I always find it amusing when I hear people bashing smooth jazz artists about how they can’t play “real” jazz. Most of these artists are masterful on their instruments plain and simple. They choose to play smooth jazz for a number of reasons. The number one reason being that they like it. Certainly make sense to me. I like it too—-a lot. Anyway, here are a couple videos featuring some excellent musicians mostly smooth jazz artists playing some straight-ahead jazz well—verrry well!:
1. Tune: Confirmation Artists: Chuck loeb(guitar), Jeff Lorber(piano),Will Kennedy(drums–Yellowjackets), Eric Marienthal (sax–Chick Corea fame), Konstantin Ionenko – Bass
2. Tune: Giant Steps: Artists: Chuck loeb(guitar), Jeff Lorber(piano),Will Kennedy(drums–Yellowjackets), Eric Marienthal (sax–Chick Corea fame), Konstantin Ionenko – Bass
3. Tune: Sundown by Wes Montgomery Artists: Nick Collione (guitar), David Mann(Sax), among others.
Enjoy,
Leon