Arksided - // ... be easier just to say 'Modern Jazz' what's that about, sounds to me like they're still learning to play. //
I attend the Montreal Jazz Festival every year as an invited writer, and I have had material published in Jazz Journal in the UK, and also in Downbeat - the premier jazz title in the US.
And I completely concur with what you are saying!
Because I can go to every show free, I try and see as many jazz artists as I can, especially those i am interviewing, and in a large number of cases, it's clear to me that the rest of the audience are hearing something that is not reaching me at all.
I attended the Wayne Shorter 80th birthday concert there - a top draw gig, sold out, and I couldn't say I understood or enjoyed a note of it. Clearly it was amazing, the atmosphere was electric, but I simply can't hear what fans and appreciators are hearing.
What I do know as a journalist is, you don't need to understand or like an artist's work in order to interview them.
I talked to Mr Shorter for nearly an hour, and my feature was a front cover for Jazz Journal, he was fascinating and a wonderful interviewee - I would love to hear what I am clearly missing in that style of music!