I’ve been talking to and meeting with my jazz presenter colleagues here in Philly in recent weeks, trying to gain a better understanding about the state of jazz in this city. I’ve been here for just under two years now, and have seen a bit, learned a bit, and definitely could learn and hear a whole lot more.
What I understand at this point, is that Philly has a great and rich jazz history, and it also seems to be experiencing a resurgence of activity rising to a level unseen, perhaps, in recent times.
There are festivals that attract over 150,000 people in just a few days (West Oak Lane Jazz Fest, and in not so great weather to boot). There are clubs that are adding extra sets after the regularly scheduled two set nights because the audience demand is there. (Chris’ Jazz Café in Center City) There is the Philadelphia Museum which recently brought the Mingus Big Band here for one of their best nights ever, with more than 1500 people in attendance. And there is the suburbs, Sellersville Theater, which is booking and selling well. And we at the Kimmel have our series which is also well attended. And then there are the colleges here producing the likes of folks such as Christian McBride (anyone heard his Live at Tonic CD?)
The questions for you the reader, the CD buyer, the ticket buyer, the jazz performer:
Where are you going to hear jazz?
What are you hearing?
In clubs?
In concert halls?
At the museum?
West Oak Lane Fest? Here at the Kimmel?
Do you go to the now ailing Tower Records in Center City to buy CD’s? Do you buy online?
What kind of jazz do you like?
Where do you find out about concerts and performances?
Do the newspapers provide enough coverage? If so/not, which ones? (Both in terms of listings and more importantly in-depth features that tell you about an artist and why you should go hear them)
If you travel to or live in other cities, which ones? Do you go to hear jazz in NYC, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco? Have you come to Philly to hear music?
Anecdotally I understand Philly may be the second most active jazz environment in the country right now?
I have worked on jazz events and projects in various cities along the east coast, and as part of this discussion, I’ll be asking colleagues and a few surprise guests to contribute to this conversation in coming days and weeks.
We’d like to hear from you about what you think and know and like about jazz in Philly. Don’t hold back, let ‘er riff here…
Paul Marotta
Here's my take in a nutshell on jazz in the Philly area:
1) There IS a huge interest in jazz in our area. I regularly go to Zanzibar Blue, Chris' Jazz Cafe, and occasionally Ortlieb's to hear great jazz artists. I have not been to the Kimmel as much, but would go more often if more was offered...
2) Classic jazz is still alive and well- sure there are plenty of 'Kenny G's and 'Chris Botti's out there who some critics would say have watered (or dumbed) down jazz to reach a wider audience, but there is still a big following- just look at the success of all the jazz festivals in the region- West Oak Lane, Jersey, Jenkintown (coming up) and shore points like Rehobeth Beach all have thriving annual jazzfests that attract lots of people and some amazing jazz artists.
3) Jazz is a living art form which makes it unique and dynamic in ways other arts do not match up. There are rules and a vocabulary, but it is an organic dialogue and musical negotiation that occurs when true jazz is played. The players have a theme, a set of chords, and a general plan as well as a common vocabulary, but it is always fresh, always new, always dynamic. It is not just notes on a page played the same way every time with little variation. It is alive! Which makes it exciting to me personally...
4) There are many, many incredibly gifted jazz musicians from and in Philly. A few that come to mind off the top of my head are guys like Larry McKenna, Mickey Roker, Kevin Eubanks, Joey DeFrancesco, Pete Smyser (my guitar teacher), and a long list of others...
5) Philly is also historically a city that many great jazz and blues artists tour and play regularly... Just look at the spectacular line up down at Zanzibar Blue and you can see this...
6) The way people listen to, find out about, and purchase music is changing rapidly. I seldom go to 'record stores' anymore. I have an online music service and watch for new releases in my genres (including jazz). When I hear something I like, I buy it online and download it direct to my computer. I also seldom listen to music on the radio except for selected shows- for instance jazz on WRTI. Most of the rest of it is over-played junk in my honest opinion.
I think jazz has not been played on mainstream media much because of the corporatization of the airwaves that squeeze out unique styles in favor of more 'soft rock' and 'pop' and 'classic rock' $tation$...
