What are some great jazz bands and smooth jazz?

I usually just listen to the radio station 101.9 smooth jazz when they dont have commercials on but i want to start listening hardcore. any suggestions?

Fourplay.

This previous posting should answer your question

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

"Hardcore" listening definitely needs to include music from the Blue Note catalog. Anything by Joe Henderson,
Freddie Hubbard, Jazz Messengers or Kenny Dorham.
The smooth jazz of the 70s was called fusion and the best
groups in that category would be The Jazz Crusaders' recordings on the Pacific Jazz label or
Cannonball Adderley's Quintet recordings on Riverside.
Most vinyl LPs have been re-mastered on CD.
The epitome of the new hardcore artists would have to be Joe Lovano, a Blue Note artist.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF JAZZ YOU LIKE LISTENING TOO,COMMERCIAL STYLE,SMOOTH JAZZ,CONTEMPORARY.I,M FROM KANSAS CITY HOME OF CHARLIE PARKER,AND VARIOUS BIG BANDS BACK IN THE DAY,IF YOU REALLY LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD STUFF START WITH GROVER WASHINGTON ,THEN GO FROM THERE YOU WANT BE LET DOWN ,IF YOU REALLY HAVE LOVE FOR THE MUSIC.

Any group with Bob James......Fourplay being one of them.

Yellowjackets, Michael Stern, Chuck Loeb, Rippingtons are band around now that are fantastic. Classic jazz that I love includes Count Basie, Ellington, and Stan Kenton Big Band.
But don't call any of it smooth jazz!

Glenn MiIler Band is my all-time favorite.