[JPL] Experts talk on the state of jazz in Las Vegas

[Dr. Jazz]

Interesting comment from the smooth jazzer:  "...what jazz was and what 
jazz needs to become..."
-Dr.


Experts talk on the state of jazz in Las Vegas
Jazz symposium evokes comments about saving jazz as art form
By Jerry Fink (contact)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 1:47 p.m.

During a symposium earlier this year, a panel of experts spoke on the 
fate of jazz in Las Vegas. Here are some of their comments:

Vincent Falcone, long-time music director for Frank Sinatra: "I remember 
Frank Sinatra once saying to me, 'If you only play the notes, it doesn't 
mean a thing.' You've got to have soul, dynamics, ups and downs. That's 
what the greatest jazz musicians do naturally, instinctively. ... What 
we need today is the support of those of us who really love jazz. Get 
out and support the musicians."

David Loeb, director of jazz studies at UNLV: "This is a jazz town, or 
at least it was. I believe it still is. There is certainly an 
undercurrent, an optimism for continuing the art form. That's what we're 
trying to do at the university -- we're trying to perpetuate the art 
form of jazz and also to prepare students to go out and make a living. 
Jazz is our cultural art form, and we need to preserve it."

John Nasshan, drummer and host of a jazz program on KUNV 91.5-FM: "Jazz 
is the only true American art form and we don't treat it well. Once you 
get involved in jazz at any level, you don't lose the love for it. We 
need to support the art form, but we're not doing it. "

Frank Leone, president of the Las Vegas Jazz Society and Musicians Union 
Local 369: "We grew up with songs that easily became accessible to jazz, 
but not today. It's all hip-hop, and Clear Channel owns every radio 
station in America and it's not going to give you a choice. Today kids 
aren't being exposed to jazz till they get to junior high school, and 
all of a sudden have a music appreciation class in jazz and classical. 
It's too late -- way too late. We have to get them early."

Dana Crawford, smooth jazz deejay with KOAS 105.7-FM: "If we don't build 
a bridge between what jazz was and what jazz needs to become it's going 
to die here. We need to find a way for the art form to evolve and become 
something people in their 20s and 30s will want to come out and see. If 
we don't educate the young about what was and also expose them to what 
is, jazz is going to die. It has nowhere to go."

-- 
Dr. Jazz
Dr. Jazz Operations
24270 Eastwood
Oak Park, MI  48237
(248) 542-7888
http://www.drjazz.com
SKYPE:  drjazz99