We think we have it bad when it comes to support and attendance. Compared to us there is another art form that quite frankly is under siege, existing in a sea of indifference after helping to build our American cultural identity. The city where it was still thriving is struggling too, through no fault of it’s own, and we lament our situation?
Jazz, where is it? There are major music schools and I am thinking particularly of the University of North Texas that have degrees in Jazz. Having spent time in that area I remember one year being told that there were over 80 Saxophone majors! What happens to them when they graduate? This article from Toronto highlights the problem that it is becoming less and less viable for Jazz clubs to survive. I hate to think that such an important part of American culture, the intimate and spontaneous creativity of Jazz in it’s purest sense (that being the club setting), is going to disappear. It then becomes background music at restaurants and at best music on the soundtracks of Woody Allen’s films? (As an aside a Clarinetist in my orchestra Michael Lomax made his mouthpieces)
We should count our blessings not sing the blues. Even small cities will have an orchestra, but they don’t have a Jazz Club where musicians can actually play the blues! The NEA does recognize the cultural significance Jazz. There are not – for – profit organizations who are advocates and certainly herculean efforts were and are still being made following Katrina to support the musicians of New Orleans. Nevertheless, with the statistics being so scary for Orchestral musicians who graduate, it must be terrifying for Jazz musicians. Of course there is session work, soundtracks etc… But major talent who engage in the spontaneity and creativity of Jazz are finding fewer and fewer outlets and so new generations are not being captivated or even exposed to it. Jazz one day might possibly become nostalgic and historic relegated to festivals once a year and college campuses with the occasional club in a major city. And, as far as education goes, improvising (and not just in music) is a skill we all need from time to time, what better way than to teach it than through Jazz!
Orchestras always play it up when a piece uses Jazz elements and how important that crossover is. So I think we should return the favor. Many halls have rooms, reception areas even bars. Many orchestras have musicians who really know how to jam and college students in the same city who can also. How about opening a Jazz club in collaboration with the halls (surely someone has done it), so that after the concerts the club opens to patrons who are already there and even for people who just want to come and hear the Jazz. Because there is already so much infrastructure in place, it doesn’t have to be a new business venture, just another series which is low risk compared to opening a new establishment. We could bring in guest artists and for a regular series, so it is not just seen as a reception event. I am going to propose it here. We need to Save the Wails!