Any smooth jazz fans out there?

Duane, thanks for clarifying, and for the info/examples. I have no doubt that once we get past the vagaries of the printed word, there is far more agreement than disagreement here.

Peace.

BTW, to this day, some of my favorite work by Liebman is from the late sixties, during his stint with Elvin Jones. If you haven't, check out "Dear John C." Also on the session was a 19 year old Steve Grossman; killing it!

"BTW, to this day, some of my favorite work by Liebman is from the late sixties, during his stint with Elvin Jones. If you haven't, check out "Dear John C." Also on the session was a 19 year old Steve Grossman; killing it!"

I had that record! And I bought it solely due to Liebman being on it. I was so young I didn't know who Elvin Jones was!! I used to follow Liebman around when he was a member of 10 Wheel Drive, a band in the Blood, Sweat, & Tears/Chicago/Dreams/Cold Blood league. Used to really have a thing for Genya Ravan!;)

(the Liebman Lookout Farm records are great and I wish ECM would would reissue them).

I second that. The album Lookout Farm, never released on CD, features a masterpiece called "Pablo's Float" and suffers from too little bottom end. Remaster and release on vinyl and/or CD -- please.

Love the music, misnomer or not! Some of the best music I have ever heard. Spent alot of money on stereo, just to listen the artists you speak of. I got tired of rock music(getting older),of which, not as good as it was in the 60`s and 70`s, IMHO. The fusion of jazz and rock, during the era mentioned, such as: Chicago, Blood Sweat&Tears, Lighthouse, Ides of March, Average White Band and Steely Dan had greatly influenced my musical tastes. Have the Fourplay albums you mentioned, also Peter White, Boney James, Rick Braun, and Brian Hughes(who is from Canada, by the way).

just to name a few let's include: David Benoit, John Tropea, Shadowfax, Jennifer Warnes, Yanni, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Dave Brubeck, Joe Jackson, Kitaro, Grover Washington, Patrick Ohearn, Monica Ramos, Bob James, Al Jarreau

I was so bummed when WNUA Chicago's smooth jazz left the air last year. They could really calm you down while stewing in Chicago traffic jams (grrrrrr) after a long hard day in the corporate pressure cooker. Had by far the best sound I've ever heard on FM - wide bandwidth, extremely dynamic, quiet and I do mean super quiet. Had to be a 24/192 DSP studio.
Fortunately - the P.D. Rick Odell took his format to 87.7 WLFM where they continue their wonderful music and uncomparable sound. Really do miss the weekly New Age show called Musical Starstreams though; thet's the only missing part of the formula. Frank Forest still streams his show on the web, but PC sound, now THAT really *is* crap.