Author: Jeff Albert

Energy Efficiency in the Arts | SOUNDSLOPE

Over at Soundslope, Dan Melnick has presented a thoughtful look at the intersection of the energy economy, and the creative music economy.

Energy Efficiency in the Arts | SOUNDSLOPE:

“An interesting feature of the career of any successful modern jazz or creative musician is the huge reliance on the European market for work. I don’t have any numbers to back up this claim but I know through conversations and anecdotal evidence that the ability to play in Europe regularly is an essential part of any musician’s career who attempts to play this music as a full time occupation.

…

How would our artists be effected if it was no longer practical for promoters in Europe to fly them over for gigs due to rising transportation costs? Or, even if they could continue to do so, if it cut into the artists’ bottom line, essentially coming out of their paycheck?”

I’m all for world travel in the name of music making (I’m heading to Europe in a week and a half myself), but as Dan alludes, it would be great if we could make good livings closer to home.

Creative Commons

Support CC

I use Creative Commons licenses on some of my work. It is part of my idea of being able to share some of my music and build relationships with other music lovers. They are a non-profit, which means, like your public radio station etc., that every once in a while they come asking for money to keep things running. Now is that time. They are pretty close to making their Dec 31 fundraising deadline. If you would like to help them out, or just find out more, click the button above.

The Year-End List Of Lists 2009 – A Blog Supreme : NPR

PJ (I’ll use his initials so I don’t find myself on one of his lists) over at A Blog Supreme has posted his list of lists. They are all good. My fave is below, but I must stick up a little for my trombone playing brother. It’s not our fault we make lots of condensation, and yes it is more condensation than spit.

The Year-End List Of Lists 2009 – A Blog Supreme : NPR:

“Most courteous members of Dave Douglas’ Brass Ecstasy, by volume of spit emptied on our carpets during our Tiny Desk Concert:
T-1. Dave Douglas
T-1. Vincent Chancey
T-1. Nasheet Waits
T-1. Marcus Rojas
2. Luis Bonilla (we still love you anyway, man!)”

sports as a lens

It’s not likely that I will often link to ESPN from this blog, but the article linked below is a good read. He seems to get it, although I would get my oysters at Domilisi’s and roast beef at Parkway.

NFL: New Orleans Saints are the soul of America’s City – ESPN:

“The Saints aren’t encouraging people to rebuild, or providing comfort to a wounded city, or any of that. They are showing the world what has been rebuilt.”

Is it finally time for Jazz Fest to change its name?

Ok, people in other countries are starting to make fun of us for calling our big springtime music event Jazz Fest, and citing Pearl Jam as the big news headliner. I used to defend the name as tradition, and offer that they did in fact program some jazz. They do still program some jazz, and they’ll probably get a chunk of money out of me to go see Wayne Shorter’s Quartet, although I’d pay a much larger chunk to hear them in a place that isn’t a tent that is 200 yards away from an Allman Brothers concert.

I know it would take forever to get locals to call it anything else, but maybe the time has come for the New Orleans Music and Heritage Festival (presented by Shell, or Miller Lite, or whoever).

End of year love, and a friend has moved

Richard Kamins, Connecticut based culture creature and lover of music, has a new location on the web. You can now read him at http://steptempest.blogspot.com. Richard has always been nice to me in writing, and he continues to do that by including the Jeff Albert Quartet in his 2009 faves list. He puts us in excellent company.

We had the pleasure of meeting and hanging with Richard when the JAQ played Middletown, CT last summer. In addition to having excellent taste, he is a nice guy and a cool hang. Read his stuff.