Yeah, I agree we both could name a bunch of stuff we think is great.

I dont think he even considers songwriting.

I mean, I understand where he's coming from. A country singer or a pop singer/rock singer can get by on 1,2,3,4,5 chords, play waltzes or 4/4 time signatures their whole career. In his opinion they are not real musicians, only playing what they know.

He thinks a musician should be able to play everything, and be adept at all styles, be able to play in any key, and really have to study music, whereas most other genres dont need to be as skilled, in that way.

Where he fails, is not any idiot can be Paul McCartney or Paul Simon. Or, that a great melody or a great guitar or drum solo, doesnt HAVE to come from the greatest musician in the world, they just need to stimulate somebodies ear.

I think thats where the gap is, jazz music is more about the pure music of it, pop, rock country is more about the song, something, he prolly doesnt understand either.

There are great musicians, and then there are great artists.

I will agree though that even the most basic jazz musician runs rings around other musicians in other genres, as far as knowledge and pur musicianship, but i dont think people care about great musicianship, they like songs.