Matt Leifer, Nick Howell, and Ryan Heinlein
I've been reading the essay by Kurt Ellenberger about jazz musicians needing day jobs and the impossibilites of growing the "jazz audience." This dialogue has been putting me in a negative space but luckily I have Rich Wheeler to assure me that musicians have been having this same, tired argument for the last 30 years. But knowing that kind of makes it worse.
I largely agree with Ellenberger's take on the state of the "jazz audience." But that's because I don't think the "jazz audience" truly exists. What the hell is the "jazz audience?" If it exists at all, it seems to consist of jazz musicians and self-congratulatory, male, baby-boomers. I don't want to be part of that group. I'm not a jazz fan, I'm a Dave Douglas fan. There's a difference.
Other forms of music don't focus on growing a genre's audience, they focus on producing stars. There's a saying in martial arts that goes: "There is no superior art, just superior artists." People love individuals, not genres. Just because we made someone go to the jazz section of itunes to get their Norah Jones download doesn't mean that they'll ever care to hear your album of standards. People love Norah Jones. They don't love jazz.
We as young musicians have to create an environment where the audience isn't coming to your show to hear "jazz," they're coming to hear you.
Very well stated, Hunter!
My point exactly. People come to my performances (no matter how infrequent) to hear and see me. Not to hear "jazz" or whatever.
I am not familiar with Rich Wheeler's comments on the subject, but David Binney expresses this dynamic extremely well in an interview he did for a young bassist named Jonah Jonathan - it's on YouTube.
I'm an Andrew Hill fan.
Peace, Cb
Posted by: Cb | 06/16/2012 at 12:44 PM
My partner and I stumbled over here from a different website and thought I might check
things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to
checking out your web page yet again.
Posted by: music player | 06/22/2012 at 08:31 AM
You are so fantastic!!! I have become obsessed with your website and I spend most of my time reading
all your archives. And I signed up JUST to post comments.
I wish I had found you sooner, and I wish you posted as much as
you used to! You must be constantly busy now though because you're so famous!!
Posted by: dj songs | 09/23/2012 at 07:05 PM
Well I'm gonna have to read up some more but this was a really good place to start.
Posted by: camping tent | 10/11/2012 at 04:00 PM
I feel your pain. I never had any good luck with this kind of
stuff, either. So glad to know I am not alone!
Posted by: toys for kids | 10/24/2012 at 05:37 AM