i admit it, i'm a fan of 'smooth jazz' music. it's comfortable, relaxing, quiet, and fun to have in the background of life. i liked this quote about it, even if less than flattering: a case could be made that smooth jazz has found its cultural moment. The world is a jagged place, beset by terrorism, soaring oil prices and election fears. Into this scary vortex pours musical Xanax for frayed 21st century nerves... anyway, when i go to turn on the radio anymore, it's either to listen to a 'smooth jazz' station or a 'lite r&b' one.

over the years that i've been listening, i've been a quiet fan of a saxophonist named Dave Koz who i knew nothing about other than his music and his continued play on all the smooth jazz stations. when they'd say his music was coming up or just played, i always connected to it and him for some reason. and, well, now i know why after reading this article about his 'coming out' at age 40. nice article, nice story, cool guy, glad he took the plunge, even if he feared "being abandoned by his audience, especially married women," because it turns out that, due to the work and openness of many others over the years, no one is shocked or even cares anymore. except now he has started to build up a whole gay audience that may or may not have been paying attention before. good4him. good4us. and good4america for the yawn.