smooth jazz

 

Smooth jazz
Stylistic origins:	1960s/1970s in the United States
Cultural origins:	Jazz R&B Funk Pop music Jazz fusion
Typical instruments:	Guitar, saxophone, bass guitar, piano, trumpet, flute, drums, synthesizers.
Mainstream popularity:	Medium, from 1970s to present - United States
Other topics
List of smooth jazz performers

Smooth jazz, also sometimes referred to as new adult contemporary music,^[1] is generally described as a genre of music that utilizes instruments (and, at times, improvisation) traditionally associated with jazz and stylistic influences drawn from mostly R&B, but also funk and pop.^[2] Since the late 1980s and into the 1990s, it has become successful as a radio format.^[3] Despite its apparently large following,^{[citation needed]} there has been something of a backlash against the genre, mostly from jazz purists who consider its recordings bland, overly commercial and not jazz.^[2]

Origins

Smooth jazz can be traced to at least the late 1960s. Noted producer Creed Taylor worked with guitarist Wes Montgomery on three widely popular records (1967's A Day in the Life and Down Here on the Ground and 1968's Road Song) consisting of instrumental versions of familiar pop songs such as "Eleanor Rigby", "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Scarborough Fair".

From this success, Taylor founded CTI Records. Many established jazz performers recorded for CTI (including Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, George Benson and Stanley Turrentine). The records recorded under Taylor's guidance were typically aimed as much at pop audiences as at jazz fans, with ornate string section arrangements, and a much stronger emphasis on melody than was typical in jazz. Some critics and jazz fans expressed a distate for CTI releases, but the label's output is now generally well-regarded: critic Scott Yanow writes, "Taylor had great success in balancing the artistic with the commercial^[4]."

In the mid- to late-1970s, smooth jazz became established as a commercially viable genre. It was pioneered by such artists as Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Grover Washington, Jr., Spyro Gyra, George Benson, Sérgio Mendes, David Sanborn, Tom Scott, Dave and Don Grusin, Bob James and Joe Sample.

Description

The average smooth jazz track is on the "downtempo" (most widely played tracks are in the 90–105 BPM range) side, layering a lead, melody-playing instrument (saxophones — especially soprano and tenor — are the most popular, with guitars a close second) over a backdrop that tends to consist of programmed rhythms and various pads and/or samples. Though much of what is played under the banner of the "smooth jazz" radio format contains vocals, this is not usually the case for music recorded with the intent of categorization as smooth jazz. Rather, the stations in question pull their vocal tracks from the work of artists like Simply Red or Luther Vandross, who are normally considered "soul" or "R&B".

Although many people and record companies group smooth and contemporary jazz together, both genres are slightly different in the way they serve the listener. Smooth jazz is more considered background music whereas contemporary jazz is appointment to listen music.^[2]

Radio

United States

Smooth jazz as a radio format has its roots in the construction of what were once called "beautiful music" stations, which generally played fifteen-minute sets consisting of instrumentals bookending a vocal song or two.

The incubators of the format were specialty shows at night or on the weekends, in places such as Atlanta (WQXI-FM) and San Antonio (KTFM). The first jazz radio station to attempt to reach an audience beyond hardcore jazz fans full-time was New York's WRVR-FM, which was acquired by Sonderling Broadcasting in 1976. Under its new management, WRVR more than tripled its audience by emphasizing artists like George Benson and Pat Metheny that were crossing over to more popular formats. After WRVR was switched to country format WKHK in 1980 (it is now Adult Contemporary station WLTW) it was just a short time before WPIX-FM was switched to WQCD, under the auspices of consultant George Burns, to take over the "mass-appeal" jazz mantle. In Detroit, "traditional jazz" station WJZZ (now WDMK) went through a similar transition to a more mainstream sound in the late 1980s. Other early pioneers included Russ Davis in Atlanta and "Jazz Flavours" and Art Good at KIFM San Diego with "Lights Out San Diego".

