Hi. Frogman has already made the point I intended to make: why not listen to some REAL jazz. For most serious jazz enthusiasts (which I have been since the late 1950's), the term "smooth jazz" is an oxymoron. In short, smooth jazz isn't -- isn't jazz, that is. If you go back 2-3 months into the Audiogon archives, you will find a long thread on jazz, and I made 5 or 6 entries talking about jazz and some of the great, classic recordings. If your intent is to become more accustomed to good jazz that is listenable, you might want to start with recordings by some of the mainstream jazz piano, jazz guitar, and jazz vocal masters. Piano: Errol Garner; Art Tatum; Bill Evans; Marian McPartland; George Shearing; Michel Petrucciani; and Abdullah Ibrahim. Guitar: Django Reinhart; Tal Farlow; Wes Montgomery; Charlie Byrd; Jim Hall; and Joe Pass. Vocalists (women): Billie Holiday; Ella Fitzgerald; Sarah Vaughn; Carmen McRae; Ernestine Anderson. Vocalists (men): Jimmy Rushing; Joe Williams; Jon Hendricks; Mark Murphy; and Bobby McFerrin. This grouping should will expose you to a variety of styles, and you can take it from there.
