What is Smooth Jazz?

“It’s boring.” And “It’s elevator music. These are two opinions(and I have heard an abundance of them) that I consistently hear on this topic. I must say these observations always make me smile and sometimes chuckle. I don’t get into debates or discussions over what I consider a much maligned genre and in some cases a misunderstood format; however, this “misunderstood” format has been around over seven decades and it’s time to recognize and realize the significance and longevity of this particular art form.

Smooth Jazz’s beginnings can be traced back to the 1960’s and 1970’s. Music directors of radio stations began to program and play muscial artists such as Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn, and George Benson in heavy rotation. Known as a mixture of Pop, R&B, and Funk, Smooth Jazz took off and had commercial success well into the 80’s and the 90’s. The word quickly spread that there was a format that captured the attention of a demographic that included college graduates, professionals, and homeowners.

Marketed as “crossover jazz” and “easy listening” music, radio stations featured smooth jazz artists and their original content as well as their renditions of classic songs. Over the years, I have heard a plethora of outstanding covers in the Smooth Jazz genre but one of my favorite renditions of two classic hits Summer Madness/Europa, was recently recorded and performed by Richard Elliot.

Today, any fan(or potential fan) can find a Smooth Jazz station on the airwaves anywhere(there are over 160 Smooth Jazz stations in the United States), especially since the advent of the internet. This distinctive genre is still going strong with its loyal fan base while also attracting a broad variety of new listeners. I am of the opinion that the art form known as Smooth Jazz is far from “boring” and by no means… “elevator music.”