style that operates under radio-format restrictions on musical content. Much of this music
is well crafted and enjoyable, but it is not the exploratory, artistically creative version of
jazz that we have been studying in this course. There are many musicians (some of whom
also make a living as Smooth Jazz artists), that are still performing and recording very
exploratory jazz music, following in the traditions of the great jazz artists before them,
taking risks and creating new music on a high artistic level. Some of the many interesting
jazz artists performing today have apprenticed with the jazz greats of previous
generations, and almost all have studied jazz music in a university or music school
setting. All modern jazz artists follow the established jazz tradition of exploring and
combining elements of different musical influences together in a jazz context, trying to
find a "new voice" and creating unique musical situations for improvisation to take place.
Some very interesting modern jazz music of today is being created by:
Guitarists:
John Abercrombie
John Scofield
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Dave Stryker
Russell Malone
Bill Frisell
Bassists:
Dave Holland
John Pattitucci
Christian McBride
Robert Hurst
Pianists:
Chick Corea
Herbie Hancock
Keith Jarrett
Joe Zawinul
Eliane Elias
Rene Rosnes
Danilo Perez
Geri Allen
Kenny Werner
Brad Meldau
Saxophonists:
Sonny Rollins
Wayne Shorter
David Liebman
Joe Lovano
Michael Brecker
Kenny Garrett
Greg Osby
Branford Marsalis
Joshua Redman
David Sanchez
Walt Weiskopf
Eric Alexander
Steve Coleman
Chris Potter
Ravi Coltrane
Trumpeters:
Kenny Wheeler
Tom Harrell
Roy Hargrove
Dave Douglas
Wynton Marsalis
Terrell Stafford
Tim Hagans
Jim Rotundi
Trombonists:
Wycliffe Gordon
Conrad Herwig
Ray Anderson
Robin Eubanks
Drummers:
Peter Erskine
Bill Stewart
Jack DeJohnnette
Brian Blade
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Vocalists:
Cassandra Wilson
Kurt Elling
Big Bands (playing modern, newly composed jazz music and "repertory" music -
historical reproductions of well-known big band music)
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Chicago Jazz Orchestra
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
Fusion Groups:
The Yellowjackets
Pat Metheny Group
Steps Ahead
Chick Corea Elektrik Band
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
