It's just the reality of it. Donna Woodall, Streetlife's main vocalist, really loves the music. For me, it creates a picture, a mood, just like straight-ahead jazz does. We appeal to a broad audience of very different ages. Guitarist Peter McManaman thinks it's only people's desire to simplify things that makes the smooth jazz label stick.
People feel comfortable giving things a category.
It's just a marketing tool. The smooth jazz title sometimes makes an artist trained in straight-ahead jazz bristle, because they are being called soft when they are not. Straight-ahead jazz is so cerebral, and I love it. But smooth jazz is more cinematic. It's just different.