NYC JAZZ VENUE SYNDROME

Unless I'm missing something here the New York City Jazz venue scene is disintegrating, and largely by its own doing. Hmm, articulating this will be challenging as I don't want to give the wrong impression. If any of you out there have ever made a phone call or done the dreaded "drop off" of your latest album to any of these places then you know I'm not insane when I say that the vibe is so unbelievably terrible that you begin to ask yourself "Why the fuck would I put myself through this?" The treatment of musicians by these venue bookers and managers is that of a huge ego trip. While I realize there are too many musicians in NYC, I still feel that these clubs or individuals that represent the clubs often go too far. The level of rudeness by the 20 year old bitch at the front or on the phone is only a symbol of our bullshit, superficial and youth obsessed culture. 

We are immediately spoken down too and treated as if they are doing us the favor; As if the musician is not an important part of the equation. Musicians are to blame as well. With all the schools churning out "Jazz musicians" with large egos and big mouths you have hordes of 20 year olds that will play anything, anywhere without any regard to keeping a standard. Everyone is so fucking desperate for a gig. This is also the reason jazz gigs still pay pretty much the same as the 1960s. Unfortunately, if you don't have that kind of ego and pontification skill level you will most likely be left out in the cold. Talent or creativity plays no part in this scene. Instead we end up with institutionalized, homogenized brunch jazz that you can hear at Blue Water Grill.

There isn't much truth either. No one has the balls to really just tell you that since you are a nobody it will be difficult to get you in. No one listens to your record. How could they? If I had a pile of 300 or so CDs it would be difficult to listen to all of that, right? However, if I was music venue I would have to figure out how to listen because it is the music, after all, that I need to find.

In the venues' defense I will say the rents in this town are so fucking high that the clubs are also desperate to fill seats. That makes sense, but still even when squeezing in some new or emerging talent I see pretty much the same old roster. The clubs have become stale and basically feel dead inside. Perhaps our unregulated capitalist culture has no room for this kind of antiquated music listening space. Each of the major New York venues has something to offer; Jazz Standard, Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Jazz Gallery, Iridium, Smalls, Smoke & Dizzy's (Am I missing any?), but I don't know what kind of profits they are making. I remember overhearing Loraine at the Vanguard one time saying she more often just breaks even.

I'm fine with the fact that they need to run a business and I wouldn't bring any money in, but it's the way I'm spoken to that gets under my skin. The way a 20 year old (who knows nothing about music or life) speaks to me. The frustration level and anger that builds inside me reaches violent levels. The way the person doing the booking hides or blatantly lies to your face.

Perhaps the NYC Jazz Venue scene should rethink it's approach and treatment of the struggling musician. Maybe it's already too late considering just how bland the scene has gotten. It is a complicated issue that no one talks about because of fear of being black listed or hope of getting a gig there.

Whatever happens, at least I tried...