“Sadly Jelly Roll Morton isn’t bringing in a lot of revenue these days …”

The November issue of Just Jazz Magazine dropped though my letterbox today. So I breezed through it over my early morning cup of coffee. The headline to this article is a quote from Pete Lay’s Editorial which especially captured my attention.

Extracts from the Editorial 
” … just take a look at the youth culture in the UK. Unfortunately, a good majority are uncouth, unkempt, rude with no social graces, selfish and lacking imagination. In other countries the youth are brought up socially different. They know how to socialise with all ages and are happy to listen to all types of music, not just what the media wants us to listen to.

“In the US and in some parts of Europe, the local radio stations have jazz/swing/blues programming and the ears of the youth are attuned to the different styles being presented. They have fun going to dance sessions, exhibiting none of the red-faced embarrassment
that our kids would feel.

“It’s a mindset thing. The only way to get through to them is via radio, TV, and now the internet. But the mainstream media are driven by the pounds and pence mentality and sadly Jelly Roll Morton isn’t bringing in a lot of revenue these days …

Pete Lay

Pete’s conclusions struck a more positive note:
“I can say thank you to the hardcore of youth who support Swing Dance sessions and music clubs in London and other large cities where they hear music we are more akin to, all helped by the bevy of ‘young’ musicians who have ‘cocked-a-snoot’ at media and social trends.

“I must add they make us ‘oldies’ welcome … not like us who seem scared to embrace their input into the jazz scene.”

The Key to the Future
Pete Lay has supported my editorial aims for Jazz&Jazz since I launched the site almost ten years ago. We seize on every opportunity to feature and promote younger jazz musicians and bands – they hold the key to the future. The Just Jazz October issue reported on Brittany based Fest Jazz 2018 – a wonderful festival which features not only young jazz bands and musicians but is also brilliantly organised by young jazz enthusiasts.

Peter M Butler
Editor Jazz&Jazz

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

See Also:

Hot Off The Press: “Le Fest Jazz Sauvé!”…

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Comments

  1. Godfrey King says:

    I agree re ‘Youth Culture’ drawing and drawn away from exploring a wider culture by unrelenting mediocrity. I complained to FB yesterday about a rapper using the F word liberally in the first few lines. I stopped listening…not because I am ‘high and mighty’ it was abusive, offensive and vulgar. I thought FB were going to clean that sort of thing up…not a bit. the same old standard ‘excuse’ (stock answer)….I replied pointing out young children might think that was normal in lyric writing. In fact this sort of mindless abusive and even subversive promotion of a so-called rappers views are increasing. Is it any wonder the so called ‘MeToo’ movement has arisen and with too many examples of male abuse by MP’s. I do show how more advanced and professional and musically knowledgeable foreign youth from so many countries are way ahead of UK…and in London Pete droves of clubs have been closed by the Police because the type of music attracts violence…until, that is, Mayor Kahn appointed a night entertainment Tsar! Its not good. I do not see in the UK that exciting time in the 50’s to 60’s where so many musical forms took off…look at the Hit Parade then. However…I might upset a few people’s sensitive spots so I’ll stop here. Best Wishes, Godfrey King

  2. Paul Goddard says:

    Keep supporting and publicising the younger acts, some of us DO listen.
    Also, where possible, encourage younger acts to use this site to publicise their gigs, which I find hard to find (even when i have the time to try and search them out.

  3. Peter Butler says:

    Paul, it’s a constant battle with Social Media, mainly Facebook, where they promote. I’m striving to battle with this and to find ways to lure them to this site. I have a plan in mind which might work.

  4. Peter Butler says:

    Ah, Godfrey, how I agree with you. Below Paul Goddard urges me to encourage younger acts to use this site. I have one huge and growing problem and that’s the time and effort it takes to keep up single handed with all I am doing – both here on Jazz&Jazz and on Social Media. I literally am a “one man band” and the pressures are increasing. I’m beginning to think that confronting almighty Social Media is a lost cause!

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