After programmer Frank Cody gave birth to "The Wave" KTWV in Los Angeles and the simultaneous success of KIFM (San Diego) and the eclectic KKSF (San Francisco), another wave of "Smooth Jazz" stations banking on "The Wave's" softer sound grew quickly. Those included "Breezin' 100.7" in Milwaukee and KHIH in Denver programmed by consultant Gary Guthrie, WNUA (Chicago) consulted by Cody, WVAE in Detroit, and the re-launch of WQCD (CD101), New York. The format had been deemed 'New Age" originally and radio stations like WNUA Chicago and KNUA Seattle emulated the phrase in their call letters. In the late 80's, research firm Cody/Leach conducted a study for WNUA/Chicago; it was through the verbatim responses from listeners that the name "Smooth Jazz" was identified. WNUA then adopted the slogan "Smooth Rock, Smooth Jazz". Under the direction of General Manager John Gehron, "Smooth Rock" was dropped. It's Cody who made "Smooth Jazz" a household name, giving rise to its nationwide proliferation through the firm Broadcast Architecture, the widely syndicated “The Jazz Show with David Sanborn” and his association with saxophonist Dave Koz. Cody was also responsible for overseeing the launch of the now defunct Satellite Music Network's syndicated "Wave" format.

"Smooth jazz" has gone on to be recognized as a successful radio format, first emerging in name in the mid- to late-1980s (often, they would be transitioned from existing "new age" stations) and subsequently spreading into most radio markets within the United States and many without. Currently prominent smooth jazz stations include San Diego's KIFM, Miami's WLVE-FM, Seattle's KWJZ, Denver's KJCD, Los Angeles' KTWV, Chicago's WNUA, Detroit's WVMV (which routinely outperforms its mainstream Adult Contemporary competitors), and New York's WQCD (which experimented with a Chill Music-based format for a time but soon returned to its focus on Smooth Jazz).

The majority of major-market smooth-jazz radio stations emphasize soft vocals, including jazz-tinged R&B performers like Luther Vandross, Anita Baker and Sade, neo-soul artists like India.Arie, Brian McKnight and Kem, adult contemporary staples such as Celine Dion, Norah Jones, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and Motown and classic soul performers such as Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Gladys Knight. Some smooth jazz stations also play some pop standards by performers such as Ray Charles and Peggy Lee as well as new recordings of standards by the likes of Michael Buble, Diana Krall, and Renee Olstead; WOEZ-FM in Knoxville, TN, is one example of a smooth jazz/adult standards hybrid. For the most part, today's smooth-jazz stations give little airplay to the vocalists originally featured as part of the "new age" format, such as Enya and Basia, although there are exceptions, such as SmoothJazzWeb.com, XM Satellite Radio's smooth-jazz channel, called "Watercolors," WNJL.com Radio, and the smooth-jazz format delivered to radio stations via satellite by the Jones Radio Network. Among the stations carrying programming from the Jones Radio Network include WCIN-AM in Cincinnati; WKYL-FM in the Lexington, Kentucky market; WASJ-FM in Panama City Beach, Florida; KMGK-FM in Glenwood, Minnesota; and WJZL-FM in Lansing, Michigan. Jones has also begun to integrate Chill material into its music mix, although not nearly as heavily as New York's WQCD did during its short-lived experimentation with Chill.

The popularity of smooth jazz in major American radio markets has led to a proliferation of station-sponsored music festivals around the country where a number of the genre's performers play shows on the same stage throughout a day. They are usually held at high-profile locations such as resort hotels or wineries.

As of the Fall of 2007, the Smooth Jazz radio format continues to grow and thrive as one of radio's longest running formats. Several radio formats like "Jammin Oldies", "Arrow", "Jack" and "Movin" have come and gone in many cities where smooth jazz stations continue to be successful. In January, Broadcast Arcitecture launched the Smooth Jazz Network, featuring smooth jazz artists Dave Koz, Kenny G, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Paul Hardcastle and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis as on-air hosts. So far the network has spread to 25 markets across the US and brand new stations have launched utilizing the network in Norfolk, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque. Currently there are more than 50 commercial radio stations across the US playing smooth jazz.

