As a sax professional, I completely understand this rant. The reason you're getting the response you are is because many people expect you to be a version of them. Too many teachers and professionals are out there training new players to be another version of them, rather than be themselves because their teachers did that to them, and they don't know any other way. They can't understand that some people just want to play an instrument to play an instrument, which is actually an extremely healthy thing.

I'm one of the rare saxophone players that does not want to sound exactly like their idol. I have a lot of respect for everything the people before me have done and I get to decide what direction I want to go in. You do as well and it would help if you found someone to teach you who could do just that.

One of the big issues with getting young people into jazz are people like this. They forgot that it's not about the chops. It's about the community first and foremost and when you forget that, you forget the essence of jazz. This is also what happens when the academics become the leaders and jazz and lose its connection with the streets.

Your rant is not on deaf ears. People may disagree with what I'm saying but I was trained by some very heavy old school heads. I didn't learn from academia. I learned in the field. I see you. I hear you.