Is there a Jazz community in Austin?

[hoffdano]

It always puzzle me how Austin, with a strong blues history, didn't have more jazz. Real jazz, not the smooth jazz stuff that is always playing at One World Theatre.

My theory is that jazz as a whole has a tiny audience nationwide. Jazz seems strongest in cities like NYC or SF, which have a large population and/or a history with jazz.

Even Houston's jazz scene is small for a metro with 5M people (although I saw Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and others when I lived in Houston in the early 1980s.

I hope the OP is successful with jazz in Austin. I listen to jazz about half the time I listen to music.

[jazzjelly]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

It always puzzle me how Austin, with a strong blues history, didn't have more jazz. Real jazz, not the smooth jazz stuff that is always playing at One World Theatre.

My theory is that jazz as a whole has a tiny audience nationwide. Jazz seems strongest in cities like NYC or SF, which have a large population and/or a history with jazz.

Even Houston's jazz scene is small for a metro with 5M people (although I saw Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, and others when I lived in Houston in the early 1980s.

I hope the OP is successful with jazz in Austin. I listen to jazz about half the time I listen to music.

I so appreciate your good vibes! I sing the good stuff with a good voice so if I end up in Austin know that it will be with the songs from the twenties through the forties that we all love the best including some obscure gems

[love roses]

I like Jazz too. My younger sister LOVES it! She lives in Dallas and sees groups all the time, but I'm not sure how big the scene in Dallas is. I think she was born in the wrong era. She and her husband live in a remodeled 1920's bungalow in Lower Greenville and it's retained the feel inside of the 20's, and she always has Jazz on the stereo.

[twange]

I'm a composer - not personally a jazz musician but I have a very strong appreciation for it and studied it quite a bit back when I was in music school when I thought I might want to be a jazz guitarist . I do have several friends who are active in the scene and while there is not a robust community in Austin, there are some very strong players. My friend and his wife (who is a singer) regularly host a concert series in their home that is just fantastic, bringing in a variety of well-regarded national jazz musicians. I prefer that hands down to any club - the sound is better, people are quiet and listen to the music and then interact with the musicians personally. It's a really great alternative when the actual club scene is limited.

I was disappointed about the lack of Jazz here in Austin when I first moved here but I've learned to find it where/when I want it. We need more Jazz musicians to grow the scene anyway so maybe it's a good time to come here and add your point of view to the mix!

[jazzjelly]

Originally Posted by love roses

I like Jazz too. My younger sister LOVES it! She lives in Dallas and sees groups all the time, but I'm not sure how big the scene in Dallas is. I think she was born in the wrong era. She and her husband live in a remodeled 1920's bungalow in Lower Greenville and it's retained the feel inside of the 20's, and she always has Jazz on the stereo.

How cool is your sister! Wonderful!!

[jazzjelly]

Originally Posted by twange

I'm a composer - not personally a jazz musician but I have a very strong appreciation for it and studied it quite a bit back when I was in music school when I thought I might want to be a jazz guitarist . I do have several friends who are active in the scene and while there is not a robust community in Austin, there are some very strong players. My friend and his wife (who is a singer) regularly host a concert series in their home that is just fantastic, bringing in a variety of well-regarded national jazz musicians. I prefer that hands down to any club - the sound is better, people are quiet and listen to the music and then interact with the musicians personally. It's a really great alternative when the actual club scene is limited.

I was disappointed about the lack of Jazz here in Austin when I first moved here but I've learned to find it where/when I want it. We need more Jazz musicians to grow the scene anyway so maybe it's a good time to come here and add your point of view to the mix!

What a lovely and loving thing your friends have created! I thank you for your warm encouragement

[bgrn198]

You might check this website out it might be of some help

Austin Jazz Society | Austin, TX

[jazzjelly]

Originally Posted by bgrn198

You might check this website out it might be of some help

Austin Jazz Society | Austin, TX

Thank you so much!