SHOULD THERE BE A PITTSBURGH JAZZ FESTIVAL AGAIN?

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Comment by Kyoko on September 22, 2009 at 4:47am

Yes. Pittsburgh had great history in Jazz, which tend to be forgotten, or that is not being known to the young people. Having a Jazz fest will keep that legacy going.

Comment by James R. Meny on April 24, 2009 at 6:30pm

Maybe we should ask the potential audiences about whether or not there should be a Jazz Festival, if you're looking to make money at it. Otherwise, just do it for the fun of it.

Comment by Hassan Jones on April 22, 2009 at 5:09pm

Yes I think it's monumental ..Ican remember going to the festivals as a boy. I saw Ella Phits Gareld. and other jazz grates .perform.The caliber of foke there were awsome.

Comment by Loni Taylor on April 19, 2009 at 3:30pm

There absolutely show be a Pittsburgh Jazz Festival again...some of the biggest names in Jazz call Pittsburgh home!

Loni Taylor
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LONI-TAYLOR/63400948118

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 4, 2009 at 4:10pm

George Wein was the producer of the Kool Jazz Festival and subsequently the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival.

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on March 4, 2009 at 4:09pm

March 4, 2009
Wein Seeks to Regain Control of Newport Festivals
By BEN RATLIFF

Amid rumors of an uncertain future for the Newport jazz and folk festivals, the veteran jazz concert producer George Wein — who founded them in the 1950s but ceded control over them two years ago — Tuesday gained permission to negotiate to regain them.

He said he intended to hold the festivals at Fort Adams State Park, their usual site in Newport, R.I., but the names of the festivals, the corporate name that Mr. Wein might use and a corporate sponsor are still undecided.

Mr. Wein is returning as a festival producer in altered circumstances. After pioneering the outdoor jazz-festival business and serving as boss for dozens of international festivals, he has in recent years seemed content to assume a back-seat position. In 2007 the Festival Network LLC, a new business under the leadership of the entrepreneur Chris Shields, bought the assets of Mr. Wein’s company, including the trademarks of the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, for a figure in the low millions, while giving him a salaried producer-emeritus position within the company. Mr. Wein said he had not been paid since Nov. 15.

Since 2007 the Festival Network aggressively pursued the concept of mixed-genre destination festivals, in vacation spots like Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., and Whistler, British Columbia. But The Providence Journal-Bulletin and The Boston Globe have reported recently that the company lost millions of dollars last year and at least until January was in debt to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for last year’s use of Fort Adams State Park. Mr. Shields was not available for comment. John Phillips, who has helped produce the festivals for 30 years under Mr. Wein and Mr. Shields, said the Festival Network had recently paid off its debts; this was confirmed by Larry Mouradjian, the associate director of natural resources for the department.

However, according Mr. Mouradjian, the department declared the Festival Network’s license agreement for running the festivals in Fort Adams Park null and void because of the late payment. This, according to Mr. Mouradjian, “opened the door for us to be able to look for an alternative” producer to hold jazz and folk festivals at the park.

Talks began with Mr. Wein, and on Tuesday, at a meeting of the Rhode Island State Properties Committee in Providence, Mr. Wein received approval to negotiate a new music-festival license agreement for the use of Fort Adams State Park with the state.

Mr. Wein said that he would like to put on his Newport festivals with or without a sponsor, even though he knows he would lose money without one.

It remains to be seen whether the annual end-of-June jazz festival in New York — produced for years by Mr. Wein’s company and then by the Festival Network — will be presented at all, or in reduced form.

At the moment, Mr. Wein, 83, said, his ambitions were limited. “The easiest thing for me would be to run away, but I got a few more years to live,” he said, adding that he’s going to go back in business primarily to save Newport. “In my mind, it’s just a matter of preserving my legacy.”

Comment by Maryellen Hayden on March 4, 2009 at 3:13am

Let's get through Derrick's funeral first, then set up another meeting.

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Comment by Kevin Amos on February 23, 2009 at 4:33pm

I have a question....wasn't there supossed to be a meeting on this? If there was one, what were the results? If there was a discussion how come none of it has been posted?

Who is going to determine what artists will play where and how they will be compinsated?

Not only do I believe that Deririck should be recognized but others as well. It is indeed sad that his life has been cut short and I offer my condolences to his family. Perhap a scholorship fund for young musicians should be set up.

I asked some folks to call me but as of today this hasn't happened. I'm pretty busy but I really am willing to help. I need a conversation first however.

Comment by Maryellen Hayden on February 23, 2009 at 5:15am

The 1st Annual Jazz Festival of Pittsburgh
Dedicated to Dr. Derrick Finch

Will be held at various locations on September 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2009.

We Call for Artists starting today. Please send your demo and prootional materials to Maryellen Hayden, Allegheny County ACORN, 5907 Penn Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

A Call for Volunteers: Please Email paacornpiho@acorn.org if you would like to volunteer.

We need volunteers to serve on the advisory committee, for web design, promotions, fundraising, and event activities.

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