Does age matter for a jazz artist?

[Hardbopjazz]

Are the senior jazz artists denied contracts because of age? Do you think record companies just go with the younger artists because younger artists attract a younger buying group, which spend more money?

Example number 1: Jackie McLean,

Jackie McLean hasn't put out anything new for a few years. The last studio session was "Nature Boy" in 2000. He can still play, and I'm sure he would still enjoy recording if giving the chance.

There must be a ton of other senior jazz artists without contracts too.

[BbM7]

Hopefully, the phenomenon has faded (though certainly hasn't disappeared completely), but back in the 80s and 90s, it seemed as if the money - contracts, good gigs - were all going to the Young Lions. True veterans - James Moody, Jackie Mac and others - seemed to be standing on the sidelines as their (largely inferior) imitators raked it in.

A lot of those Lions have lost their stature - hell, I'm struggling to come up with names - Bobby Watson, Blanchard, Vincent Herring, others who passed through the Blakey band...not the best examples...

[sal]

  BbM7 said:

A lot of those Lions have lost their stature - hell, I'm struggling to come up with names - Bobby Watson, Blanchard, Vincent Herring

These guys have been putting out some great music lately.....not sure what you mean.

[BbM7]

  sal said:

  BbM7 said:

A lot of those Lions have lost their stature - hell, I'm struggling to come up with names - Bobby Watson, Blanchard, Vincent Herring

These guys have been putting out some great music lately.....not sure what you mean.

As I said, I couldn't come up with the names that truly have been lost to the winds of time.

Still, the guys I mention - and others like them - no longer seem to dominate the covers of Jazz Times and Down Beat, as they once did.

[Jazz Kat]

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

[Ron S]

  Jazz Kat said:

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

Out of the mouths of babes . . . .

[jlhoots]

  Jazz Kat said:

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

That's right.

You never know what you're going to get.

I heard Moody in person recently & (to be charitable) he wasn't very good.

[Jazz Kat]

Where's he playing?

[BbM7]

  jlhoots said:

  Jazz Kat said:

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

That's right.

You never know what you're going to get.

I heard Moody in person recently & (to be charitable) he wasn't very good.

Gee whiz. He's now 80 years old. Twenty years ago, my point of comparison, he was 20 years younger.

[Brad]

I don't think it matters how old you are. Have you heard the recent Frank Morgan cd City Nights. He's 71 and still going strong. There's also the Curtis Fuller cd, Up Jumped Spring. Sounds good to me. If you've got your chops, that's what counts and you could lose those at any age. Jazz Kat was right, btw. Kids say the darndes things

[Ron S]

  Brad said:

Kids say the darndes things

Speaking of Linkletter, how old is HE?

[Ron S]

  Ron S said:

  Brad said:

Kids say the darndes things

Speaking of Linkletter, how old is HE?

Answered my own question (ain't Google great?). Apparently, he's 92 and still getting $15,000 per speaking engagement. Art Linkletter's Web Party

[Soul Stream]

I think jazz artists in middle age have the hardest time. Not young enough to be fresh and exciting. Not old enough for the "old veteran-they don't play like that anymore-factor" to kick in yet.

[Hardbopjazz]

  Brad said:

I don't think it matters how old you are. Have you heard the recent Frank Morgan cd City Nights. He's 71 and still going strong. There's also the Curtis Fuller cd, Up Jumped Spring. Sounds good to me. If you've got your chops, that's what counts and you could lose those at any age. Jazz Kat was right, btw. Kids say the darndes things

Well, if it doesn't matter, I wish someone would sign Horace Silver and Jackie McLean and Lou Donaldson...

[Chuck Nessa]

Jazz artists do not care how old you are if you pay the cover, have a couple of drinks and buy the cd. B-)

[GA Russell]

I watched Letterman last night and Tommy Newsom sounded terrific, although he more than once ran out of breath before he was able to complete what he had in mind.

[medjuck]

I saw Benny Carter when he was in his late 80's. He paced himself, gave lots of solo space to his group but sounded just like Benny Carter when it was his turn to solo.

[jazzmessenger]

  sal said:

  BbM7 said:

A lot of those Lions have lost their stature - hell, I'm struggling to come up with names - Bobby Watson, Blanchard, Vincent Herring

These guys have been putting out some great music lately.....not sure what you mean.

Agreed. These guys are putting out great albums in recent years.

[jazzmessenger]

  jlhoots said:

  Jazz Kat said:

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

That's right.

You never know what you're going to get.

I heard Moody in person recently & (to be charitable) he wasn't very good.

When I saw him at the Detroit Jazz Festival two years ago, he sounded very good to me.

[B. Goren.]

I saw Buddy DeFranco last week.

Mr. DeFranco is 81 and he was great. It was an unforgettable experience.

[Jim Alfredson]

Arno Marsh, Randy's father, is still kickin' ass at 76. Can't wait to play with him again this summer!

[jlhoots]

  jazzmessenger said:

  jlhoots said:

  Jazz Kat said:

If the music is good, the music is good! That's all I have to say.

That's right.

You never know what you're going to get.

I heard Moody in person recently & (to be charitable) he wasn't very good.

When I saw him at the Detroit Jazz Festival two years ago, he sounded very good to me.

It was a concert setting.

Quartet of Moody, David Williams on bass, Carrington on drums & piano (actually can't remember who).

Moody massacred Cherokee on flute, & played adequately on tenor, alto & a bit of soprano. Told jokes that were lame 30+ years ago & wasn't much better on vocals on Moody's Mood For Love & Bennie's (sic) From Heaven. Maybe it was the altitude.

Other half of the concert was Ahmad Jamal (he's 75), with James Cammack & Idris Muhammad. They were "tight", although nothing new took place.

[chris olivarez]

As long as they deliver the goods age ain't nothing but a number.

[garthsj]

  B. Goren. said:

I saw Buddy DeFranco last week.

Mr. DeFranco is 81 and he was great. It was an unforgettable experience.

.... as you said .....

[sonic1]

The only thing that matters is whether or not you can play.

Age, sex, race are all inconsequential.

As I can see it age has made some artists lose their inspiration, while others have found inspiration with age. I don't think age makes much of a difference. The individuals response to age matters, but it is not predictable how each person will respond to age.