In college I was privileged to take a jazz history taught by the late great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean (www.music-city.org/Jackie-McLean/discography/). Growing up in the 1930’s Jackie learned to play with the help of Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, and was a sideman with many of the greats including Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and Freddie Hubbard before leading a number of groups and making dozens of recordings.

Jackie loved Jazz, and made sure his students were well-versed in the foundations of this art form, including who the “real” jazz players were in the first half of the twentieth century, people like Jelly Roll Morton, Fletcher Henderson, and Earl “Fatha” Hines. Jazz came from the earth, from the streets, from the people. Jackie taught us that the boundaries of Jazz were endless, with the music going in many directions based on the vision and willingness of each artist to bend or change the rules. Since taking that great class, I’ve been listening to lots of forms of jazz, only deliberately avoiding the insipid “smooth jazz” (my apologies to you smooth jazz fans.)

So I was upset when I read the results of a recent study released by the National Endowment of the Arts. Bottom line, jazz concert attendance by people 18–24 years old has dropped 58 percent since 1982. In 2008, only 7.3 percent of that age segment attended a jazz show. Couple these alarming statistics with the elimination of music programs in public schools, and we jazz lovers and our whole society face a wasteland of crappy music where Ben Folds says “some producer with computers fixes all my shitty tracks.”

Terry Teachout, in a June essay in the Wall Street Journal, wondered if “common man” interest in jazz could survive, as the genre seems destined for classification as a high art form, where only the true aficionados would give a darn about the music.  This would defeat the whole meaning of Jazz, an original American music that came from the people.

Regardless of the statistics, there is new music, jazz music, out there today. A Blog Supreme (www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/), the jazz blog from National Public Radio, recently asked readers to pick five “entry jazz albums” as a reaction to the NEA study. Here is my list.

Out Louder, Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood (2006). The great new jazz trio MMW (www.mmw.com) reunites with guitarist John Scofield (www.johnscofield.com) for a new set of groove jazz. Super fresh and funky; play it at midnight.

Season of Change, Brian Blade Fellowship (2008). Drummer Blade (www.brianblade.com) works with some amazing friends to create a fusion of musical genres whose product is an ambitious collection of modern jazz that’s still very accessible. The set features guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkle, who has truly come into his own, and pianist Jon Coherd, who co-produced with Blade.

Esperanza, Esperanza Spalding (2008). The 23—year-old bass and vocal prodigy Spalding (www.esperanzaspalding.com) enchants us with flowing vocals, hypnotic rhythms, and freewheeling bass playing. This is exceptional and inviting music that has a future.

Pat Metheny Trio Live, Pat Metheny (2000). Nearly ten years old, this live set is still fresh and sublime. From pastoral acoustic to screaming synth guitar, guitarist Metheny, drummer Bill Stewart, and bassist Larry Grenadier are extraordinary as they play a full menu of Metheny standards. I recommend Faith Healer, one of my all time favorites.

Live at MCG, Bob Mintzer Big Band (2004). One heck of a big band album, featuring the first collaboration between Mintzer’s Band and the incredible vocalist Kurt Elling. Crank up Herbie Hancock’s Eye of the Hurricane really loud, and enjoy the fireworks.

And not to forget Jackie:

New and Old Gospel, Jackie McLean (1967). Re-released in 2007, this great set is a McLean masterpiece, with saxophonist Ornette Coleman on trumpet and the great Billy Higgins on drums. AllMusic.com says, “The melodic interplay here is just stellar; it follows no convention or structure other than a blues feeling, and yet swings so wonderfully hard.”  Genius.

You can find all of the albums on iTunes. All you need to do is listen and share them with someone younger than you—is it a deal?