Articles by Chuck Anderson
Rich Keith: Pure Jazz Radio
by Chuck Anderson
As a jazz performer with a career spanning decades, I've seen the music industry and jazz scene continually evolve, embracing radio, television, the internet, and beyond to grow and interact with the audience. Rich Keith, part time on-air host at WBGO and, since 2009, owner and general manager of Pure Jazz Radio, is a champion of jazz. Keith has been on the radio in the New York Metropolitan Area since 1977, most of that time featuring jazz and songs ...
read moreMotivation
by Chuck Anderson
Motivation is the moving force behind anyone's activity. There is a complex set of forces which move anyone to do anything. It is no less complex for the musician. I bring this up not to point out differences between musicians and “laymen," but rather to point out the inherent similarities. Musicians, like anyone else, find themselves in situations where they must assume a variety of roles. These roles have been produced by the influence of various motivations. ...
read moreThe Student Performer Cycle
by Chuck Anderson
Every musician is at once a student and a performer. In each role, the musician explores and hopefully expands. The efficiency of progress for the student often suffers because of his inability to clearly see the differences between his own roles as student and performer.The attitude of the student must essentially be one of humility and patience. The work usually centers on the difficulties of developing one's technical capabilities and one's unique musical personality. Focusing on weaknesses rather ...
read moreDennis Sandole and Guitar Lore
by Chuck Anderson
Guitar Lore by Dennis Sandole was not originally published by Theodore Presser. I published the book and distributed it through my school Modern Music Studios Inc. A second edition paperback was published later by Pressers.There has always been controversy about the origins of the book. Dennis had conceived and organized this material long before it was published. At my urging (and I'm sure the urgings of others), he finally agreed to proceed with the production of the book. ...
read moreWhat is Wrong with Booking Agencies
by Chuck Anderson
There are frequent questions about booking agents and agencies world wide.There are two kinds of agents--those who never return a call or email and those whose “plates are full." There is never room on their rosters. Under what circumstances would an agency expand its roster? There must be a point where an agency loses a client or discovers someone that is worth the effort to expand.How did they get their initial rosters in the first place? ...
read moreTalent
by Chuck Anderson
Since it is so difficult to define or even recognize, talent, or the lack of it, has created more than its share of anxiety in aspiring musicians. Perhaps the greatest problem centers around the fact that talent is a fact in retrospect. Only after it has been developed does it become obvious that it exists. So how does one know that talent is within him? Is intuition or hope the only recourse? Though there is no way to prove the ...
read moreMusic as a Profession
by Chuck Anderson
Music as a career has always been met with considerable skepticism. This stems from a basic misunderstanding of the types of music involvements that are possible. The concept of the “starving musician" is but one of the many stereotypes. This installment of “The Art and Science of Jazz" is devoted to illustrating other alternatives.Music can be an avocation, a dedication, a business or a profession. They are not necessarily distinctly unique. Mixtures of these various roles are always ...
read moreJazz As Art
by Chuck Anderson
The new jazz has nothing to do with the music. It has to do with the attitudes, the perception about jazz. History has created an image about jazz and jazz musicians. It's not a flattering image nor is it a beneficial one. Drugs, heavy drinking, seedy clubs and late hours have all contributed to this unseemly reputation. Traditionally, the smoke filled jazz club seemed part of the “charm" of a venue. I seriously doubt whether that holds ...
read moreThe Musical Art of Jazz: Your Own Thing
by Chuck Anderson
Art or commercialism? It's almost always a problem to musicians and singers who pursue the jazz industry. We recognize it as an art but it has to make money to be a profession. Are these two concepts in conflict with each other or are they merely paradoxical? We know that anything can be marketed by the skillful use of advertising and promotional techniques. If the material of the commercial world can be successful through promotion and advertising, why can't the ...
read moreThe Internet For Jazz Musicians
by Chuck Anderson
The internet holds enormous potential for jazz musicians. Many of us have little to no idea of how to take advantage of it. We tend to have websites, Facebook and maybe Twitter. How many of us are happy with the results we get from our efforts? After much searching, I have found evolvor.com. The following interview was conducted with Eric Hebert CEO of Evolvor Media on the subject of maximizing exposure through the internet.All About Jazz: ...
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