Is the Blue Note Board Officially Dead?

[BeBop]

...to say nothing of the smell...

[bertrand]

For what it's worth, I saw Herbie Hancock on Sunday. We were talking about the internet, so I mentioned the BNBB and what happened. He seemed really puzzled at Blue Note's behavior.

Bertrand.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I finally spoke to Tom Evered yesterday and rather than take the low road and blast him for the way they handled the closure, I took the high road, talked to him about things in general (their recent move, new reissues, sales, etc.) and asked him when it might be re-opened. As I thought, they don't have anybody to work on it. Their one internet guy is also their IT guy and he's overworked to the max. Tom also said that "if" it re-opened, it wouldn't likely be until late May or June. And yes, he did say "if".

I will add once again in this thread something I've said in other threads. Michael Cuscuna was not ever involved with the Blue Note board. As a matter of fact, he used me to get his word out to the fans. He posted twice on that board. Both times were a result of pleading by me to address constant questions. He is clearly puzzled as to why the board closed and why it remains closed.

I still think they're clueless over at Blue Note that they destroyed an entire community... a community that really dug Blue Note. They just never understood what we were. I think Michael Cuscuna did, but not Blue Note. I sometimes think that they felt we were some kind of "cult". Hari Krishna... Hari Blue Note. Fellow BN poster Chris Albertson even said as much over at Jazz Corner's Speakeasy. Why do people think this way about the people from the Blue Note board?? I never got that feeling from people over there... not even from Tom. What was to not like about that board? I like Blue Note CDs and I think that other people who like them make for fun people to talk with. Why does that suddenly make me part of some "Blue Note love fest"? Bullshit! I like Blue Note but I also like Verve, Prestige, Riverside, Columbia, DIW, Bethlehem, Capitol, Atlantic, Contemporary, Emarcy and every other label that puts out Jazz music... that's the only qualification I ever wanted, good Jazz music.

Later,

Kevin

[Brad]

Having read Kevin's post, it just sort of makes you shake your head in wonder. It's sort of tragic in a way.

[Jim Alfredson]

And then you said to Cuscuna, "Yeah, we're all congregating at three different boards right now. The All About Jazz forums, the Jazz Corner Speakeasy, and the Organissimo boards.... oh, have you heard Organissimo? Those cats are bad!"

[chris olivarez]

Kevin I agree with you and b3-er I agree with you too.We're bad to the bone.

[sidewinder]

This Organissimo board is a worthy successor indeed to the BNBB. Lots of good stuff on here and long may it continue ! Any new BNBB has a tough act to chase ..

[Leeway]

If you think about it, there's no reason for BN to reopen the BNBB.

This forum, especially, but also AAJ to some extent, are doing their work for them, at no cost to BN. And doing it better, I might add :rsly:

Another thread I posted seems to indicate that everybody is still buying BN product, which is all Evered and crew apparently care about. Some, like myself, have cooled off a bit in their BN acquisitions, but few probably stopped altogether. Smart execs like to develop that sense of community. For example, Porsche assiduously cultivates its drivers and fans. They know that loyalty translates into long-term stability. Like BN, they are a niche product-they can't afford to lose a generation of customers. BN's current managers are clueless-right out of Dilbert. Well, I better stop, I'm starting to get mad all over again

[AfricaBrass]

I agree with you, Leeway.

I don't see any reason for them to reopen the board.

I haven't stopped buying their product, but I have cooled down about buying their stuff.

I'll still buy most of the BN reissues, but I'm not going to jump on the RVG's like a was doing. I'll live with the McMasters. I'm also not going to buy EVERYTHING they reissue like I was doing. If it isn't a GREAT Capital or Roulette title I probably won't bother to pick it up. I also won't be as inclined to purchase their releases by new artists. I'll still buy the Osby, Moran, Harris albums, but I'll find other labels new releases to support.

Pacific Jazz reissues on the other hand, I can't stop buying those.

I don't have any issues with Mosaic, so I'll continue to buy what I can.

:rsmile:

[Soul Stream]

like the saying goes...no one is irreplaceable. And so goes the BNBB. it's been replaced handily by the Organissimo board and AAJ.

I haven't missed a beat and don't miss it in any way. Actually it's nice to be out from the watchful eye of a corporation.

[connoisseur series500]

Actually it's nice to be out from the watchful eye of a corporation.

Yes, this is an excellent point. I kinda forgot about that. Long Live Organissimo!!

[jazzbo]

Well, I have divided feelings. I don't feel about any of the boards the way I felt about the BNBB, and probably never will. And neither nor both the AAJ and this board are fulfilling the same need for me. NOR is that a bad thing necessarily. No sense looking back! And I've used the excessive time I spent there more wisely since it's demise.

I haven't let the way the board ended color the way I feel about Blue Note music. After all, it's Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff's vision and the incredible work of the artists that I really appreciate. How is that tainted? Michael Cuscuna, reissue producer there, had little to nothing to do with the BNBB. I've become more and more interested in other music, but Blue Note music holds a great appeal for me, and recent events haven't changed my collecting tendencies in that direction. Also I enjoy a lot of Capitol, Roulette, and Pacific Jazz artists and grab those releases as before.

And I confess I'll check out the new board and if it isn't dominated by Greg I might post for a bit!

Edited May 3, 2003 by jazzbo

[jazzbo]

Unintentional double post.

Edited May 3, 2003 by jazzbo

[Jazzmoose]

I'll check it out as well (if it returns!) and will probably post there. Hell, I can't keep my mouth shut anyway, right? But I have a feeling that the old cliche "you can't go home" will definitely apply. This is where I've settled now, and like an immigrant who left a home gone mad for the new land, I'm probably more "organissimo" than "bnbb" now. This spot will stay home, unless everyone goes mad and flees back to the BNBB. (I sure hope not!)

[David Williams]

I've used the excessive time I spent there more wisely since it's demise.

Ditto.