Ramsey Lewis is now the most listened to Smooth Jazz host in the US with his Smooth Jazz Network morning show in nearly 20 cities across the US including; KKSF San Francisco, WJZW Washington DC, KHJZ Houston, KNIK Anchorage, WLVE Miami and his home station of WNUA in Chicago. The smooth jazz network's afternoon drive is hosted by saxophonist Dave Koz and boasts more that 1.3 million weekly listeners in 18 markets including; WNUA Chicago, KKSF San Francisco, WJJZ Philadelphia and KYOT Phoenix. Other weekly syndicated smooth jazz radio shows include the long running Art Good's Jazz Traxx, "Chill" with saxophonist Mindi Abair, Ramsey Lewis' "Legends Of Jazz and the weekly two-hour Dave Koz Radio Show. In the summer of 2007, Broadcast Architecture launched the format's first ever national countdown show, the "Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countown with Allen Kepler" ( www.smoothjazztop20.com ). The Smooth Jazz Top 20 now airs in more than a dozen radio stations including; WNUA Chicago, WSMJ Baltimore, WSJT Tampa, WLVE Miami and WMJX in Trinidad.

And at least one non-commercial FM station, the community-based WGDR in Plainfield, Vermont., broadcasts a weekly "Quiet Storm" program that's a mix of smooth jazz and soft R&B, presented in "Triple-A" (Album Adult Alternative) style, with a strong emphasis on "B" and "C" album tracks that most commercial smooth jazz stations often ignore. Hosted by Skeeter Sanders, "The Quiet Storm" is the only radio program of its kind in northern New England.

International

New and innovative material from the UK, Europe and Australia has largely failed to gain airplay in the US. Fortunately, deep-pocketed and usually government-funded radio organisations in the UK, Europe and Australia, coupled with technical developments in the digital radio field, have led to the launch of a number of smooth jazz radio stations in these markets and not surprisingly, their playlists are substantially more diverse than in the US.

The future of smooth jazz on radio outside the US in the early 21st century looks bright.

Streaming on the Web

Smooth jazz is gradually developing a worldwide audience, largely thanks to the growth of Internet streaming music channels. New York-based independent web broadcaster Sky.fm launched a Smooth Jazz Channel in mid 2004 and within a year it had grown to be one of the most popular Internet radio services of any genre, according to Shoutcast. The channel is programmed from London, UK by well known specialist DJ Mr Jimi King. Its playlist is worldwide in scope, featuring artists from Europe, the UK and Australia as well as the USA. Programming diversity differentiates this station from US free-to-air Smooth Jazz broadcasters and could be the reason for the increasing popularity of this channel compared with the declining popularity of the US FM stations. 96kbps streams are available free or, for a modest monthly fee, listeners can gain access to a high quality 196kbps stream that is advertising-free. The station now includes a 2 hour streamed live videocastevery Sunday (9am PST/Midday EST/5pm GMT/1:30am Monday, Sydney) which attracts global audience participation via an online forumand occasional chat via Skype. Discussion often includes lively debate addressing the question "what is Smooth Jazz?" It seems the definition is far from settled.

In July 2007 Sky.fm augmented its Smooth Jazz channel with an additional stream titled Uptempo Smooth Jazz,a sub-differentiation of the genre that targets a very specific listener demographic. It is programmed by Mr Jimi King.

Another web stream Smoothjazz.com also commands a sizable worldwide audience according to Shoutcast. However, this stream has a far less diverse playlist and is weighed down with intrusive self-promotional advertising.

The above two web-based channels dominate the streaming of Smooth Jazz on the internet. There are others ((like the Smooth Jazz All Sax Show) http://smoothjazz.podshow.com ), however their audiences are tiny compared with the two leaders.

