Combining elements of funk, R&B, funk, rock, pop, and yes, jazz – smooth jazz was wildly popular as a commercial subgenre of jazz. Smooth jazz artists also could be found adult contemporary radio and is called smooth because of its downtempo melody that carries the song. First emerging in the 1960s, smooth jazz works well as background music and wasn’t necessarily as complex or innovative as traditional jazz music. Nevertheless, top jazz artists rose to prominence in the late 1980s before peaking in the 1990s and early 2000s. Though smooth, contemporary jazz isn’t as big as it once was, it’s impact can’t be disputed and many famous jazz artists are considered to be some of the best musicians of modern time.
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