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I know jazz isn't very well-listened to. I have friends who hate jazz so much that I can't even play it softly in the background when they come to visit. But some how jazz festivals have survived. I've always been grateful for the Atlanta Jazz Festival---three days of free jazz outdoors, with some really good people. But the artists announced thus far don't seem to be pure straight-ahead jazz:
Some of the instruments commonly associated with jazz---woodwinds, brass, etc.--- are not being played right now by many musicians. Music programs in schools that once taught on those instruments are underfunded or nonexistent.
IMO, many players out there simply don't have the chops for jazz, which requires a certain quirky sense of creativity, an ability to flow unimpeded, and mastery of the instrument.
Coming from me, I'd say they are too busy getting their faces melted by KWS and Joe. Two modern guitar players that are in the same caliber of the greats of the past. People haven't heard this quality since SRV and Hendrix died and Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton are AARP certified. It blows Kenny G out of the water........rubble......
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.
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?
I still get requests very frequently for Jazz clubs in my line of work, Though festivals have been geared toward incorporating other styles and classic jazz seems to have been taking a backseat.
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