Seems like every one good freaked out for a bit. Miles Davis and all his alumni making a hundred fusion albums Ornette and his acolytes going off into the land of free jazz. A year after leaving the Ornettes quartet Cherry was in Scandinavia playing a gourd in 10+ minute pieces not even touching his trumpet. He definitely freaked out musically as many people did at that time. Straight Jazz was selling worse and worse, fusion stuff was selling great and people were trying all kinds of stuff.
With that in mind, what do you think about contemporary jazz and the movement back toward straight ahead jazz?
I find a lot of modern straight ahead jazz pretty boring. There are pieces and performances that take my breath away but they are the exception. Generally I'd rather listen the gnarliest Arthur Doyle free jazz album than here a straight blow over changes.
You can't tell me though that you don't like Pat Metheny?