Miles251

My two cents woth.....Sorry to miss Rooster and Vibe at this years festival. Thought I had 'Free For All' talked into hangin' for a couple days....maybe next year. I think that any university town has a leg up when it comes to the creative arts. Between the people that perform, teach, study or want to hang in this sort of environment, the population is more open to the possibilities. Another point that should not be lost regards the amount of "public education" a performer wants to deal with. Creative musicians have got to create their own audiences, especially in smaller population areas. We here in Iowa City have started educating the younger kids in the elementary, junior highs and high schools to listen learn and develope appreciation for all different styles of creative music, whether it be be- bop, hard bop, blues, salsa or the edgier creative music that Iowa City has become known for. The Iowa City Jazz Festival is, I think, a solid reflection of the music that is performed in town throughout the year, so people are aquainted with the sounds and are willing to check it out with open ears at the Fest. This is why we got around 25,000 people here over three days....not all local people, but a good majority. Plus the festival is booked and organized by musicians. We treat the performers the way we like to be treated when we go out, so they go on and play their asses, and tell anyone who will listen about this little "oasis" amid the cornstalks. It did my heart a world of good to listen to Andrew Hill, a beautiful cat, and watch probably 8000 to 10000 people checking him out trying to figure out what the hell he was doing! As far as KC, I have heard from a very solid source that people want to still hear what made KC famous in the late 30s or early 40s....standard tune jam sessions. This is a beautiful thing, but not a good overview of what creative music evolved to. The KC Jazz Festival no longer exists....why? Grant moneys lost in this dismal financial time....what kept the local musicians from taking partnership in the festival to keep it happening? This goes back to my point that we musicians HAVE to be involved in the business end and not just wait for the phone to ring. Sorry guys....got to go and listen to more U of Iowa students play LAME auditions for the jazz program after not touching their axes all summer! I look forward to this discussion continuing...am interested in your thoughts!

Hey Free For All, Owwwwwy....poignant vibe from KC .....read the board daily and contribute when I have a strong opinion. Glad you are back safely! How 'bout them Royals and Cubbies?!

Hey Free For All, Are you back home yet? How was the Southwest? What did you bring me?

My favorite Sunday morning side is a Charlie Haden / Hank Jones Verve side called Steal Away. Beautiful......

IMHO.......TheHeadhunters were an extension of the "electric Miles" fusion movement. Herbie took it another step....to me that is inovation. BITF, to me, is more like a lame Ellington suite with questioable libretto.

Vibes, Glad that you enjoyed the IC Jazz Festival...being a jazz musician in IC (is that possible?) and one of the organizers, it's great to hear someone from KC came to town to check out the extrordinary lineup! Great pics....would love to see more of them! Is this possible? Let me know....