Any smooth jazz fans out there?

As a staunch listener of Hard Bop jazz, the genre you refer to as "smooth jazz" in my opinion actually diminishes the genre of "jazz." I really get very little out of this "smooth jazz" and do not consider it to be "jazz." It should be termed "easy listening music."

I love all kinds of music, and all jazz, including smooth jazz. I love Jonathan Butler, Peter White, and especially Norman Brown. I have seen them all perform yearly for many years. I have to say that they have done some of the best concerts I have seen in recent years by far (along with Seal)and this is from somebody that also has a symphony subscription!!
Their CD's don't really even do them justice; a live performance is a whole new experience (same is true for a lot of music; also classical). The naysayers sound like the antogonists in the early days of rock and roll dissing the new genre; a little aloof.
The last Norman Brown concert I saw last year showed him to be one of the great guitarists out there today-simply amazing-he even did a short tribute to Jimi Hendrex, which sounded great.

Hate it!!! That said, paraphrasing the Duke; "there's only 2 types of music, good & bad". While most music that could be considered 'smooth jazz' is really just instrumental pop, there are exceptions. The OP listed Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Fourplay, & Spyro-Gyra. Anyone that doesn't recognize that Carlton, Ritenour, & 4play have incredibly mad chops is deluding themselves. The fact is, many of these musicians like to eat!! And there's gold in those 'smooth' hills! Not as much as there used to be but....Also, while much of the 'smooth' genre can be incredibly annoying to listen to (I'll grant the OP that much of it IS well recorded), the fact is many of these artists/bands can deliver the goods when playing live. Usually the smooth edge is tougher and the band has more liberty to stretch and jam. Just sayin'. For what it's worth, the only record I can listen to by Fourplay was their 1st, which I still own.

Even though I'm a Hard Bop Jazz devotee, I will give credit where credit is due. I don't consider them "smooth jazz" but close. I love Jean-Luc Ponty and John Scofield and have been to their concerts. The closest to "smooth jazz" I can say I listen to is Pat Metheny who I also love. When I think of smooth jazz I think of Dave Coz, David Sanborn, Kenny G (can't stand), etc. Irritating stuff in my opinion.

Why would you go through all of the trouble and expense of amassing great audio gear to listen to that crap?