I’m a big fan of old jazz and swing. Tunes that had outstanding melodies, a great beat and improvisations that were fantastic. Along came beebop and virtually destroyed all that. I understand that Miles Davis once asked the opinion of Les Paul why his (Miles’) music didnt’t sell very well. Les asked him to play a melody. Miles said he couldn’t/wouldn’t do it.
Any age of music has its bubble gum and pure crap “music” and the 40s were no different but the current age seems to be “non-music”, mostly whining with nothing you can whistle/no melody. There are exceptions. :D
I can only take Miles Davis in small doses. I prefer Thelonius Monk to Davis.
I do dig Dorothy Ashby’s harp work.