Jazz recommendations?

Check this out. Might be what you are lookin for.
Hiroko Kokubu - New York Uncovered

Click the link...you can listen to samples from this cd...

http://www.xrcd.net/Shopping/shopexd.asp?ccode=VICJ-61241

Ahmad Jamal, "Cross Country Tour"

Bill Evans, absolutely, but do not forget "Sunday at the Village Vanguard"

Billy Taylor, "Ten Fingers, One Voice" (in reference to your intended use, this was the ONLY cd I could listen to while studying for the NY bar exam)

I just enjoyed a new release that came out this week, The Body and Soul Sessions by the Philippe Saisse Trio. Jazzy renditions of popular favorites, like Steely Dan's Do It Again, the Beatles' Lady Madonna, and James Taylor's Fire and Rain. If not quite in the "smooth jazz" genre, it's very close.

Johnny O'Neil, Mitsuaki Kishi, Patricia Barber, Bob James, Eliane Elias, Dave Brubeck, Pat Coil, Sergio Mendes, Russell Ferrante and Dave Grusin are a few great musicians that play smooth jazz piano.

I like David Benoit. "The Best of David Benoit 1987-1995" is worth looking at. Dave Brubeck's music which is less busy-sounding might suit your description better. To each his own.

Just a side note. You may want to sample short music clips from tower records webpage to see if the music suits your listening taste prior to purchasing the albums.