Nowhere was this more evident than at the Newport Jazz festival this weekend, where the word of journalists really did not matter in the appreciation of music. I did not see a single prominent article previewing the festival, and it was not needed because the fans had made up their own mind or they were working off of intuit and inspiration. Plus the media tent, a largely marginalized miniature/pathetic version of its old self was a tiny tent maybe by 12’x20’. The last time I attended the festival, the media tent was and always had been a couch-laden haven for lazies who wanted to sit around and listen in between running around to sets. That old relic was now rebranded, the anchor tent and was only for festival VIPs, at the complete exclusion of media. So there you have it. Time for me to look for a new job.
Well, that's the only thing that really matters. As you know, from lots of experience, the business of jazz is a rat's nest. But somehow, the music survives and continues. I'm grateful for that.
i'm adding 'goldfish on espresso' to my vernacular. brilliant as always Brett!
Thanks for turning me on to The Midas Touch.
Nowhere was this more evident than at the Newport Jazz festival this weekend, where the word of journalists really did not matter in the appreciation of music. I did not see a single prominent article previewing the festival, and it was not needed because the fans had made up their own mind or they were working off of intuit and inspiration. Plus the media tent, a largely marginalized miniature/pathetic version of its old self was a tiny tent maybe by 12’x20’. The last time I attended the festival, the media tent was and always had been a couch-laden haven for lazies who wanted to sit around and listen in between running around to sets. That old relic was now rebranded, the anchor tent and was only for festival VIPs, at the complete exclusion of media. So there you have it. Time for me to look for a new job.
But how was the music?
Some really great music.
Well, that's the only thing that really matters. As you know, from lots of experience, the business of jazz is a rat's nest. But somehow, the music survives and continues. I'm grateful for that.