As far as recording...It's totally subjective. All bets are off in the recording studio! I suspect what they are talking about is the way that the jazz guys used to use smaller sized drums in an "open" or un-muffled way. The effect in comparison to the more modern interpretation of a bass drum sound is quite a contrast because most modern bass drum sounds tend to favor the ultra-deep THWOOOOOOmmm. The older "jazz" sound is generally of higher pitch and more resonant BOIIIING.

Funny thing is that you can get a deep sound from a 14" bass drum and you can also get a "jazzy" sound from a 22" bass drum. It's just a matter of how you like the response from the head. A small bass drum that is tuned high and tight will also require much greater control and articulation with the foot...otherwise you will get double, triple, quadruple rebounds! Conversely, a big diameter bass drum tuned really loose will have almost no rebound. Depends on what you are wanting to do.

But, in the studio, ANYTHING is possible!