Why Doesn't Contemporary Jazz Get Any Respect?

For the same reason you'll never see the hardcore classical music crowd at a Pops concert.

In the end though, to each person it is best to remember what Duke Ellington said; "If it sounds good, it is good."

I don't think I was one of the guys in a white mask replete with flaming cross that Tim referred to, but I'll venture an opinion anyway: most serious jazz buffs don't consider smooth jazz to be jazz. It may share a few elements of music structure such as harmony, melody, tempo, etc., and have a sound which contains stylistic components drawn from swing, bop, hard bop, cool, etc., but in most cases "smooth jazz" lacks two of the most essential characteristics of "real" jazz: genuine improvisation, and swing in the jazz sense (characterized by a preponderance of syncopated rhythmic figures).

I don't mean by these comments to suggest that "smooth jazz" is an inferior form of music. The whole purpose of music is to create an emotional response in the listener, and any music that achieves that affect is certainly a legitemate form of musical expression. That doesn't mean, however, that "smooth jazz" actually meets the full definition of jazz in the commonly understood sense of the term.

This debate about the merits of "smooth jazz" vs. "real" jazz is mostly an elitist one, anyway. Listen to what you enjoy, and don't worry whether other people like it.

In the so-called jazz/fusion area if you sell a lot of records like most of the artists you mentioned than the critics do not like that - if they can bring someone obscure into the limelight they like that than when they sell they go for the kill and critize them for sappy music. Older jazz artist - they respect those because if they don't than they die as a reviewer. I mean who would critize Miles Davis and Duke ellington.

Sdcampbell- You could be onto something, I know smooth jazz NEVER gets my foot tapping. Perhaps we could start classification for jazz as jazz that gets the foot going, smooth jazz(fusion) is everything else. Improvisation, good point, I don't think I could find many modern popular artists that do that, on purpose any how. I must admit I heard something that bothered me the other day and it was a cover of Dave Brubeck Quartet's classic "Take Five" with smooth over tones, I nearly lost my lunch.

I am in no way degrading classic jazz.I just don't understand why there is such a negative attitude towards "smooth jazz" In my humble opinion some of the "smooth jazz" artists that are popular are amongst the most talented musicians in the world."Smooth jazz is a totally different sound.It is certainly not elevator music.