| Re: Here is your Jazz Degree kid. Good Luck!
I hope this doesn't become a politically motivated thread regarding government funding because it's not my intent for it to move in that direction.
I don't believe the future of American jazz or classical music performance will be dependent on government funding. When I look at the downsizing of pit orchestras, when I look at the fact that there are no touring big bands that are household names anymore (Maynard's was the last one to come close), when I watch "American Idol" and hear that every single contestant was accompanied by synthesized keyboard sounds it makes me believe that no amount of government funding is going to save jazz performance.
That's not to say that it CAN'T be saved, I'm just saying that it's a deeply rooted problem that will take a tremendous effort on the part of people like Wynton and others to break their collective neck keeping jazz in front of audiences. It's not going to be an easy road but it is possible.
It's going to take some world-wide known figure to set a positive example and then become a media darling to inspire others to seek jazz out as an enjoyable as well as intellectual experience. It's going to take those of us who love jazz to go out and go to more shows. Yes, I know it's expensive but what can we do? Well, we can support the private foundations and corporate supporters of jazz festivals and encourage them to please keep doing so. We can buy CD's. We can try to get people that don't know jack about jazz interested in it.
Pollyanish? I don't know, maybe. All I know is that music needs to feed a need not create one. Some folks don't know how hungry they are until you show them the food. They get used to eating fast food and don't remember what it's like to sit down to a four or five course meal.
It's a fight but what can we do but win or lay down and lose.
Here's a challenge: by the end of next month see if you have find a friend who's never been to a good jazz concert and take him or her to one in your area. See what happens. They'll like it, love it, be indifferent, hate it... who knows? Unless they're indigent, don't pay for them. Let them have a stake in it, that's the first step. Let them own it.
We are responsible for the fate of our music.
ML |