[Dixielandjazz] Re: First jazz festivals (was New Book For Jazz Festival Promoters)

[Bill Haesler]

Dear John,
The Hampton/Catlett drum duet was recorded at the First 'Esquire' Concert at The
Metropolitan Opera House on 26 Jan 1944 and was issued on 3 Palm LPs and later
on 2 Jazz Unlimited CDs (JUCD 2016/17).
But was it a festival? I think not.
A concert? Yes.
The Grove Dictionary of Jazz defines a festival as: "A music festival in a
series of performances.....given by large numbers of individuals and groups over
a limited period of time. The typical festival occurs annually over several
days, at a fixed season of the year, and in a single city, sometimes at a single
venue outdoors."
The longest running jazz 'festival' in the world is the Australian Jazz
Convention, but it did no become an international event until some years later.
The first AJC was held in Melbourne from 26-30 December 1946 and attended by
jazz musicians and enthusiasts from all over Australia.
It has been held annually ever since.
The first important international jazz festival was held in Nice, France in
1948. 
There was one in Paris in 1949 then the Newport Festival (1954) followed by
Monterey CA (1958) and Warsaw (1959).
The idea caught on during the 1960s and look what we have now.
At least one (sometimes two) a week, somewhere in the world! 
Kind regards,
Bill.
PS: This new thread should make Glen Page a bit happier.
8>)