I like traditional Jazz such was played by Acker Bilk And His Paramount Jazz Band. Aker bilk also did some good solo clarinet music. In fact, it was hearing ‘Stranger On The Shore’ that got me to buy and learn to play a clarinet.
Back to Jazz though, Acker Bilk and his band turned out some pretty good numbers. So did Kenny Ball and Chris Barber.
Trad does it for me, but this so called modern ‘stuff’ is not for me.
I don’t know much about music genres, I’ve always been interested in artists that can’t really be pigeonholed like that.
I remember back in the 70’s some pretty atrocious “jazz” was of interest to those that were looking for something different, but thankfully, it never caught on. “Progressive” I think they called it.
Anyway I only ever bought one jazz record … in a moment or madness. Gerry Mulligan Meets the Sax Giants. And my favourite track Ben Webster - Chelsea Bridge (1964) In fact, the only track I fell in love with.
Who couldn’t love this?
See, it depends on your definition of Jazz.
A real gem !!
Miles Davis Sextet - Kind Of Blue [Full Album]
Kind of Blue isn’t merely an artistic highlight for Miles Davis, it’s an album that towers above its peers, a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence. Why does Kind of Blue possess such a mystique? Perhaps because this music never flaunts its genius. … It’s the pinnacle of modal jazz — tonality and solos build from the overall key, not chord changes, giving the music a subtly shifting quality. … It may be a stretch to say that if you don’t like Kind of Blue , you don’t like jazz — but it’s hard to imagine it as anything other than a cornerstone of any jazz collection. [From Wikipedia]
Great music quoted in this thread, what about the one and only…
Here is some beautiful Jazz music. Enjoy.
John Coltrane Quartet - Ballads [Full Album]
John Coltrane Quartet - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman [Full Album]
An early Tiger Rag featuring Bix Biiderbecke . . :ok_hand
More incredibly great must-hear Jazz music from the best ever Jazz artist:
Miles Davis Sextet - Someday My Prince Will Come [Full Album]
Miles Davis Sextet - Seven Steps To Heaven [Full Album]
Kenny G is a fantastic Soprano Sax player but like you I cannot stand his music. If he had only chosen a jazzy style instead of this super smooth elevator music 
One of my favourites is the Dave Weckl band (have seen them live and chatted with them).
Yes, The Soprano Sax has it’s place in some fantastic 50’s & 60’s Jazz music. Both John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter (of the Miles Davis Quintet and then Weather Report) played both the Tenor and Soprano Sax fabulously.
Although (as I am a bass player) I listened to a lot of Weather Report. Inevitable not to be hugely impressed by Jaco Pastorius.
However Wayne Shorter was not really my taste I have to admit. Technically his playing was great but I did not like his sound.
All in all, it looks like people think there is more to Jazz than it just being a high score in Scrabble. 
(should have been a reply to the thread rather than to 7779311)
Definitely yes. I guess that if you “understand” Jazz music then it may be the best thing in the world. On the other hand, if you do not “understand” Jazz it may be just terrible noise.
Fortunately I claim to “understand” it and can therefore enjoy it 
In fact, years ago I did not like Jazz at all, then when I met my husband, he opened my eyes to a completely new world of talent, I learned how to appreciate it.
Norah Jones (Newport Jazz Festival)
