The State of Jazz

The jazz lite vocalists, Krall, Cole, Monheit, Barber, Jones, etc. have absolutely nothing to do with the state of jazz, IMHO. They might have something to do with the state of the popular song, but the state of jazz, really?

Like it or not, Diana Krall is generally categorized as a jazz artist and is one of the most popular and best selling as well I believe, so its hard to argue that she has nothing to do with the state of jazz.

Jazz light is still Jazz. SO what happens there does have something to do with Jazz, even if it may not be every jazz fans cup of tea.

Ella Fitzgerald sang "A Tisket A Tasket" and has sold a lot of records. Pretty light! Does that make her not a jazz artist?

Diana Krall plays piano as well. Ella just sang.

BTW, I consider Ella Fitzgerald to be one of the all time greats and my personal favorite female jazz vocalist, along with Dinah Washington (also pretty light at times) and Billy Holiday (not as light overall perhaps). I'm just pointing these things out to help balance out the argument.

Thank you for taking the time to help balance out the arguement. It must've needed balancing.

Ella and Dinah were certainly popular singers working in the jazz idiom, though I wouldn't say that either defined the state of jazz for their era. That's a pretty pretentious concept, IMHO. As pretentious as thinking that Krall defines the state of jazz for this era.

And no, I would never put Krall or any of the jazz lite singers in the same class as the greats of the former generation that you mentioned, but that's a subjective assessment of their talents and has nothing to do with the state of jazz either.

And as you said, "Diana Krall plays piano as well". Which is not quite the same as saying, "Diana Krall plays piano well."

****Then, I thought, why hasn't the Jazz Community produced any more
recent songs that have become standards. ****are we producing any songs
today that will become standards. I don't think so*****

Just a few jazz standards (or appropriated by jazz players) written after
1960:

One Note Samba
Stolen Moments
Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
Days of Wine and Roses
Meditation
Blue Bossa
Blusette
Girl From Ipanema
Once I Loved
Oye Como Va
Recorda-me
Watermelon Man
Cantaloupe Island
Juju
Song For My Father
Ceora
Dindi
Dolphin Dance
The Gentle Rain
Maiden Voyage
Speak No Evil
Footprints
Litha
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Freedom Jazz Dance
Triste
Wave
La Fiesta
Spain
Crystal Silence
Little Sunflower
Red Clay
Chameleon
Mr Magic
Send In The Clowns
Birdland
A Time For Love
Pretty Women
Send In The Clowns
Maria
Somewhere
What I Did For Love

And the list goes on. Some of the Beatles' songbook are well on their way
as are songs by Stevie Wonder and others. Jazz may be different today
(it's supposed to be), but it is alive and well.

The most popular may also be simply pronounced as POP.