Why Barack Obama should take a leadership roll in promoting America's Classical Music "Jazz"

[WASHINGTON DC JAZZ NETWORK]

Jazz musicians are some of the most inteligent music producers in the world. Improvising and creating music at a moments notice unlike no other form of music in the world. Why are so many musicians broke, struggling and not working?

What's your opinion?



BARACK OBAMA Discusses how intends to bring jazz and other arts to the Whitehouse

[Jan Klincewicz]

There is a lack of musical and historical education in our schools, FIRST of all to give the young people the theoretical musical knowledge to APPRECIATE jazz (which is a very complex musical form compared to what they hear on commercial radio.)

SECOND of all, they should learn that Jazz is America's NUMBER ONE contribution to culture in the WORLD and the pride that African American children should have knowing that their people were the primary innovators and contributors to Jazz's development is right up there with having an African American president.

THIRD, Jazz has been a HUGE motivator for whites, Hispanics, blacks, orientals, Europeans and people of ALL races and religious beliefs to look beyond out differences and work together to create beauty. People forget that Benny Goodman stuck his neck WAY out to play on stage with Charlie Christian, Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson at places like Carnegie Hall. Miles Davis took a lot of heat for hiring Bill Evans, as Cannonball Adderley did for hiring Victor Feldman and Joe Zawinul.

Jazz has proven the Melting Pot more than any other pursuit I can imagine. Where I live, the city of Brotherly Love, there is plenty of racial tension to go around, but walk into ANY Jazz club here, and you will not only see black and whites on stage together, but members of the audience comprised of many races and backgrounds will be greeting one another with since hugs and kisses.

Jazz is a NATIONAL TREASURE and beeds to be treated as such, not just for the beauty of the sounds created, but also because of the social goodwill it creates organically through the sheer quality of the music and the pains it takes to be good enough to contribute to its development.

[Graziella D'Amelio]

You've said it all Jan! I understand that Barack Obama has Miles Davis on his ipod - perhaps there's some hope that he will help confirm the fact that JAZZ is born and bred in America - the rest of the world knows it but our citizens don't.

[Jan Klincewicz]

Bill Clinton once said he had "everything ever played" by Oscar Peterson on HIS iPOD. Things were better under him. I wonder what Dick Cheney has on his ??

Graziella D'Amelio said:

You've said it all Jan! I understand that Barack Obama has Miles Davis on his ipod - perhaps there's some hope that he will help confirm the fact that JAZZ is born and bred in America - the rest of the world knows it but our citizens don't.

[Jan Klincewicz]

You wouldn't be referring to the MUSICIANS' union here would you ?? I don't think they can be mentioned in the same sentence as LEADERSHIP ....



Aziza said:

I believe one of the reasons is due to lack of unionized, unified leadership.

[Delores Ashford]

It seems to be very hard for Jazz musicians who are not known and are not signed up with a record company to get good paying gigs. We need someone who will give a mouth and an ear to hearing our voices. This might be one way to get President Obama's attention concerning Jazz artists.
Delores Music Mgmt
www.DeloresMusicMgmt.com


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Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to
appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had
Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never
created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country
needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this
important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.

www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
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[Mark Mosley]

I basically agree with Jan's assessment of the impact of jazz has been which is an African American Contribution to the entire planet. Suffice to say there have been more more significant accomplishments by Africans and their ancestors outside of entertainment. Many if not most are discarded and ignored by status quo Blacks and whites who now wish their ignorances and arrogances had't been so obvious to those who seek to profit from them.In my estimation all the present chaos is part of a well intentioned design by those who worship money, power, and attention getting no matter how harmful.

[Jan Klincewicz]

Let's hope the fact that Barack Obama was able to carry the state of Iowa (for example) in the Primaries and go on the be elected President of the U.S. is evidence that we are beginning an era where the ignorance of the past will be a memory.

Perhaps our next generation will read about racism in the history books as something that existed in an embarrassing period during our growth as a nation.

[Willard Jenkins]

Other than Bill Clinton's proclivities there has never been a President better suited to make jazz music a key element in his arts policy and a regular fixture at White House activities than Barack Obama, He could certainly begin by having the National Endowment For the Arts Jazz Masters over for a White House ceremony; and thereafter having a annual press event at the White House to introduce each succeeding year's new class of NEA Jazz Masters. (FYI: the 2010 class of NEA Jazz Masters includes Muhal Richard Abrams, George Avakian (advocate), Kenny Barron, Bill Holman, Bobby Hutcherson, Annie Ross, Cedar Walton, and Yusef Lateef; an auspicious class to be certain!) For further information, including how you the public can nominate living masters for this annual award (which includes a check for $25K), as well as the complete list of living masters who've been selected since the inception of the program in 1982, go to www.arts.endow.gov, look for Lifetime Honors and click on NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships for complete info).
Peace,
Willard Jenkins
www.openskyjazz.com
Home of The Independent Ear

[Basin Street Records]

When it comes to the cross street of educational reform and culture, no city is more fervent a
battleground than beautiful New Orleans. Enjoy some true New Orleans jazz when Basin Street Records recording artist Henry Butler comes to Washington to perform at Madam's Organ on March 18th. Mary Landrieu (D. LA) will also be present.

[Ian Dylan]

Well said. Even so, there is a lack of interest on the part of musicians, I am one, in terms of coming up with something that's unique, I'm talking about some arrangements, nothing to chalenging,just anything though. Also,many musicians just have an arrigant attitude, hasselling one another, thinking that they're better players than they really are, coming to the gigs with negativity in their hearts, not being willing to be friendly or give the other players the benefit of the doubt or meet them half way on anything, slight differences in style and the like. Sorry but, noone's saying this stuff or at least not enough that it's sinking in I don't think.

Jan Klincewicz said:

There is a lack of musical and historical education in our schools, FIRST of all to give the young people the theoretical musical knowledge to APPRECIATE jazz (which is a very complex musical form compared to what they hear on commercial radio.)

SECOND of all, they should learn that Jazz is America's NUMBER ONE contribution to culture in the WORLD and the pride that African American chfildren should have knowing that their people were the primary innovators and contributors to Jazz's development is right up there with having an African American president.

THIRD, Jazz has been a HUGE motivator for whites, Hispanics, blacks, orientals, Europeans and people of ALL races and religious beliefs to look beyond out differences and work together to create beauty. People forget that Benny Goodman stuck his neck WAY out to play on stage with Charlie Christian, Lionel Hampton and Teddy Wilson at places like Carnegie Hall. Miles Davis took a lot of heat for hiring Bill Evans, as Cannonball Adderley did for hiring Victor Feldman and Joe Zawinul.

Jazz has proven the Melting Pot more than any other pursuit I can imagine. Where I live, the city of Brotherly Love, there is plenty of racial tension to go around, but walk into ANY Jazz club here, and you will not only see black and whites on stage together, but members of the audience comprised of many races and backgrounds will be greeting one another with since hugs and kisses.

Jazz is a NATIONAL TREASURE and beeds to be treated as such, not just for the beauty of the sounds created, but also because of the social goodwill it creates organically through the sheer quality of the music and the pains it takes to be good enough to contribute to its development.