2 Responses to Top 10

    1.     "David Marion" says:

Yup… I hear you Greg… It is one of the many reasons why I chose early on not to pursue a career in jazz where there is no more room or money for that matter, and even though I don’t play jazz, I still do play the jazz festivals circuit today… funny, isn’t it ?
 On a serious note, it is true that I have been hearing the same names over and over from one festival to an other, years after years… And I have to say, it is very discouraging for the young generation of devoted jazz musicians…
Initially, jazz used to be a dance music, a “crowd pleasers” music (isn’t it one of the main reasons why we play music in the first place, to please the crowd ?)… I believe that it is important, in order to keep jazz music alive, that we (the musicians) stop playing for ourselves and give jazz back to the people, the crowd, the listeners, the dancers… Just my opinion…




    2.     Lou Flute says: 
 


Greg I agree. I studied flute with Bill Green and Buddy Colette in Los Angeles back in 1982 and played with Marvin Gaye and Stevie in 1979. I said all of that to say that I hear exactly what you are saying about the bookings and I too loved to go and see Gerald Wilson’s big band and Nelson Riddle. Frank Wess, Eric Dolphy, Dizzy were my favorites growing up. Nothing in the way of new exploratory jazz is burgeoning. True jazz compositions are that of the past except for a few innovators who are still around. Quincy, Pat Metheny etc.