Is smooth jazz really that tacky?

[Archtop]

I like listening to our local smooth jazz radio station, I really enjoy the guitar stuff (when Kenny G comes on I turn it over).

I've always found that guitarist tend to poo poo Smooth Jazz type guitar playing, as if it's too cheesy. I like it and enjoy playing along to some of the stuff.

What about you?

[jazzalta]

Some of it is okay, like the older George Benson stuff. I think most jazz guitarists find it too simplistic, too pentatonic-ish. But I do like some of the stuff from Brian Hughes, for example, and he's kind of on the borderline. If you like it, go for it. There's no right or wrong here, just opinions.

[Professor1]

Yes.




And BTW, I had Garfield first.

[mahayana]

I've said this in other places, but I really like smooth, slow jazz. Ballads that are jazzed up enough to keep you guessing what the song is for awhile. The main problem is getting the guitar to compete with the sax and piano solos. Thin, fast guitar parts won't work- but slow solos with bends and Hendrix style hammering (like Little Wing), maybe even slide- whatever is unique guitar effect, complements nicely. Chord-melody licks in the rhythm, intros and extros, harmonizing with the bass, there are many ways to make a contribution.

Try playing along with anything recorded by Stanley Turrentine (he played smooth jazz before it had a name), see what you can do that has half the soul of that tenor sax. Hardly any of his recordings had a guitarist.

Smooth is not for everybody, but it doesn't have to be elevator music either.