Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6
(Editor's note: After yesterday's last post, two emails came in with more from two of our roundtable members. So here are the real last words, courtesy of Dennis Owsley and Steve Pick. Once again, many thanks to them and to Terry Perkins and Rene Spencer Saller for taking part.)
From: Dennis Owsley
Maybe what I said is too strong, and I don't expect to turn everyone into jazz fans. But what I do see is the narrowing of people's choices in what is presented to them via mass culture. I don't think that's democratic. There was a time when there were 24 hour radio stations that broadcast jazz that had extremely knowledgeable people doing it. They were paid and could make a (marginal) living at it. But because everything in mass culture is now driven by the need to never make a mistake, all people can get is multiple clones of the same thing. There is no chance taking and thus all advertising dollars that would have been used 20 years ago to support marginal musics are gone. So, are we kidding ourselves that this music has a chance to survive over the next 20 years? I don't know. I have an interesting story from Hamiet Bluiett in one of my interviews. This one involves the Mingus band with Don Pullen, himself and George Adams. Bluiett claimed that they were on a tour as an opening act for a well-known rock group and they decided to really let it all hang out when they played. After several nights of showing up the rock group and getting most of the audience attention, the management of the tour had the rock group opening for them for the rest of the tour. I've heard another story about putting a mainstream group that included Buddy Tate, Al Grey, Sweets Edison, etc. opposite a rock group with a fairly good following in the 1980's (again as an opening act) and causing pandemonium in that audience. So, it all comes down to exposure and if you can't get exposure because everyone is afraid of taking risks, you get bland pop acts taking up most of the stage time at jazz festivals. Maybe there is a new model with affordable digital technology that can make "marginal" musics like jazz accessible to people in ways that do not involve media conglomerates.
From: Steve Pick
I disagree with you, here, Dennis. I don't believe the mass media could make a concerted effort and turn the country into a bunch of jazz fanatics. Oh, sure, if there were 24 hour radio stations programmed in every city by people with your level of taste and knowledge, that would bring a few more people to the music. But, it still wouldn't win over the masses.
I have never believed that mass taste is controlled by some evil outside force. That is anti-democratic thinking. And, besides, as I've said before in forums Dean and Rene may have read, if record labels, radio stations, TV stations, movie producers, et al actually had the power to make whatever they wanted successful, they would never waste time on failures, would they?
Historically, the only time jazz was a popular music, back in the late 30s/early 40s, it made some big-time concessions to pop. It had its moment in the sun, but as with every other popular culture trend, the people moved on to something else.
I think there is a strong segment of Americans who would love to hear jazz, but who wouldn't be likely to give it their primary attention. These are the people who can be wooed, who can provide a strong enough economic base to allow the music to continue.
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