooth Jazz stations feature the work of good musicians who can play their axes (Bob James, George Benson, Rick Braun, David Sanborn, Chris Botti). And many of these stations offer such syndicated programming as Ramsey Lewis' "Legends of Jazz" along with welcome support for local jazz-related activities. Now that KCMW has tanked, 106.5 is in a position to fill an important need.

But back to old and new debates about the definition of "jazz."

While surfing JazzOnline a while back (www.jazzonln.com) I came across the following exchange with the web site's "Jazz Messenger." It is yet another take on the issue Sandoval reintroduced and is reprinted with permission.

Any new thoughts about this touchy topic? Let us know by writing to either Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171, or online at info@jazzkc.org. It looks like these hybrid genres are here to stay; and what's in a name anyway... right? -- MM

Dear JM,

Do you think "smooth jazz" or "contemporary jazz" is really jazz?

Thanks,
Andre

Dear Andre,
You have asked one of the most widely debated and often battled questions in the jazz industry for at least the past ten years. Jazz in and of itself is difficult to define and definitions vary depending on who you ask. And where contemporary or smooth fits into it all is even harder to nail down.

Having said that, I can only give you my opinion, which is by no means the definitive answer on this hot topic.

First, I do not consider contemporary and smooth to be one in the same. "Contemporary" jazz, at least to me, is the more authentic jazz style in terms of when it came into its own, shortly after the fusion period of the '70s and prior to the "smooth" era. Contemporary jazz is derived from the melding of jazz, funk, rock, pop and world influences and carries with it a more complex, diverse and eclectic nature than that of the smooth jazz style. Excellent examples of some of the quality artists responsible for originating a contemporary sound are Grover Washington, Jr. ("Mister Magic"), Al Jarreau ("Look To the Rainbow"), George Benson ("Breezin'") and the Pat Metheny Group ("Still Life Talking"). All of these recordings possess originality, outstanding musicianship and, of course, improvisational elements -- a fundamental in defining any style of jazz. But more importantly, the music is just as serious as mainstream jazz, though it may differ rhythmically. For example, instead of a swingin' groove, contemporary jazz employs a variety of rhythms including straight ahead grooves, funky beats, and pulsating Latin vibes, just to name a few.

"Smooth" jazz on the other hand is derived mainly from a pop music base with some contemporary jazz influences. The term "smooth" actually came out of a commercial radio format of the late '80s and the music itself can be far less diverse and in many cases, quite bland. Some have compared the smooth jazz sound to that of elevator music.

But that is not to imply that all smooth jazz lacks depth. There are several artists putting out quality smooth jazz including Boney James ("Body Language"), Fourplay ("Yes, Please!") and the Rippingtons ("Tourist in Paradise").

What is most important to recognize however, is that contemporary and smooth make up only a small part of all of what jazz has to offer. Perhaps because it receives the most air play it is often perceived as being the jazz of today. But there is much more to jazz than just that. Jazz is a diverse and varied musical genre made up of a myriad of styles and sounds with new and exciting music being created every day!

I hope this explanation helps, but as always, my best advice is to keep listenin' and find what moves you.

The Jazz Messenger

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