So Greg . . .

Before you get too far removed from this site, have you generally stopped posting on web boards or just this one? I seem to remember you being pretty active over at "contemporaryjazz.com." As you may know, John Hildebrand is back running that site these days. They had some really aggressive combatants there as you will remember and "burden21" was there as well. Haven't heard from him in quite a while.

There's little doubt that the online environment affords individuals the opportunity to speak to others in a way they probably never would in person. But I've always found most of the posters here to be reasonable and for the most part civil. Hopefully that would include yours truly. But think of the "up" side of such discussion. At times it improves our awareness of our own need to temper our words due to the effect they have on others feelings. Communication involves being a good "listener" [good reader???] as well and probably of vital importance in this environment. The "brawls" as they've been characterized here have usually occurred when posters get into the habit of doing a "finite" analysis of another's comments intent on finding any uncrossed "t's" and un-dotted "i's." That has always been a big part of any bbs I've visited.

Regardless, as a long-time poster here, I think that most doing so are primarily motivated to support the music they love while perhaps helping us all to "widen out" in our viewpoints. The site has always been educational and encouraging in spite of the occasional "barroom brawl."

And really Greg, aren't those Magic Island bbs juices beginning to tickle your fancy?

Jones has always played a lot more contemporary/pop instrumental songs that Broadcast Architecture. But when BA went to a syndicated national network they pretty much blew Jones out of the water. They specifically set out to get the Jones affiliates because they were already automated and their selling point was that Jones was "too progressive." and played"too much unfamiliar music." I get the Jones music panel music tests and they have been asking an awful lot of questions recently about pop vocalists and testing a lot of Phil Collins type stuff so I guess they feel like unless they imitate BA a little more BA will come in and steal more of their affiliates.

Pre BA there were some fine vocals being mixed in - Michael Franks, Al Jarreau (something other than Were in this love together and mornin') Kevyn Lettau, Marilyn Scott, Basia, Randy Crawford, etc. Even Anita Baker and Sade were fine back then because they were current. Problem is that "smooth Operator" is not a 3 year old song now, it's a 23 year old song. There's a big difference. It's the crossovvers from your local "Lite" or oldies station that I could do without, especially Vanessa Williams who is the most unbearably pleasant singer I've ever heard..totallly nondescript. And that song BabyFace did with that actress was just awful.
Here's a block of songs on WSMJ Baltimore. Note the set I italicized. 3 songs in a row that are all over 25 years old:

BABYFACE Fire And Rain
ANITA BAKER You're My Everything
BOOKER T & THE MG'S Green Onions
WHITNEY HOUSTON You Give Good Love
MARION MEADOWS Dressed To Chill
RUFUS/CHAKA KHAN Ain't Nobody Warner Bros.
ERIC MARIENTHAL Blue Water Peak/Concord
WHISPERS And The Beat Goes On Epic
BRIAN BROMBERG Cantaloupe Island
DIANA ROSS Missing You RCA
JAMES INGRAM W QUINCY JONES 100 Ways
PATRICE RUSHEN - Forget Me Nots

I'm just back from a trip to Denver... listened to 104.3 all week.... probably about 8 songs per hour, and depending upon the time of day the ratio of vocals to instrumental flip-flopped.

But I heard plenty of Luther, Anita Baker, Sade, Eric Clapton (tears in heaven and layla unplugged), Mariah Carey - and the usual new suspects - Corinne Bailey Rae, Kelly Sweet, etc.

Yes, Koz's show is on in the afternoon, but there does seem to be some interaction with the listeners. You can request a song online - and it gets played. Yesterday morning, they interviewed Steve Oliver during morning drive time and played his new tune with Warren Hill. Then they opened up the phone lines for 20 minutes for listener feedback.

All in all though - most of the music was pleasant to listen to, but it was background music. nothing to inspire devotion to the genre.... nothing like I felt the first time I heard Nocturnal Playground

That is, if it is already on the BA playlist.

I agree with this all the way. It is too bad that so many people call any instrumental music, which is sax or keyboard driven, jazz. My wife does not like any instrumental music. Thank God my son likes instrumental rock. Peace.