Popular artists

The groups or recording artists that rise to the top of the smooth jazz charts tend to play their instruments in a distinctively melodic fashion such that they are recognizable within just a few measures; this category includes names like saxophonists David Sanborn, Warren Hill, guitarist George Benson, and pianists Joe Sample and Bradley Joseph. Some performers, such as Dave Koz, Bob James, and Nathan East attain fame via their numerous collaborations with many other of the genre's big names. Grammy Award-winning Fourplay is a smooth jazz recording group with sophisticated roots in jazz. Pieces of a Dream formed in 1976 and has enjoyed a renaissance in the new millenium, as have the The Rippingtons, who celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2006.

While the world of smooth jazz has thus far been relatively male-dominated, the successful female performers — Keiko Matsui, Joyce Cooling, Mindi Abair, Candy Dulfer, Sade, Brenda Russell, Pamela Williams, Regina Belle, and Anita Baker participate also.

In Europe a major artist in the field is the European Jazz Trio, comprising pianist Marc van Roon, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Roy Dackus. The trio has recorded over fifteen smooth jazz albums in the last ten years. Emerging European artists include France's guitar sensation Marc Antoine, England's Peter White, who frequently appears in the US, England's Acoustic Alchemy, and Italy's Rocco Ventrella, a saxophonist who relies almost entirely on the internet for the promotion and distribution of his music. In Australia a Russian immigrant saxophonist, Igor, is making waves.

Live Venues

Pizza on the Park in London's Soho district. Features acts from across the world.

The Basement in Sydney, Australia's CBD.

The Gov, Adelaide, Australia

Development

A popular recent development is urban jazz, which incorporates aspects of hip-hop. This style is aimed at audiences who would normally listen to urban contemporary radio stations that play a mix of hip-hop and R&B. Among the musicians who frequently perform urban jazz are Dave Koz, Boney James, Paul Jackson Jr., Bobby Perry, Urban Jazz Coalition, Streetwize, Tha' Hot Club and former NBA player-turned-bassist Wayman Tisdale.

Urban jazz includes artists such as Michael Lington, Brian Bromberg, David Lanz, Kim Waters, Daniele Caprelli, Ken Navarro, Walter Beasley, Fattburger, Peter White.

Another nascent trend involves the fusion of smooth jazz and electronica, the results of which are similar to what has, among electronica enthusiasts, come to be called "chill." Radio stations such as New York's WQCD, SmoothJazzWeb.com Smooth Urban Jazz and DJs such as Rafe Gomez have pioneered the usage of playlists that blend tracks from both genres. Norman Brown is also popular.

Criticism

The term "Smooth jazz" seems to inspire controversy. "Traditional jazz" purists contend that smooth jazz is, in actuality, not jazz of any kind, regarding it as a misleading marketing buzzword that represents an attempt to hijack the ostensible prestige of jazz in order to sell what is really a form of "elevator music". They consider the smooth jazz genre uninspired, lacking the depth of expression, harmonic and rhythmic sophistication, and complex improvisation that are hallmarks of traditional jazz; substituting, at times, trite and hackneyed musical phrasing. Recurring accusations charge smooth jazz with offering a watered-down sound whose aim is to appeal to a larger, mainstream, middle class white audience, though, notably, radio demographics have indicated that middle- and upper-middle class African Americans constitute what may be a significant percentage of smooth jazz listenership. Smooth jazz is still played (though decreasingly) on Muzak-style background music systems as well as telephone music on hold services, which many artists try to distance themselves from as they are seen as degrading to music. Jazz fusion enthusiasts also point to smooth jazz as having confused many listeners as to the meaning of fusion music, with fusion enthusiasts being some of the most vocal in appreciating a high level of virtuosity, improvisation, extended track lengths and soloing, all of which are rarely present in smooth jazz.

