BoMuse News, vol. 20, no. 1
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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. Twenty Years!
2. Grammy Reflections
3. Jazz Education Network Conference
4. Videos
5. Passings
6. Gigs
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1. As I start the Twentieth volume of this newsletter, I want to thank all of you who have continued to subscribe. Especially those who’s addresses I recently recovered, and who chose to resubscribe. Shortly after I moved out here to San Diego, the program used for sending out the BoMuse News went belly up, and I could not find my back-up list. Recently, with some time on my hands I found the list, and reached out to those on it. Welcome back my friends. While we wait for venues to reopen, I will try to give you something worth knowing about in the coming months.
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2. Ah December! Time for Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, and the second round of voting for the Grammys. As I have said before, I have mixed feelings about the awards handed out by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). A few of my friends have been nominated, and even awarded over the years, and I celebrate these honors, for sure. On the other hand, I find it an absurd exercise – especially the best jazz solo category. I vote because I have just enough studio credits to do so, and was encouraged to as a way to keep “the industry” aware of us in the jazz community. The song, album, and artist of the year, etc. usually do not interest me. It seems that nothing in these categories ever really grabs me. Although just sampling a bit here and there this year made me think that I should at least try… maybe next year. The biggest problem for me is the same thing I have with arts contests of any kind: what should be the criteria? Choosing the music to vote for is a bit like throwing darts at a wall. Everything is of high quality, but unique. I did notice that with all the social unrest this past year, many of the jazz artists were trying to address big issues. It took me back to the late 60s and 70s, and reminds me (as if I needed any reminding) of just how much more progress needs to be made in the struggle for civil rights.
The Awards will be announced on January 31. If you care to see the lists of the nominees go here.
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3. This is also the season for the annual Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference. It will be on-line this year. The down side, for me at least, is missing the face-to-face interaction with colleagues. The up-side, especially if you have never had reason enough to attend, is that it doesn’t cost very much to join and register, and there are many fine performances that will be streamed. Here is the schedule. I think the whole thing comes to less than $200 for membership and registration, which is a pretty good deal for four days of concerts and informative sessions. Even if you are not a musician and/or educator, the fees support a very worthy cause.
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4. I am still hung up waiting for needed responses regarding copyrights before I can post the Pocket Big Band video. In the meantime I have been enjoying performances by Brazilian singers, some in connection with a Tom Jobim project I am contemplating.
Also THIS JUST IN from Chuck Perrin of Dizzy’s Jazz San Diego: a video form his old location made in 2005 featuring the Gary LeFebvre Big Band, which included, among others, Gilbert Castellano, Gerald Clayton, and Rob Thorsen. The resumption of concerts organized by Chuck at the Musicians’ Union Hall is something we all have to look forward to.
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5. I used to run an obituary column in this newsletter, but as time went on I felt I could not do justice to the people whose lives I was try to celebrate. George Klein, one of the members of the Jazz Programers Listing, has compiled a list of notable jazz musicians, and even a few from other genres. In the interest of honoring these people, and by extension all of this who have suffered this last year, I will be sending an “extra” with his list. It is too long to include here.
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6. Gigs
Recently my friend Dene Davidson made something of a breakthrough in an on-going effort to find new venues for jazz in the north of our county, if only as background music. Earlier in December I played on a couple of these, and it felt so good to get out and play for people. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a crisis in the limited number of ICU beds in our hospitals, so I have ended up deciding to continue to lay low for now. I hope the place we played in Oceanside will survive the crisis, and I can announce a gig or two there in the future.
Be well, stay safe and,
As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC! – if only in your dreams for the time being.
Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.