[Dixielandjazz] African-Americans in Jazz

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/21/03 1:40:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
richard.broadie at gte.net writes:

> I think a question for today is "Why aren't there more black musicians
> involved in any genre of jazz these days.  If jazz is "supposed" to be their
> music (perhaps a presupposition of Leonard Feather) , why don't they take
> better care of it?  Many of my favorite musicians are (or were) black.  But
> there are very few playing jazz these days that I'm aware of who are young.
> Dick
> 
With all due respect folks,  there are plenty of Black musicians in Jazz, you 
just can't find them in all white neighborhoods where no one will hire them 
because they might bring in more blacks to the establishments.  Yes, sorry 
folks but this situation does still exist in the USA.

I saw at least five Black Jazz acts last weekend but I went to the Ghetto in 
Oakland to see them where it was alive and well and every place was packed 
with people and some of them with a $10.00 cover charge and $7.00 drinks with a 
two Drink minimum.  Same thing happens every weekend in San Francisco as well.  
The players were between 23 and 50 years of age, I still call that young, 
especially for our business.

Did not hear any Dixieland Jazz however, but lot's of Dizzy, Miles, 
Ellington, Hancock, Hargrove, Shorter, Al Jereau, and Billie Holiday, tunes.  Audience 
age range 20 something to 60 something and above, 90% Black, 10% white and 
Hispanic or Asian.  Saw one band with a Japanese Keyboard player who plays his 
butt off.

You will also find a good number of Black Jazz musicians playing in Latin and 
Salsa Live music venues, gotta open your eyes folks and broaden your 
horizons.

Jazz ain't Dead as many would have you believe, it is just scattered all over 
the globe, Black Jazz artists are very popular in the Asian countries and I 
have several great acts working six and seven nights a week over there at 
better than $1,200 a week per man plus hotel rooms R/T transportation and two meals 
a day.   I (If they have a Black Female vocalist as well that is good she 
will average $500.00 per night plus all the same expenses), and I book some who 
make $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 per week and work only with a pianist who usually 
makes $1,500. to $2000.00 per week as well. 

My biggest problem is booking good Black acts over there who are appreciated 
and enjoyed without prejudice that they won't come home.  They now live there 
and play every night of the week, make good money, are highly respected and 
live well.

Starting to get the same thing happening in places like Dubai and Tunisia.  
The world as we knew it has changed and is ever changing, can't blame the good 
Black musicians for going where the money is and the masses of eagerly jazz 
hungry audiences.

Jazz is very much alive, it just moved out of America and contributed our 
best and only source of culture to the world population.

Cheers,

Tom  Wiggins  "white boy whut growed up in da Ghetto"