When the Best Seat in the House Is in Your Home

[paul secor]

N.Y. Times article on home jazz concerts: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/nyregion...ref=todayspaper

[Dan Gould]

Reminds me of the piece the Times published a while back about largely forgotten rock musicians making good money playing for their fans in back yards and living rooms, usually on birthdays.

[papsrus]

I guess it's best to invite the neighbors.

I read a similar article a while back about plays being performed in people's homes as well -- kind of an audience participation thing, where you would invite the performers to a gathering at your place, and at some point the performance would simply be underway, with the actors mingling about the gathering and doing their thing, and the story unfolding in amongst the guests.

[Hot Ptah]

I think that there is a tradition of having classical musicians who are on tour, play in a residence the day before or after their appearance in the local concert hall.

[Serioza]

....this proves is that you do not need Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center to make art happen — art can happen anywhere...

I hope Mr. Fages records some of these performances .

[Dave James]

When Red Mitchell was living in Salem, Oregon, his wife would periodically hold events at their home that consisted of a catered dinner following by music from Red and various groups of local or nationally known musicians. This had to have been at least 15 years ago, so the "in-home" concept isn't new even out here in Orygone.

Along the same lines, I have a book called Born Under The Sign Of Jazz written by Randi Hultin, a Norwegian music critic. She and her husband would regularly have jazz musicians stay in their home during tours of Scandinavia. The book itself is a bit self-serving, but what makes it interesting is that she recorded a lot of the jam sessions that took place during these billets and included a CD of the recordings with her book. Some of the musicians on the CD include Sonny Clark, Jan Johansson, Ernie Wilkins, Joe Newman, Freddie Green, Anthony Ortega, Stuff Smith, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Kenny Dorham, Jaki Byard and Monica Zetterlund. Chapters in the book are devoted to the likes of Basie, Coltrane, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Eubie Blake, Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell and Sonny Rollins, so this gal definitely got around.

Up over and out.

[kh1958]

Along the same lines, I have a book called Born Under The Sign Of Jazz written by Randi Hultin, a Norwegian music critic. She and her husband would regularly have jazz musicians stay in their home during tours of Scandinavia. The book itself is a bit self-serving, but what makes it interesting is that she recorded a lot of the jam sessions that took place during these billets and included a CD of the recordings with her book. Some of the musicians on the CD include Sonny Clark, Jan Johansson, Ernie Wilkins, Joe Newman, Freddie Green, Anthony Ortega, Stuff Smith, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Kenny Dorham, Jaki Byard and Monica Zetterlund. Chapters in the book are devoted to the likes of Basie, Coltrane, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Eubie Blake, Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell and Sonny Rollins, so this gal definitely got around.

Up over and out.

If you have Half Price Books stores in your area, they seem to have acquired a boatload of the Randi Hultin books and are selling them for $8. Personally, I thought the solo Hampton Hawes track was the best one on the CD.

[Chuck Nessa]

Reminds me of the days when Massa had the "employees" entertain the folks.

[Jim Alfredson]

Hey, one of our best gigs in Philly was playing in Ron's living room for a party with parents from his daughter's school. It was a great evening full of wonderful people and hospitality.

It didn't pay for shit, though.

[jlhoots]

We present several "in home" jazz concerts a year.

I can assure you the musicians are paid & enjoy the events.

The implication that this is condescending to the musicians & the music is offensive.

[Guest Bill Barton]

The first "concert" I attended back in 2001 when I first arrived in the Seattle area was a "house concert" with Jessica Williams and Jeff Johnson. It was a memorable evening of music. As others have pointed out, there's nothing new about this. It was a great idea back in the days when chamber music was born, it was a great idea when Red Mitchell did it and it's a great idea now.

[Jim Alfredson]

BTW, I was just kidding about the pay; Ron and his family graciously put us up for a week while we did shows in Philly, Boston, Baltimore, and Virginia Beach and he also paid us for the show at his house. He's the man.

organissimo is available for in-home concerts, btw. I hear Santa Fe is nice this time of year!

[ep1str0phy]

I'm pretty sure that at least half of the Bay Area experimental music scene happens in people's houses. I actually caught Paul Rutherford in a converted basement/garage in Oakland not long before he passed away. This is of course not a knock on home concerts... I mean, in an ideal world, Rutherford would have commanded high fees in concert halls; these small venues at least provided an occasion for intimate listening, strong and appreciative audiences, and maybe some scratch without the middle man.

[7/4]

I've heard a lot of North Indian classical music at home concerts.

dN

[Ron S]

BTW, I was just kidding about the pay; Ron and his family graciously put us up for a week while we did shows in Philly, Boston, Baltimore, and Virginia Beach and he also paid us for the show at his house.

We paid in fruit pies. MAN, was that expensive.

[jlhoots]

BTW, I was just kidding about the pay; Ron and his family graciously put us up for a week while we did shows in Philly, Boston, Baltimore, and Virginia Beach and he also paid us for the show at his house. He's the man.

organissimo is available for in-home concerts, btw. I hear Santa Fe is nice this time of year!

I wasn't referring to your comment but to a previous one.

Santa Fe is always nice.

If you tour in the west, we'd be thrilled to present you.

We'd probably use a venue other than a home, since I'd have trouble finding a home with a B-3.

[six string]

When Jessica Williams used to live here in Sacramento she put on "House Concerts' in her home. The majority of the people who attended were big fans and the cooks among them would bring food and others brought beverages or whatever else was needed. There was a donation requested at the door and she would usually have a trio or quartet perform but sometimes solo. They were held on Sunday afternnons about once a month and they were very relaxed and fun. I have wonderful memories of those shows. I had only lived in town for a few years so I was able to connect with other jazz fans at her house and expanded my social life not to mention the wonderful music. Jessica of course moved away and if I had more than an upright piano I'd put one on myself.

I have a friend who knows someone who puts on folk shows at his house (in the backyard in the warm months and inside for the winter). He's had people like David Lindley, The Waybacks and Tony Furtado to name a few.