Is Jazz audience participation in Seattle on the decline or rise?

I recently attended a Meany Hall UW School of Music event in which Bill Frissell led a group of student musicians in a stellar performance. This was followed by a discussion on the state [...]]]> Hello fellow Jazz and music fans, musicians, educators, journalists and Seattle venues.

Is Jazz audience participation in Seattle on the decline or rise?

I recently attended a Meany Hall UW School of Music event in which Bill Frissell led a group of student musicians in a stellar performance. This was followed by a discussion on the state of Jazz in Seattle: The question above created lively debate between panel members Marc Seales, Coung Vu, Paul DeBarros, Wayne Horvitz, Clarence Acox, Bill Royston, Thomas Marriott and Bill Frissell.

Inevitably, the question was asked: What can be done to increase interest and participation in Jazz around the Seattle Area? How can we bolster the scene for the newer forms of jazz that are springing up here and the young musicians who are involved?

I can’t say I have the definitive answers to these questions, but I do have an idea that has been rolling around in my head for a number of years. Hear me out –

Basically Basie Festival

I would like to propose Seattle’s Jazz Community hold an annual week-long Basically Basie Festival in the spring. Before addressing mechanics, let’s respond to the most obvious question likely to be raised: What does celebrating Count Basie’s music have to do with energizing the younger music community?

Firstly, what I envision is Basically Basie as an anchor theme to create the energy and focus for a competition along the lines of Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington annual event – on a smaller scale. As a journalist, at Essentially Ellington since 1999 I know that in addition to the event itself, it also contemporaneously brings together a synergy of many musicians and performances in clubs throughout the city. The competition part of our event could be held at Meany Hall while throughout the week other performances would be featured at the area’s many clubs and other venues.

Secondly, who doesn’t love Count Basie’s swing and blues?! Just as in any tune, you have to have the hook of a melody – the Basically Basie Festival theme can be our “hook”. This can then be supplemented with the breadth of musicianship and styles available.

Thirdly, the Seattle area already has a diverse and active Jazz performance culture. Our outstanding middle-school and high-school jazz programs have garnered much national attention and many of these graduates remain in the area contributing their talents. I believe this new competition could shine an even brighter light and engage further interest in our Jazz community enhancing our reputation as a happening place for Jazz and thereby increasing audience participation.

For the first time 2010/2011 Essentially Ellington will distribute Basie charts to requesting bands for their competition. This will already be putting focus on Basie’s music in addition to Ellington’s for next year’s festival. That means many bands will be studying these charts over the winter and might be delighted to accept invitations to Seattle’s Basically Basie Festival in advance of EE. We could possibly set this to occur in April between Hot Java and EE. This would also give the usual EE participant bands who have been bested by our Seattle bands a chance to warm up for EE and also check out our scene. The resultant press attention can’t hurt and could also widen the enthusiasm locally, thereby exposing more Seattleites to the Jazz arena.

Please take a look at the proposed Mission Statement for Basically Basie, give it some thought and, come back to this Home Blog page to leave your Comments and ideas for others that hopefully will be joining this conversation.

Moderator,
Paula Nodtvedt
Managing Editor
Jazzoids.com