For the most part, I'm a prog guy (Marillion, Genesis, IQ, Porcupine Tree, Rush, Dream Theater, etc.), but something about this music just does something so good for my soul. I've been listening to smooth jazz now since around the mid 80's (Lee Ritenour's Festival and The Ripps Tourist In Paradise were my introduction) and it calms me like no other forms music. I used to spin Lee's Festival CD on my first day back to college and getting moved into my apartment because it just calmed my nerves (it was tradition my entire 4 years).

Now that I'm in my 40's, smooth jazz just takes me on a trip. The sounds that permeate in my head instantly takes me from the landlocked midwest and puts me on the shores of the Pacific in northern California (Monterey...as it's the best place I've ever been). What does smooth jazz do to you?

Not much. Well, more to the point, nothing that straight jazz, fusion, blues, classical, easy listening, rock, pop and funk don't do.
I hear a lot of people say, "It's so relaxing." If relaxing is what you want music to do, then great. But I wonder what people who say that think of other styles of music. Do they put on jazz (any kind of jazz) so they can sleep better? It's just a thought.
Generally, I want music to entertain me. There are times when a certain song comes on that snaps me out of a funk or maybe even calms me down during a period of frustration.
But mostly, I listen to music because I love music.
Rather than want it to do something for me, it's more like I want music NOT to do certain things: bore me, annoy me, anger me, make me want to plug my ears or smash a speaker. There are songs in all genres that accomplish what I want, and there are songs in all genres that do things I don't want.
Smooth jazz is about 60-40 in favor of doing what I want.

Music helps my life to be more enjoyable. Smooth jazz is just one genre. I have played drums since 1969, so I am very interested in both the overall effect and the component parts of music. I agree with Jazzwriter: I want music that does not bother me in any way. Various types of jazz do not bother me and appeal to me, while other types bother me quite a bit.

What I choose to listen to somewhat depends on what mood I am in. For most of the last year, I have been mostly into straight-ahead jazz. Before that I was more into smooth/contemporary jazz. Lately I have been getting more into rock. I listen to a big variety of styles, with one style dominating.

So what does smooth jazz do to me? It makes me think. It enhances other activities. It causes me to make anthologies to weed out the annoying tunes. It causes me to spend too much money. It led me here to this forum.

Peace and goodwill.

What does smooth jazz do for me?? Well I like the high energy stuff and it helps me when I exercise or on long drives! Keeps me relaxed and focused at the same time! Music in general helps keep me sane. I'm a musician therefore, a creative person! So when I listen to music, many times I envision myself a part of the ensemble! The 'snooze' jazz stuff can go bye bye for all I care! I dig all the funky, fusiony stuff!

This music can be entertaining. However, this music suffers from an identity problem that keeps a lot of the artist from making entertaining music. The ones that call themselves "jazz artist" are above writing an entertaining song. They seem to be more about exotic scales and chord arrangements than an entertaining song. After their amazing display of technique and theory, I'm like "Where's the song? I ain't feeling this @#$%!"

Then, there are guys who are into pop music but are afraid to write an entertaining pop song because they want to fit in. These guys secretly listen to Lady Gaga and love her. They didn't grow up listening to Coltrane so why do they need to play it now. If they would forget about playing jazz and write something that they feel would be entertaining, they would be free to become musicians like Miles and Herbie--not afraid to go into unfamiliar territory.

I would love a smooth jazz tune that makes me nod to the beat. Much of this smooth jazz just makes me nod off.

TR808....those are interesting observations and I found myself agreeing with all of them.

When I first heard Noctunral Playground....it immediately appealed to me, as did most of what was being released for about 10 years.

These days, it's rare for many releases to rise above obscurity. The sounds are so formulaic, as are most of the appearances. It's gotten to the point where I can predict what is going to happen on the stage. Sad.

I think most of the shows do have more energy and exceed the expectations of the CDs, but the formula just gets in the way.

When I'm in the crowd at jazz fest, a warning sign about being hit with the formula can be heard in the language that the fans use to describe the "artist". The word entertainer is used a great deal these days and as a musician.... that troubles me.

Now that I've invested my own savings into promoting shows.... that word troubles me even more. I have to market these shows in a way that I never thought I would have to.

I agree with Mark and Jazzwriter and TR808. I love Fusion and Funk more than anything and then there's Contemporary Jazz. And I totally agree with DW. If a Jazz song comes on the radio, I wanna be moving with the music. I love to upbeat stuff because it's fun, but then there are songs that calm me or undo frustration.

What I like is an equal mix of musicianship and entertainment. I believe that the musician should use all of his/her abilities in their songs from Theory to their own style. But it shouldn't just be a Theory Show off or a lame pop beat that you can't distinguish from any other modern pop song.

If it's jazz, funk, or fusion, use your theory and make it groove!

For me the most important is the groove. If your song grooves, it can be jazz, pop, hip-hop or anything else. Rico Belled's new album is a good example for intelligent music.

Like I said in the other forum I can't call it "Smooth Jazz" anymore because the stuff I like always was and will always be Adult Alternative Instrumental..so that's what I call it..it's not "smoothed out" but it's not "out there" either. Thats the buzz I got when I heard Jeff Beck's "Wired", then later Pat Metheny, then the Ripps, now Lao Tizer, Ken Navarro and Chieli Minucci. It ain't smooth, it ain't jazz..its very cool instrumental music that brings in influences from everywhere and never fades into the background.