What qualifies as "Smooth Jazz?"

[Brono]

Okay, so I just got home a little while ago from going out to dinner with my folks and sister for her birthday, and I took a rare car ride with my parents, rather than taking 3 cars...on the radio was CD101.9 "Smooth Jazz" or "The chill out station" depending on which liner they're playing...

On the way to dinner I heard Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay"...and on the way home I heard Alicia Keyes "Fallin"....do either of these songs qualify in ANY way as Jazz? Is this station swinging around the "Jazz" brush a little too widely, or what?

Brono

 

[westlife]

> On the way to dinner I heard Otis Redding's "Dock of the
> Bay"...and on the way home I heard Alicia Keyes
> "Fallin"....do either of these songs qualify in ANY way as
> Jazz? Is this station swinging around the "Jazz" brush a
> little too widely, or what?

"Smooth Jazz" = euphemism for "Easy Listening".

It's been that way for years. I have a CD 101.9 demo cassette from 1992 which features AC hits like Celine Dion, Sade, and Natalie Cole as well as light pop jazz like Kenny G and Dave Koz. Back then they more accurately described their format as "a blend of today's Cool Jazz and popular vocals". So as long as they play a certain amount of jazz instrumentals, they can still call it "Smooth Jazz" even if they're playing the kind of stuff you'd normally hear on Lite FM or Magic 98.3. (I even once heard CD 101.9 play "Every Breath You Take" by The Police!)

<P ID="signature">______________

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>

 

[valkyrie777]

"Smooth Jazz?"

"Smooth Jazz" is an invented marketing/positioning appellation. It is intended to signal to those who like Urban or Jazz that the overall tempo of the music and the pacing of the jocks is moderate to mellow.

Overall, exactly WHAT tunes are mixed in the format depend quite a bit on the market and daypart and what the programmer calls "jazz". Otis Redding and Alicia Keyes could be included for a variety of reasons, including, reach (Otis skews older) and Alicia (skews younger and hipper).

I've found that every "Smooth Jazz" station's playlist has certain core tunes and artists, but, plenty of variety around the edges that work well in the city to which they broadcast.

Finally..don't try to over-analyze the music too much; if you enjoy the station...the programmers have succeeded.




> Okay, so I just got home a little while ago from going out
> to dinner with my folks and sister for her birthday, and I
> took a rare car ride with my parents, rather than taking 3
> cars...on the radio was CD101.9 "Smooth Jazz" or "The chill
> out station" depending on which liner they're playing...
>
> On the way to dinner I heard Otis Redding's "Dock of the
> Bay"...and on the way home I heard Alicia Keyes
> "Fallin"....do either of these songs qualify in ANY way as
> Jazz? Is this station swinging around the "Jazz" brush a
> little too widely, or what?
>
> Brono
>

 

[mwebster]

Smooth Jazz - An Oxymoron

A better name would be: Beautiful Music - The Next Generation. Or maybe Instrumental AC.

Smooth Jazz is what they often play is stores, dentists' offices and - of course - elevators.

I'm surprised nobody has tried to palm off a format called "Smooth Rock."

 

[dfoi]

Please let me add my opinion to the mix. CD 101.9 hardly qualifies in a smooth jazz category. I can't even describe what it falls under,but if you missed part of your favorite song never fear,it will play again within twelve to eighteen hours from now. Talk about a limited playlist.