Who really needs another 'soft rock' station in Philly?? We already have half a dozen of them for crying out loud!?! Who needs five more stations to listen to Brittney Spears, Ashlee Simpson and now Paris Hilton moan and wail like banshees over a drum machine beat?? Isn't 3 enough??
Bring back jazz to the mainstream in Philly!!
Jazz has its finger to the pulse of this city... Let its voice be heard loud and clear...
Peace,
John from Abington
I agree with the comments listed reagrding the comercial side of Philadelphia radio. There is a problem with format, not only with individual stations and the numbers of DIFFERENT tunes that are actually spun per day, but the formats of the stations themselves. All of these stations sound alike, and it is not helping the state of music in general. Walk into any bar or night club in Old City on a Friday night, and you can see how mainstream Philly buys into it. People are dressed the same, they are acting the same, and some of them are even drinking the same drink as everyone else.
There are certain ares in this city where people are doing something different: they are being themselves, and not caring about what the masses think about them. This is where jazz is prevalent, especially with the twenty and thirty-somethings. In my experience with radio, I've found that these are the young people who are not afraid to have WRTI as the first preset on their car radio.
The young original musicians who live in these areas are the people who are actually working to make jazz popular again. Even if the music they are playing is not considered "straight ahead jazz," it has jazz elements and it is real. The sooner people realize this, the better the state of jazz in Philadelphia will be.
It always makes me happy to see a person from the Old City crowd retire the striped shirt or the stilettos for an evening and go to an open mic in Northern Liberties. Events like that give a glimmer of hope that one day you can go into a trendy bar or club and not hear the exact same tune that was blaring out of someone's car window when you were trying to cross Market Street.
Thanks John from Abington...are you aware of the series here which Danilo Perez curates for the Kimmel Center? Jazz Up Close? This year called "The Roots of Jazz" and featuring Wycliffe Gordon, Donald Harrison Jr., Henry Butler, Corey Harris, Brian Blade, and Danilo himself playing as well? five concerts...
Thanks Maureen. I have to say WRTI is a "very bright light on the jazz landscape" I personally listen to jazz programming on WRTI most nights and have learned a lot of both music and Philly artists...
Paul
We've been observing for several years that jazz is experiencing a revival in Philadelphia. The city has long been an anticipated tour stop for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (formerly the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra). The audiences are always well-informed and rightfully proud of the city's contributions to the art form - whether it's the early swing of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, the hard bop legacy of Lee Morgan, or the genre transcending work of Sun Ra.
We're also seeing an increasing number of Philadelphia-based artists making appearances in New York, and the number of working artists listed on phillyjazz.org hints at the vibrancy of the current scene.
Last season, Jazz at Lincoln Center paid tribute to the great American cities of jazz as part of the "Jazz From Coast to Coast" theme, and one of most successful shows was "Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Jazz." In fact, the City of Philadelphia gave Jazz at Lincoln Center a proclamation in recognition of this honor. With participation from Jimmy and Tootie Heath, Duane Eubanks, Joe DeFrancesco, Pat Martino, and Buster Williams, the concerts helped illustrate why Philadelphia continues to be an essential part of the music's national fabric.
--Jazz at Lincoln Center
I've enjoyed many fantastic artists at the Kimmel over the years, but have to admit - I'll go almost anywhere within 3 hours of home to hear great jazz. Large venue or small, indoor/outdoor, rain, shine, fairs, festivals and stoops - it doesn't matter.
I find out about appearances via daily internet searches, newspapers/radio, artist websites, word of mouth....
Over the years, I've had the pleasure of experiencing Ellis Marsalis @ the Kimmel, Liz Wright and Joe DeFrancesco at Zanzibar, Diana Krall @ McCarter Theater, Sonny Rollins, Steve Cole, Mickey Roker - the list goes on and on. Venues such as Keswick Theater, TLA, Sellersville Theater, Berks, Rehoboth & Cape May Jazz Fests etc.
I have a personal affection for the old guard myself - so the more jazz legends the Kimmel can book, the better.
Please keep them coming!