Smooth Jazz - in defense?

In defense of the musicians…but not the music, per se:

My wife was told by a friend, "Ah, smooth jazz early in the morning.” (I paraphrase)Technically speaking – we had it on really loud the night before while I was painting the kitchen. Priya was only making people AWARE of it the next morning, posting a link to a video OF it.

Thing was – it wasn’t “Smooth Jazz”. We’re talkin’ Compared to What?, via Les McCann and Eddie Harris (Montreux 1969). I was asked, “Um, Compared to What’s not Smooth Jazz – right?” (I’d had a relaxing morning up until that point.) She didn’t really think it fell into that category, but – better check, when accused. So this led to quite a discussion, trying to define this - this Smooth Jazz.

Smooth Jazz is a marketing ploy – a branding gimmick. That’s how it started out, anyway. It’s grown to become a format, though more and more stations are starting to veer away from it. With the format, it’s become a genre.  Yeah. NOT the other way around. What we’re really talking about is the lighter side of contemporary jazz. That’s what it was – though there has continued to be a synthesis and expansion.

Smooth Jazz as a type of music – Wikipedia says it’s also known as contemporary jazz. True enough that Smooth Jazz may be contemporary jazz, but contemporary jazz is not necessarily Smooth Jazz. Clear enough? The early roots of Smooth Jazz have jazz artists covering pop tunes, in an attempt to find some crossover success. This started to be blended in with 101 Strings, or other light, non-threatening (elevator) music which could be found on the easy-listening stations. Soon enough, a few stations took this, and the lighter side of some incredible fusion or other contemporary jazz groups, and tacked the word smooth in front. Some of the early groups? The Rippingtons, Fourplay, Spyro Gyra, The Yellowjackets, and Pieces of a Dream, among others. Later, folks like Norman Brown (one of my favorites), Candy Dulfer, Dave Koz, Boney James, and even Chick Corea were to be included. Mind you – these are not Smooth Jazz musicians per se, but rather musicians who have some of their music (often, the lighter, gentle side) played on Smooth Jazz stations. 

I’m rather thankful that the two Smooth Jazz stations  around where I live incorporate some funk, groove, and R&B as well. They’re good stations (The Wave, out of LA, and KJJZ in Palm Springs). I’m also thankful that some of the jazz festivals nearby, while occasionally branded as “Smooth”, have had some top talent on their bill. Two in particular – Grooves in the Grove, at La Quinta Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, and the Champagne Jazz Series put on by the Thornton Winery in Temecula. The latter was rather pricey, but again – top line performers.

Anybody who’s ever known me (in the context of jazz on the air) would be quite surprised to hear of me defending Smooth Jazz. Fine. I’m not. I’m simply defining it. I am however defending many of the players – and some of the stations – who are branded as such.

Grooves in the Grove - Jazz Series

Sitting on a large lawn among the citrus trees - with the Santa Rosa mountains behind you.

photo taken from the La Quinta Resort and Club website

This is the setting for a new jazz series, Grooves in the Grove - presented by La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs. Cool!

They’ve lined up top performers from around the country, with influences from all over. Several of the musicians fall into the smooth jazz category, but if that’s not your thing, don’t let it keep you away. A lot of raw talent in everyone on the bill, and believe me – they’ll be going beyond the quiet, easy to listen to drive that some smooth jazz stations prefer (thankfully, the “smooth jazz” stations around where I live go beyond this middle of the road, non-threatening form). The folks in this lineup are musicians. They’ll be bringing jazz. And Improvisation. And Feeling. There’s plenty of funk and fusion on the bill as well. Groups like Hiroshima (jamming since 1974), Greg Adams & East Bay Soul, and Jeff Lorber Fusion with Eric Marienthal. I regret missing the first show, which featured Michael Paulo and Rick Braun (but unless I’m mistaken, Paulo at least will be back with the East Bay Soul guys). With the exception of November 12^th, the series continues Fridays through November 26^th, and it’s quite reasonably priced – something I can’t usually talk about on the air. I’ll be going to at least a few of these shows, and thanks to all involved for helping me to get interviews lined up.

Go to the La Quinta website for the specific lineup. Again – it’s a good one, with guitarists Marc Antoine and Paul Brown this coming Friday, and Hiroshima next Friday. While you’re at the site, there are tabs for you to get a sampling of the music of the artists. Don’t stop there, though. You’re already online, so it’s not gonna take much more to go to the websites for each musician or group. Some have interesting bios, and hearing more of their music and knowing a bit more about them might get you to what promises to be a great new jazz series.

This blog may not do much for readers in Kentucky, Houston, or say - Buenos Aires, but if you're in the Southern California area - it'd be worth stopping by. As the La Quinta folks have said - "It’ll be a great way to end the week – and start the weekend."

If anyone makes it to any of these performances, let me know.


Also - what's your favorite music festival experience?