There's a world of Jazz-rap, jazz-funk, jazz-fusion, etc. It sounds fabulous. You are missing really wonderful music. That's too bad.

No doubt, but then we all are. How much bachata or reggaeton are you listening to?

In the end, all of us will have certain types of music that we like. These tastes will be dictated by race, culture, language, what music we heard when growing up, and many other factors.

The first time I heard the music of Kenny G was in the mid 80's. Someone lent me a CD, who knew I liked jazz. I had never heard of the guy, so I had an open mind, but I was unable to finish listening to even one track. Me and millions of others, I suppose.

Unremarkable, but then the other day I was reading something by a guy who said that he loved Kenny G. because this was the music he had grown up listening to. This was a bit of a revelation to me, because he was saying that Kenny G. stood to him as Duke Ellington stood to me (of a different generation). Hard for me to think of Kenny G as Olde Tyme Nostalgia, but that's what it was to him.

I love the jazz of the first 60 years of the last century. To me it is America's greatest gift to the world and the story of how it came about is endlessly fascinating. To me it is a great scandal that it is so neglected, and I want more people to hear it and appreciate it and the people who made it. Probably you feel the same about the music made by your friends, and perhaps you are right.

"Duke called to Johnny Hodges 'Hey Rabbit give me a long slow glissando against that progression. Yeah, that's it. '

Next he said to Cootie Williams "Hey, Coots, you come in on the second bar, in a subtle manner growling softly like a little lion cub that wants his dinner, but can't find his mother. Try that, OK?' "

Can you imagine the "American Idol" judges using words like that?

Can you imagine Duke saying "Dawg, that was too pitchy!" Not.

"There are very few outstanding vocal performances, other than Robert Cray and Bob Marley."

Wow! Spoken like a true neophyte! And that quote followed a listing that included Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding as singers who don't hold up to repeated listenings! I don't think even Bob Marley thought his voice was great (let alone one of the greatest). And citing "Robert Cray" as one of pop or rock music’s greatest singers speaks for itself.

The only reason I wanted to post here, aside from being repulsed by the ever-narcissistic self-persecution that afflicts so many Jazz aficionados (“If only people knew what I knew!”), Jazz has at least always been seen as a classical form of music in Europe and Asia. Just because America holds its importance down is no reason to equate that with international or historic indifference. Most of the world isn’t as blind as America is when it comes to it’s art and music. But at least Jazz is CONSIDERED a widely under-appreciated form of music in this country. The body of great and influential music that was created by Gospel artists in the 20th Century doesn’t even rate an ASTERISK in most “serious” studies of music! The other-worldly artistic excellence of artists such as Claude Jeter & the Swan Silvertones, Julius Cheeks & the Sensational Nightingales, R.H. Harris & the Soul Stirrers, Dorothy Love Coates & the Gospel Harmonettes, etc., gets such a short shrift that when it’s mentioned at all it is usually disparaged as “religious music”. Which is akin to saying,”Billie Holiday was great … but it was secular music”.

Until Gospel music begins to get recognized as the incalculably important art form, that revolutionized singing, that it was, Jazz fans should be happy their music is at least ACCEPTED as a maligned form of music. Gospel doesn’t even rate being under-appreciated – among most “scholars”. It’s achievement as an art form doesn’t even exist in most books!

Look, I have Otis Redding and I sometimes play the album, but he died young and all he left behind was one album of singles, and not all them them are outstanding.

Bob Marley was the ultimate gospel artist. All his music was gospel. That is why it is so impassioned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7pAvbjChQM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUUwCW4ClPo&feature=related

Here is the perfect song by Robert Cray:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-QktSM93E

And, getting back to jazz, if you want a Latin lesson, you can hardly beat this one about a cool Brazilian hottie by Red Norvo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvjtMW3cjew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvjtMW3cjew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvjtMW3cjew

though to really hear his good stuff search for the Quadromania 4-CD album called Tal Farlow--The Fastest Guitar Player of his Era, which will set you back about $9 including postage, then when it comes unwrap it, put on CD #1, turn the volume up loud, and be prepared to be blown away.

Yes, gospel is good, but what is the most outstanding album or performance in gospel?

I nominate Duke Ellington's Black, Brown, and Beige with Mahalia Jackson.