[Dixielandjazz] Casa del Jazz - Philosophy

[Steve barbone]

Below snipped from an article about the Casa del Jazz in Rome, Italy, and
its artistic director, Luciano Linzi. Interesting philosophy from a guy who
is making jazz a happening event, including Dixieland every Sunday morning.

Snipped from "Wanted In Rome", news about Rome, as well as what's on and
cultural listings of exhibitions, music, dance, cinema and theatre in Rome
and Italy. 

Looks like the Italians are re-inventing jazz as popular music.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone

His approach seems to be one of maximum inclusion; his vision is of a place
where jazz is accessible to all. It follows, therefore, that the venue¹s
programming is extremely varied. ³Since we are not a club but an institution
we try to cover as many styles as possible: classical jazz, modern jazz,
avant-garde jazz, or jazz blended with other musical styles,² Linzi
explains. One monthly event, called ³Altre facce, altri suoni², hosts
³groups or artists who mix jazz music with Brazilian or electronic sounds,
or even with traditional and folk music².

A very popular event has been the venue¹s Sunday morning concerts featuring
the most accessible and entertaining classical or Dixieland jazz. Older and
younger people attend in droves, attracted also by the brunch spread put on
in the restaurant after the concert.

Linzi is light years away from the sort of jazz enthusiast who silently
abhors people with mainstream tastes. Maybe this is because he spent 15
years at Warner Italy in Milan managing highly commercial pop artists and
because, by his own admission, his tastes are pretty eclectic. ³I was a
great fan of progressive rock while growing up and came to jazz that way,²
he says. 

When prodded, he admits that some jazz lovers believe their tastes are in
some way superior. ³But this is the sort of attitude that does not do any
good to music, art or culture. Art is beautiful when it is something that
can be shared,² he says, suddenly turning very serious. ³And it¹s beautiful
when it communicates something special to you, and that might be something
totally different from what it is communicating to me.²

The aura of exclusivity the jazz world has suffered from in the past, when
³jazz was considered a music for the few, understandable only to a few², has
changed, says Linzi. And Rome seems to be doing a great deal to nurture this
legacy of openness. ³Rome is the city in Italy that has invested most in the
diffusion and knowledge of jazz in the last few years. And the public has
got to know the music in wonderful locations, such as the La Palma Club and
the Villa Celimontana summer festival,² he goes on. The Auditorium-Parco
della Musica and its programming choices have also played their part in
making jazz appealing to all kinds of people and not just aficionados,
according to Linzi. He says that Rome¹s recent cultural endeavours have
created ³a new model based on history but projected towards the future². And
this is how, he believes, one goes about creating a dynamic place where the
younger generations are fully involved in the city¹s cultural life.


Casa del Jazz, Viale di Porta Ardeatina 55. For more information
tel. 06704731 (Mon-Fri 10.00-18.00) or see www.casajazz.it.