After a small sampling I think Snarky Puppy is definitely not for me. It's a little bit busy for me, I'm much more of a passive listener so anything that requires intense concentration I don't like. Kamasi Washington is much closer to being something I like. So of the songs I've listened to are also a little busy as well, though. Is this just a characteristic of all modern jazz?
Brad Mehldau - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omF16-qbmeM Bill Laurance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEXiixI6a2o Harold Lopez-Nussa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2R1TmutBA
I really enjoy the golden age of jazz. At the same time there's so much good music around these days and I can't help but appreciate the richness around us today. I'd love to chat about music (my email's on my profile).
Any GroundUp folks reading this, I'll see you in Miami in a few weeks :)
There is certainly a strong post-Dilla trend towards rhythmic complexity, but a lot of contemporary artists are also producing work with a gentle and meditative quality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4irB-qy8NY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS2Y_CkaXP0
Jazz is difficult to play, and what makes it interesting is that it requires musicians with the talent and dedication to master their instruments, but also open-mindedness to play new things.
There are forces at work (i.e. Wynton Marsalis) trying to canonize a certain era of jazz as an essentially classical art form while expelling other musicians from the genre. These influences are present in jazz education-- teaching musicians what is jazz and what is not jazz.
Fortunately for all of us, the likes of Snarky Puppy, Kamasi Washington, Esperanza Spalding, John Medeski, and Robert Glasper are still making new music.
Ignore the critics. Listen to something you haven't tried before. You just might like it.