Atlanta Jazz Festival (Summerville, Coleman: home, live, moving to)

[jazzcat22]

I hate to complain about a free festival in a beautiful setting, but most of this year's lineup was announced....and it's not great. I wouldn't even consider some of it to be real jazz---more like R and B, hiphop, pop, etc.

Do you think this is reflective of the entire country? That straightahead jazz is dying/dead? (Or many of the players who played real jazz are no longer alive or performing?) Or that economics dictated higher lesser acts? I'm wondering if other jazz festivals around the country are dumbing down the offerings? Yes, I know people love R and B, hiphop, and pop....but it's a JAZZ festival!

[DTL3000]

That's not all that common. In fact I recently saw a commercial for the Dubai Jazz festival featuring such jazz greats as Three Doors Down and Deep Purple.

Newport 1958 they ain't. These "jazz" festivals are more about urban/easy listening than what most people think of when they think jazz. And honestly, I doubt jazz could draw a sizeable crowd nowadays. I can't honestly name more than a handful of modern jazz artists, yet I can name a lot of the greats up until the 60's.

The Atlanta "Blues" festival might disappoint you too.

[ajjam]

Hey...at least we have Festivals...a lot of places these days don't even do that.

But unfortunately Jazz isn't as big as it once was...which is ok..times changes.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

I hate to complain about a free festival in a beautiful setting, but most of this year's lineup was announced....and it's not great. I wouldn't even consider some of it to be real jazz---more like R and B, hiphop, pop, etc.

Do you think this is reflective of the entire country? That straightahead jazz is dying/dead? (Or many of the players who played real jazz are no longer alive or performing?) Or that economics dictated higher lesser acts? I'm wondering if other jazz festivals around the country are dumbing down the offerings? Yes, I know people love R and B, hiphop, and pop....but it's a JAZZ festival!

I'm not seen the line up, but I'm seen various Jazz Fest in my home metro & seen the one they had in Woodruff Park a few years ago.

[glovenyc]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

I hate to complain about a free festival in a beautiful setting, but most of this year's lineup was announced....and it's not great. I wouldn't even consider some of it to be real jazz---more like R and B, hiphop, pop, etc.

Do you think this is reflective of the entire country? That straightahead jazz is dying/dead? (Or many of the players who played real jazz are no longer alive or performing?) Or that economics dictated higher lesser acts? I'm wondering if other jazz festivals around the country are dumbing down the offerings? Yes, I know people love R and B, hiphop, and pop....but it's a JAZZ festival!

Hey JazzCat, I am a fan of straight ahead jazz as well as other progressive forms of music, and you are correct alot of other jazzfest do dumb down offerings. I think that alot of the big name "real" jazz artist are dead/dying. Look we just lost Donald Byrd last week (although he caught alot of heat when he hooked up with the Mizell Brothers) However, when I saw the line-up I became excited. Gretchen Parlato, Jose James are part of a new "young" jazz movement. Those guys along with Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spaulding, Chris "Daddy" Dave are the future of jazz. Gretchen & Jose have strong international followings, but are not really well known here in the states, especially the south. One thing I noticed moving to Atlanta, that this is a big smooth jazz town, which I think is horrible. The same smooth jazz guys, play the same venues for the same people. I'm glad Atlanta is starting to attract some young fresh musicians. Not to mention Meshell N'Degeochello is on the bill.

At the end of the day, I'd rather having this line-up than a Joey Summerville / Ken Ford smooth jazz snoozefest this year.

[Staysean23]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

I hate to complain about a free festival in a beautiful setting, but most of this year's lineup was announced....and it's not great. I wouldn't even consider some of it to be real jazz---more like R and B, hiphop, pop, etc.

Do you think this is reflective of the entire country? That straightahead jazz is dying/dead? (Or many of the players who played real jazz are no longer alive or performing?) Or that economics dictated higher lesser acts? I'm wondering if other jazz festivals around the country are dumbing down the offerings? Yes, I know people love R and B, hiphop, and pop....but it's a JAZZ festival!

Have u been to jazz fest in New Orleans ? It's almost the same thing

[joey86]

Originally Posted by Staysean23

Have u been to jazz fest in New Orleans ? It's almost the same thing

Fleetwood Mac is headlining.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by DTL3000

That's not all that common. In fact I recently saw a commercial for the Dubai Jazz festival featuring such jazz greats as Three Doors Down and Deep Purple.

This is nothing new. Rock acts have been playing jazz festivals since at least the '50s. Chuck Berry performed at the '58 Newport Jazz Festival. All the big British hard rock bands played jazz festivals in the '60s and '70s.

Hey festival organizers, Sonny Rollins is still alive. Why not get him on the bill? This lineup is not worthy of what they like to call the "largest free jazz festival in the world."*

*Free as in no fee to enter, not as in Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy.

[ToucheGA]

I have seen this trend in many areas, not just ATL. Jazz has a very broad definition nowadays, though I only limit my use of the term to the definition that is still accepted in NOLA.

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[jazzcat22]

Thanks for your replies. In some ways, you've made me feel better in that this isn't just reflective of Atlanta. In other ways, it feels worse that jazz is dying.

This article explains it further:

When is a Jazz Festival (Not) a Jazz Festival?

But now my question is---if jazz is so unappealing to the younger folks they want to get, why still call it a jazz festival? Why not call it just a music festival?