Here's my take. The whole early-mid 80's Wynton phenomenon kicked off the majors looking for "young men in nice suits" for their jazz releases, which flooded the market. Some, such as Terence Blanchard, were substantial talents. The vast majority were not. 18 year olds (and younger) were getting Columbia and RCA contracts), the creative masters could not. Even the talented new players could often be traced directly to older masters. Christopher Hollyday did a mean Jackie McLean, but Hollyday could get recorded and McLean couldn't. Vincent Herring did a swell Cannonball Adderley. Kent Jordan, Marlon Jordan, Amini A.W. Murray. And so on. And so forth. Josh Redman (who I do like OK) could get a contract, but Dewey could not. Though some of this started in the 70's, where even in some of the cases where masters did get contracts, they were expected to make safe, marketable music (Bobby Hutcherson, Cedar Walton, even MCoy Tyner on Columbia). That also affected what got played on jazz radio stations. Broad brush, I realize, but that's sort of my impression of it. Ellis totally puts me to sleep without fail. I have to think his contracts were totally on the coattails of his sons. And he was even (much) more reactionary than they were.