The Jazz Beat by Mitchell Feldman
This column is designed to keep MUZIK! readers informed about local, national and international jazz news, as well as to evaluate jazz recordings and performances. In addition you can expect to find interviews with leading jazz musicians and previews of jazz events in Atlanta that are particularly noteworthy.
Some bad news: One of the most alarming pieces of news affecting the state of jazz in America is President Reagan's proposal to cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and Public Broadcasting by 50% during his administration. It is unfortunate that the organization that funds the arts in this country receives roughly $13 million to fund all types of music and jazz gets roughly 10% of this figure. In the meantime the combined armed forces receive more than $50 million to pay for military bands each year (according to the Atlanta Constitution). Jazz, "America's classical music," received less funding than European classical in previous presidential administrations, and is an art form that needs to be subsidized at the moment. Combine the plans for the NEA with proposals to trim funds for the National Public Radio network and one can assume that the future looks pretty bleak.
Some good news: Los Angeles' public television station, KCET, has started production of a series called JazzAmerica that will be simulcast on PBS and NPR beginning in the fall of 1981. The first episode will be called "Bebop" and will document concerts led by jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roachand Gerry Mulligan during February and March of this year. The live footage will be augmented with vintage films taken from various archives capturing bop activity in its heyday. The personal reminiscences of Gillespie, Roach and Mulligan will also be featured.
Gossip and such: Word has it that McCoy Tyner will release his next album on CBS Records, ending a relationship with Milestone Records that has lasted more than a decade. Perhaps veteran jazz producer Orrin Keepnews' decision last year to retire as an A&R executive at Milestone and become an independent producer had something to do with this switch. Keepnews had been working intimately with Tyner while at Milestone.
The latest addition to Pat Metheny's band for its March-April tour is Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Vasconcelos played to a packed house at Atlanta's Academy of Medicine Auditorium on Saturday, February 21 as part of a "World Music" concert series sponsored by this city's Department of Cultural Affairs in conjunction with the Music Alliance. Vasconcelos recently recorded a trio album with Metheny and pianist Lyle Mays and the guitarist liked the sound and asked him along for the current road trip.
Upcoming concerts: Pianist/Vibraphonist Karl Berger, founder of the C r e a t i v e M u s i c F o u n d a t i o n i n Woodstock, New York, will perform at the Academy of Medicine Auditorium on Saturday March 21. This is the second "World Music" concert and admission is $3. The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the concert will start at 8 p.m. Call 658-6691 for more details.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra are scheduled to appear at 688, Atlanta's "New Music" club, on Friday, March 20. Ra's show is a mixture of Count Basie and Star Wars with a little bit of Egyptian mythology thrown in. Tickets are $4. Call 874-7500 for more information.
Paul McCandless and Dave Samuels will appear Saturday, April 4, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1911 Cliff Valley Way. McCandless was Oregon's reed player and Samuels was Double Image's marimba and vibraphone player. Both units have disbanded, hence this duet performance. Call 525-3854 for info.