Jazz for aficionados

****Go out to hollywood to take a group photo of all the great western / cowboy stars. You may find a couple. They are all gone. Because Westerns are all gone.****

Huh?! Strange analogy, but re your post in general, see my previous post; I said it all before. Just what is it you think, that when I say that there is a lot of good jazz still being played, that I am making this up? As I said before your points go to the issue of popularity; what does that prove?

**** So it is possible I am not up to speed on the current crop of Jazz players.****

You think? More like the understatement of the year (thread). I suppose I could turn the tables on you and ask YOU to name a few to prove my point, but I will recommend a few. Some of my favorite young jazz players:

http://tednash.com

"The Mancini Project" is a favorite, but any of his recordings are worth hearing; as are any of the recordings by the following.

http://richperrymusic.com

http://www.garysmulyan.com/m/

http://home.earthlink.net/~smoulden/scott/scott.html#lp1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hagans

http://fredhersch.com/index.php

Lots more, but this should get you started.

Cheers.

**** As I said before your points go to the issue of popularity; what does that prove?*****

To most artist, 'popularity' is EVERTHING! It's priceless. It means success. Financial security. It also 'proves' the artist is connecting with the intended audience.

Popularity is the whole point of being an Artist.

People just have to accept the fact, that the unwashed masses, decide the fate and fortune, of all Artists. :)

Cheers

We can debate the issue of the meaning of popularity ad nauseum, and I could point out that you could not be more mistaken re the motivation of true artists being popularity since to most true artists popularity, even when sought and achieved, is secondary to the simple need to perform their craft; no matter what. However, as concerns this discussion the point that you, perhaps conveniently, continue to ignore is that jazz WAS the popular music at one time and is no longer for many reasons already discussed, that in no way does that mean that great jazz is no longer being played; quite the contrary.

Your feelings about popularity as concerns the artist really don't come as a surprise. For some insight into your mindset about this, I would bring up, again, the subject of the great Phil Woods. When first discussed, and after my accolades of his playing you were, at best, unimpressed with his playing and your most positive comment about him was "He's fat". Months later, as you read more and more about him and became more and more aware of the countless recordings he was on and how he was held in the very highest esteem by top players, all of a sudden he seemed to move closer to the top of your list (so to speak). I would suggest that his great stature was there to be heard and did not need the support of anything else aside from your ears.

Let us know what you think of the players I recommended.

Acman3, thanks for the Joe Sullivan links. Nice! New to me. Very harmonically interesting writing; he has a unique voice harmonically. I particularly liked Lofsky's guitar playing.

Here's a band composed of some of the best young NY jazz cats.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ_BjtbP_Lk

Rok, I must agree 100% with Frogman - your comments in your latest post are way off base. Laughable, even. Are you trying to troll us? Seriously?!