"I find it embarrassing that the concept seems to have originated by a FM station here in San Diego several years ago."
If you listened to any LA Jazz radio in the 80-90’s,you’re familiar with the great Chuck Niles. He often voiced his dislike of "smooth jazz" and the changes in music. I remember reading articles of musicians jumping ship and recording "smooth jazz" type music because that’s what the masses were buying.
Your estimation of origin may be off. The decline in interest by the late 60’s influenced the up and coming to branch out. By the mid 70’s "straight ahead" was diluted.(certainly not in a bad way)
George Benson certainly isn’t a "smooth jazz" musician. His recordings of that period paved the way for the schmaltzy,processed stuff passed off as Jazz.
Listen to George Bensons very early works, and you hear his heroes in his playing, but the music is the new recipe of what is to come.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_jazz
I like the album"Giblet Gravy" The title track shows how George can melt the fretboard.
If you listened to any LA Jazz radio in the 80-90’s,you’re familiar with the great Chuck Niles. He often voiced his dislike of "smooth jazz" and the changes in music. I remember reading articles of musicians jumping ship and recording "smooth jazz" type music because that’s what the masses were buying.
Your estimation of origin may be off. The decline in interest by the late 60’s influenced the up and coming to branch out. By the mid 70’s "straight ahead" was diluted.(certainly not in a bad way)
George Benson certainly isn’t a "smooth jazz" musician. His recordings of that period paved the way for the schmaltzy,processed stuff passed off as Jazz.
Listen to George Bensons very early works, and you hear his heroes in his playing, but the music is the new recipe of what is to come.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_jazz
I like the album"Giblet Gravy" The title track shows how George can melt the fretboard.