>Looking back it was a complicated world to figure out as a kid in
>terms of art and politics.
Cops used to roust white kids out of record shops in South Central (read: black) Los Angeles.
I can do without out about 99% of contemporary jazz, but for decades people made great jazz that had a lot of crossover with other styles. Even country, with people like Ray Price, who was the first to hire Willie Nelson, and you can still hear jazz influences in Merle Haggard.
For the most part these days though I'm with Lou Reed, who said if it's got more than three chords it's jazz, and I'm not much interested.