Every June we begin getting excited for jazz festival season in the city. Unfortunately, for the first time since 1984, New York City, once the jazz capital of the world (a title threatened by New Orleans, Berlin or maybe one of several Canadian metropolises), will be without a JVC Jazz Festival. Of course, the truth is every day here is a festival but for a few weeks the music’s profile seems to rise close to that of its more lucrative cousins and all of a sudden everyone is a fan. Instead, former JVC promoter George Wein will present a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall this month to fill the void. But we would be remiss in not reminding you of the other festival that usually competes with JVC each summer, The Arts for Art Vision Festival. This stalwart avant garde music gathering doesn’t have to worry about corporate sponsors, representing the grassroots side of the jazz spectrum. Featured in its 14th edition is legendary drummer Milford Graves, our Cover story, as well as our Megaphone writer Marshall Allen, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. And a number of other, smaller, celebrations do their part, including the Brooklyn Jazz Underground Festival, Festival of New Trumpet Music and Made In The UK Festival. See our Event Calendar for complete listings.
The rest of our coverage reinforces the notion of New York City being a 365- day-a-year jazz celebration. Two more drummers, Lewis Nash (Interview), Jim Black (Artist Feature), along with the Brooklyn Jazz Underground imprint (Label Spotlight) and new hotspot Tutuma Social Club (Club Profile), are a festival on their own. Add to that the rare appearance of British sax Peter King (Encore) and hundreds of other concerts and maybe we are still the center of the jazz universe. But that can only stay that way if the city’s residents and visitors support its jazz community. Show corporate behemoths like JVC that jazz will not live and die by their dispensation. This art form has survived and will keep doing so.
It’s up to all of us... We’ll see you out there...
We’ll see you out there...
For more information contact All About Jazz.
