>You described it aptly before -- elevator music. The sad part is so many listeners prefer it to real jazz, not just the classics but new jazz artists who continue to be recorded. Are they afraid they will hear something that engages their mind?

Maybe they fear the pain between the ears in case anything bumpy comes through them?

>I don't remember who it was but some jazz musician expressed contempt for not just the music but the label. "Smooth jazz? What the hell is that? Listened to any smooth Beethoven lately?"

Remember the so-called "acid jazz" of the nineties? Which was generally an endless loop of about 20 seconds of actual music played until shut down. I hated that.