Logo Designed by Regine Turmel-Bristow and Joee Turmel
the 14 Jazz orchestra
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Announcements
  • Latest Release
  • 2nd Release
  • Debut Release
  • Videos
  • The Director
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog

Top Priority - The audience or the music?

12/9/2013

15 Comments

 
It has been those artists that hold the development of the music or the establishment of their own personal musical styles to be a higher priority than its popularity or commercial value, who have brought progress and change to our idiom. Today’s performers, composers, and arrangers stand on the shoulders of those innovators. Without them…………?

Instrumental music is a single digit percentage of CD sales, downloads, and radio airplay, of which jazz is only a small part. “Smooth Jazz” seems to dominate the marketplace. As director and arranger for The 14 Jazz Orchestra, I find myself strongly considering the goals of the players as well as the entertainment of our audiences. At times, those considerations struggle for compatibility. The performers often want the music to challenge them, give them opportunities to grow, to test their skills, and provide a vehicle for self-expression. Although there can be occasions where very “sophisticated” Jazz musicians, and/or fans make up a large portion of those in attendance, I find that in general, audiences of live concerts respond more to the emotion and energy of the music than the intellectual aspects. Trying to be true to one’s artistic values, provide meaningful musical experiences for the players, and at the same time entertain an audience, does provide an ongoing challenge!
Dan Bonsanti - Director, 14 Jazz Orchestra


15 Comments
Steve Nelson
12/9/2013 01:46:22 am

The Bonsanti's brothers; Dan and Neal were neighbors and boyhood friends. They followed their musical passion and become accomplished musicians and teachers! Keep the flame alive!! Steve

Reply
Ron Miller link
12/9/2013 02:15:12 am

I compose like I cook. The recipes I make up to satisfy my tastes and that of my family. I compose music that sounds good to me and makes me feel good. If an outside listener gets the same joy I get from my music it is a good thing; if the listener wants to pay me for the pleasure he or she experienced from my music it would be a wonderful world. But, alas, that is rarely the case. The answer is I don't compose for monetary gain, but to satisfy my esthetic needs and those of others.

Reply
John Harding
12/9/2013 04:57:09 am

Ron's music is my favorite (has been since I got a chance to perform it with the UM Concert jazz Band, and remains so today). And I subscribe entirely to his blog!!

Reply
Dan Bonsanti
12/9/2013 02:18:26 am

And you are my favorite composer!!!!!!!

Reply
Carlos D. Duffoo
12/9/2013 02:42:43 am

Awesome Orchestra, a delight to watch and listen to.

Reply
Dan Bonsanti
12/9/2013 06:25:54 am

Serious jazz fans and musicians alike will want to follow Ron Miller's music at www.ronjam.com!!

Reply
Dan Bonsanti
12/9/2013 06:43:30 am

John, having played and lead all kinds of bands with an extensive career in music & jazz education, do you believe in "art for arts sake" or feel we should consider the players and the audiences?

Reply
earl valentovic
12/9/2013 06:47:39 am

Music is to be enjoyed. By both the performers and the listeners. And it is a given perspective that an audience in attendance is there at that Jazz performance because they already posses a level of sophistication and understanding of Jazz. So a composer need not adapt their choice of music and arrangement as a criteria to ensure the audience's entertainment. The primary criteria is; the arrangement by the composer and the execution of the performance by the musicians. The only time a composer/arranger needs to consider the audience is if they, composer/arranger, knows they will be performing for a commercial/unsophisticated level of jazz listeners. Example; Thelonious Monk,...it is potentially above the unsophisticated listening audience's level of understanding of T. Monks jazz compositions so the performance won't be appreciated. Other than that, jazz opens the every listeners ears to new possibilities within a familiar piece of music.

Is jazz just another form of musical entertainment ?,...NO ! Jazz coaxes the listening audience to move to a deeper level of understanding and appreciation of what is being performed. (I can say with confidence that rap and hip-hop does not do that for the listener.)

Jazz is structure.

Jazz is discipline.

Jazz is interpretation.

Jazz is excellence in performance.

Jazz is bold composition and creative arranging.


Jazz Is Entertainment !

Reply
Kathleen link
12/10/2013 09:32:50 pm

Attended the jazz concert at Westminster with the fabulous sounds of 14 Jazz Orchestra - each musician was at the peak of performance, with musical expression that merits incredible praise. Led by the talented, fantastic, Dan Bonsanti, the evening was most enjoyable.

Reply
Dan Bonsanti
12/10/2013 09:35:21 pm

Thanks Kathleen for your very kind comments!! Hope you can see us again soon!!!

Reply
Dan Bonsanti
12/10/2013 09:37:01 pm

Thanks Steve for making the long trip to see us!! We are scheduled to play in DelRay Beach in September. Hope to see you then if not sooner!!

Reply
Karla Damian
12/17/2013 11:31:51 pm

As a fellow artist, and as a writer, this is a question I have grappled with for years.
Often I’ve wondered: When we, as artists, create something, whether it’s music, art or a novel, to what degree should we consider our audience? Are we molding our creativity towards commercial success? Or are you creating something because it is growing within us and we must give birth to it – whether it has commercial success or is rejected by most?

The question also got me thinking about how I came to love Jazz.

I was introduced to American Jazz by my first boyfriend, Elton, who grew up listening to it at home. The first Jazz album he played for me was Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain.

I was captivated by the powerful, yet tender sound of the horns. Back then, I couldn’t tell the difference between a saxophone and a trumpet. But I was moved by the music, which spoke to me without saying a word. And that’s all that mattered.

Miles Davis was my first. Then came John Coltrane, Weather Report, and with Weather Report, came Jaco Pastorius. And as fate would have it, with Jaco Pastorius, came Dan Bonsanti, whom I had heard on various albums even before I met him.

With Dan, came Chick Corea, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley and many more.

If when I was first introduced to all these legendary Jazz giants, had I not listened with an open mind and heart, I would have missed out on their amazing music.

Or if the people who introduced me to them would have prejudged me and thought, “Why bother? She won’t get it anyway.” I would have greatly missed out on music that has given light to some of my darkest days, and set the mood for some of the sweetest moments of my life.

So while I believe a musician should consider selecting some pieces that would please the crowd, I believe it is even more important to select musical pieces that stir the soul – no matter the sophistication of the piece. If not, how else can people grow musically?

Reply
Ron Miller link
1/10/2014 10:05:35 pm

Great writing Karla.

Reply
Ron Miller link
12/28/2013 07:47:13 am

Happy new year to you all, I will do what I do without any discussion or criticism, because I am so dedicated to my vision.

Reply
Bi England link
2/14/2021 12:47:53 am

Thanks for ssharing

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2020
    December 2018
    February 2016
    October 2015
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly