BoMuse News, vol. 19, no. 8
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BoMuse News is a monthly newsletter from BoMuse Music. It presents items of interest related to jazz, and advocacy for music education, as well as news of releases from BoMuse Music and the performing activities of Paul Combs.
Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.
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1. Jazz in the COVID Crisis
2. Jazz Week Summit
3. A Recording Session
4. Gigs?
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1. It looks more and more like it will be next spring before we can get back to something that resembles the live music world we knew up until the end of last February. In the meantime folks are looking for ways to keep the music going. In addition to streaming of recordings of past performances, and live streaming, we have, given the good weather, outdoor performances in spaces where people can maintain proper distance. Last Saturday I went over to Bird Park on the far northeast of Balboa Park to enjoy some live music organized by tap-dancing percussionist Claudia Gomez. I even got to sit in, which felt really good after all the cancellations of the past few months. Claudia and Friends plan to be at the park every Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. There is plenty of space, and you are welcome to bring a beach chair and a picnic, if you like.
A couple of days later I went to hear some music staged by a friend on his front lawn for the pleasure of his neighbors. My friend does this every few weeks featuring different musicians he knows. I’ll be playing at a similar setting up in San Clemente on the front porch of a singer friend of mine. since these sorts of performances are for for the immediate neighbors and invited friends, I cannot publicize them. However, this might inspire you to keep your eyes and ears open for similar happenings, or even to organize something similar.
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2. For something like fifteen years, I have been attending the annual Jazz Summit organized by the publisher of Jazz Week and a group of jazz radio activists. This year the Summit will have to be in the form of a webinar. Even though I have not been a broadcaster for a long time – the last time I was on the air was some time in the 1980s – I have found these conferences to be of great value to me both professionally and personally. The focus of the conference is jazz radio, but since this is an important component of the jazz ecosystem, many of the issues addressed have significance beyond the broadcast/internet realm. These include the ever evolving recorded music industry, and promotional strategies. I recommend attendance to anyone with a professional interest in jazz.
The sessions take place Thursday and Friday, August 13 and 14. You can find more information and a link to register here.
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3. One of the performances canceled last spring was the 40th anniversary performance of Bob Franke’s Good Friday Cantata. I am one of three musicians who has taken part in every performance, save one which took place in Denver. The Cantata is performed at St. Andrew’s Episcopal church in Marblehead, MA. We were to have made recording to mark this milestone, and as it turns out we are. In a couple of days I’ll go to Studio West here in San Diego to add my parts. We used to speak disparagingly of people “phoning in” a performance. Now it is something we do frequently.
More on this as it develops.
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4. Gigs
It seems that after further consideration, the folks at Carlsbad Village Faire have decided that it may not be a good idea for us to resume our Wednesday afternoon performances at this time. While part of me is disappointed, another part of me feels this is wise. After all, two of us in the band are over 70, and one has some health issues. In addition, a lot of the folks hanging out in the courtyard are not being particularly careful regarding mask-wearing and distancing.
Some good news, we will definitely be giving our concert at Bird & Beckett Books, in San Francisco, once the virus is off of us. With that being confirmed I can talk with The Back Room, in Berkeley about keeping in touch regarding scheduling. Last time I talked with the folks at The Nash, in Phoenix, and Sherry Williams at The Merc, in Temecula, the were similar indications. In the meantime, please visit these venues on-line, and support them by enjoying their live streams, and archived shows, and giving a donation as you can. Sherry has a regular email blast with information on The Merc’s presentations. I do not see a place at the Web-site for one to subscribe, but if you contact me I will forward your email address to her, so you can receive her mailings.
As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!
Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.