In the United Kingdom, British jazz performer Digby Fairweather, before the launch of UK jazz station theJazz, denounced the change to a smooth jazz format on defunct radio station 102.2 Jazz FM, stating that the owners, GMG Radio were responsible for the "attempted rape and (fortunately abortive) re-definition of the music — is one that no true jazz lover within the boundaries of the M25 will ever find it possible to forget or forgive."^[5]

Others contend that smooth jazz is indeed a viable jazz subgenre, asserting that attempts to maintain jazz music as a kind of museum exhibit are narrow minded, presenting over a century's continued cross-pollination between jazz and R&B as evidence. Furthermore, they point out that the music of such widely respected musicians as Pat Metheny, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Sting and others are often classified as smooth jazz, and that many of these artists are capable of performing well in multiple styles. The over-30 audience in the USA enjoys the melodic nature of the medium, the frequent revival of Pop standards and freedom from histrionic vocal lines of this contemporary instrumental music, lacking the intensity and dedication of much of jazz itself. However, the appeal of Smooth Jazz is developing amongst the late teens and 20s age groups in eastern Asia (especially Japan) and in Europe. In particular, late night coffee bars are playing Smooth Jazz in order to create an enticing late-night non-alcoholic social alternative where conversation is encouraged. No matter what the national language, the genre is invariably referred to by this young, developing and affluent demographic a "Smooth Jazz."

Kenny G

Kenny G has sold over 70 million albums and ranks among the top 25 selling artists of all time. Kenny is the biggest selling instrumentalist of all time. While some jazz enthusiasts lay out criticism for Kenny, he continues to enjoy popularity among radio and music fans. His most recent release has sold nearly 250,000 copies dwarfing nearly all other smooth jazz and jazz artists. Like him, love him or not, Kenny has remained the icon for the genre for the past 20 years by jazz purists, even though he was predated by other popular jazz musicians in the 1970s (such as George Benson and Grover Washington, Jr.) who may also be considered smooth jazz today.

Smooth jazz albums generally considered to be genre-defining

• Tourist in Paradise by The Rippingtons
• Double Vision by Bob James and David Sanborn
• Rise by Herb Alpert
• Morning Dance by Spyro Gyra
• Breezin' by George Benson
• Collaboration' by George Benson and Earl Klugh
• Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione
• Festival by Lee Ritenour
• Fourplay by Fourplay
• Rapture by Anita Baker
• Winelight by Grover Washington, Jr.
• "Europe" by European Jazz Trio

Major smooth jazz-producing record labels

• GRP
• Heads Up
• Higher Octave
• Instinct Records
• Narada Productions
• Native Language
• Peak Records
• Windham Hill
• A&M
• Narada
• Blue Note — specializes in 'traditional jazz', although several of its artists, most notably Norah Jones, Anita Baker, and Van Morrison, have garnered heavy airplay on Smooth Jazz radio.

See also

• Jazz
• List of smooth jazz performers
• Category:Smooth jazz albums
• Category:Smooth jazz
• Quiet Storm
• Sophisti-pop

References

Jazz • Jazz genres
Acid jazz - Asian American jazz - Avant-garde jazz - Bebop - Crossover jazz - Dixieland - Calypso jazz - Chamber jazz - Cool jazz - Free jazz - Gypsy jazz - Hard bop - Jazz blues - Jazz-funk - Jazz fusion - Jazz rap - Latin jazz - Mainstream jazz - Mini-jazz - Modal jazz - M-Base - Nu jazz - Smooth jazz - Soul jazz - Swing - Trad jazz - West Coast jazz
Other topics	Musicians - Jazz standard - Jazz royalty - Jazz band - Big band - Jazz (word)

Radio stations playing smooth jazz

Smooth Jazz formatted radio and internet audio channels
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Internet Only	SKY.fm Smooth Jazz SKY.fm Uptempo Smooth Jazz SmoothJazz.com Solace.fm Smooth Jazz See also Easy Listening

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