No, of course not, Chas. I saw no elitism in your earlier comments - you're much broader than that, I know. As you allude to, there definitely is, unfortunately, some elitism/snobbery in jazz, just as there is in many other forms, and it irks me to no end. We've all run into it from time to time.

I think that many of the elitist bunch, who wouldn't know an E from their elbow, actually miss out on the kernel of what jazz, in all its forms, is about. The soul. Just like any other art form, jazz should reach into you at a much deeper level than just at the entrance - the ears. It has to have that healin' feelin'.

I'm very much with you in that it really doesn't matter what the genre is, as long as the quality is there plus, PLUS, a certain honesty on the part of the musician. I believe the huge majority of jazzers are honest - nobody got into jazz to get rich. ;-)

Man, it's a bit early in the day, but I've just got to go play some blues now. Be well.