Frogman, and Rok, when I was in LA, I heard music at the clubs that was comparable to the best of Blue Note, by musicians unknown to me. I attributed this to the fact that musicians do not have to leave LA in order to make a living. Although I was in LA, the music was not West Coast Jazz. When I was in Jamaica, while the music at the hotel was reggae, the people (most Jamaicans) preferred jazz. In both cases, assumptions would be wrong.
I noticed Rok constantly picks music from what we call "The Golden Age of Jazz". Music is not made in a vacuum, musicians have to draw inspiration from somewhere. That "Golden Age" also occurred at the same time as the best times in many cities.
Chicago was three vibrant cities at once in the 50's and 60's; rich north side, culture on the lake, and a vibrant south side that no longer exists, Detroit was like the "Emerald City of Oz". St. Louis consisted of Downtown, E. St. Louis, and North St. Louis; three diverse areas that featured live jazz; "bleak" is the most dominant feature of those areas now. There was a certain "vibe" and excitement in each city that generated something for musicians to draw from.
Much of the latest music is "disonant"; not in the strict definition of the word, but it lacks a coherent theme that you can feel and identify with; the musician can't find something outside of himself to draw inspiration from; therefore his music is without life.
Enjoy the music.