I have yet to find myself arbitrating a heated argument about which is better or more worthy. It's kind of like - which is better, apples of swim fins?

That said, for every stunning virtuoso like Stephane Grapelli or brilliant visionary like Miles Davis, jazz has had 10 mega-successful but artistically pedestrian Diana Krall or George Benson.

Likewise for all of it's reputation as being backporch hillbillie music, bluegrass has produced incredible players of originality and versatility who have the chops to play along side anyone making a living playing jazz. In fact a close listen will reveal that bluegrass tips its straw hat to jazz and swing with a great regularity.

They may not be household names, but Doc Watson, Vassar Clements, Tony Trishka, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, David Grisman, Mark O'Connor, Tony Rice, Todd Phillips don't have to bow down to anyone in a smokey New York club wearing a pork pie hat and a $1,000 suit.

Jazz. More complex than than bluegrass. It has more diverse subgenres. Overall more variety and complexcity to the music, plus a focus of on stage musical improvisionation.

I used to play swing and all that good stuff in school, so me and my trombone have a distinct preference.

If it is all instrumental, I usually prefer bluegrass. If vocals are involved, I'd ratehr hear jazz. I can't stand the hillbilly-esque yowling that sometimes comes with bluegrass vocals.

Yeah,I'm predjudiced..I once declined to buy a Chick Corea(jazz pianist)cd because he dedicated it to L Ron Hubbard(I think he makes the late great Chet Baker square)...I have about 300 cd's(99% jazz/0 Bluegrass)...in any case,I say the late great jazz pianist Bill Evans kicks everybody else's ass put together.

There is no question that Bluegrass has its share of great artists. . .I'm not demeaning bluegrass BUT-

Coltrane?
Miles Davis?
Parker?

Jazz scores more cool points. . .on an off day. . .

Jazz, as a whole, is very intriguing to me, and would have to say that it ranks as a favorite style. I didn't come to really appreciate bluegrass music (or anything "country") until a few years ago. As a teenager, I loathed it, but I quite enjoy it, these days.

I've become pretty versatile in music in the past few years, and both forms of music are creative.

I would have to pick jazz in this situation over bluegrass. But I can also live with bluegrass, as well. Hey, it's music!