[Dixielandjazz] Another Festival Bites the Dust

[Rick Campbell]

Relative to Bob's post on the end of the Ocean Shores Festival:

Let us recall the original purpose of Traditional Jazz Societies and  
Festivals.

In the 1950s and 1960s, there were still dixieland bands playing six  
nights a week professionally. (Hard to recall now.) When they were  
replaced by rock bands, the role of the Jazz Societies and Festivals  
was to provide a venue to hear the quality live music which had  
formerly been available in clubs.

Many of those societies wanted a certain retro sound, perhaps Lu  
Watters, or Bunk Johnson, or Eddie Condon, or British Trad; but never  
30s and 40s swing or 50s and 60s rock n roll.

The Festivals and Jazz Societies prospered as long as there were  
people willing to come and spend money on that style of music. Now we  
have come to the end of those generations.

It is worth noting that the big band revival has never happened,  
simply because of the economics of paying a big band.

If you are a good rock band, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, you can still find  
gigs that pay well. So far, I haven't seen any "golden oldies" rock  
societies established to sustain them, but it could happen.

Still, thanks to M.A.D.D., television, and new electronics, our  
society has radically changed.

As Dixieland Festivals turn into Pop Music Festivals, early jazz is  
going to become a footnote-- chamber music for a very few us who  
appreciate it.

Reality is always hard to face.

Rick Campbell
Milneburg Social Aid and Pleasure Society Jazz Band
Portland, Oregon USA
503-701-7356
ricksax at comcast.net