An art that cannot bear change is dead. At the end of the 20th century, jazz has only harmonically begun to enter it. The problem for jazz is that there is no regular forum, as exists for classical, in the way of grants and institutional sensitivity, where innovation can be introduced and demonstrated. Still considered to be a popular form of music, jazz innovation is left for its survival to the political-economic vagaries of commercial media exposure. Educational institutions that include jazz in their curricula respond mainly to what receives the popular play on radio and television.
Jazz is properly an oral tradition.
But, media have come to replace the master in the student-teacher relationship, generating generations of artistic clones. Innovation is not the stuff of schools or jam sessions. Not every innovation is good or necessary. But, some objective assembly independent of commerce, for display, discussion, and opinion needs to be established in several locales across the country, on behalf of America's unique contribution to the higher arts. The popular music industry exists for purposes having nothing to do with music.