Jazz-Institut Darmstadt - Europe's...

[rockefeller center]

http://www.darmstadt.de/kultur/musik/jazz/

[sidewinder]

Very cool indeed. One of the nice things about Germany has always been the public sponsorship of the arts and appreciation of music, in all its forms. From the UK we just get a glimse of this, via the excellent TV jazz broadcasts which are regularly put out by German-speaking countries over the satellite channels. I know that taxation is high in Germany (isn't it everywhere right across this continent, though ) but if my tax dollars were going towards this I'd feel that there was at least some payback.

It would be nice to check this place out in person and the fine 'baroque' building that houses the collection is an eye-opener in itself. 'Respect' to the cultured citizens of Darmstadt !

I wonder if by chance they do a subscription Mosaic lending-library?

Edited December 1, 2003 by sidewinder

[rockefeller center]

I thought about spending a couple of days in Darmstadt to check out this place.

Yesterday I had them send me a complete list of Joachim Ernst Berendt's "Jazz gehört und gesehen" TV series. It was aired between from 1955-1974 and has footage of Roland Kirk (1961), Miles Davis Sextet (1960), Thelonious Monk Quartet (1963), Coltrane Quintet (1962), Sun Ra at Berlin Jazz Festival 1970 etc.

If there's interest, I can post this list (German TV provided me with copies of some of this footage and I plan to order more from them. Cost was about EUR 25 per 30 minutes cassette a couple of years ago).

[sidewinder]

Yes please ! I'm familiar with the Coltrane footage (presumably this was of the quintet with Dolphy which had all of those trendy scaffolding props around the band?) but not the other material. Looks like this is a nice resource..

Edited December 1, 2003 by sidewinder

[Claude]

One of the nice things about Germany has always been the public sponsorship of the arts and appreciation of music, in all its forms. From the UK we just get a glimse of this, via the excellent TV jazz broadcasts which are regularly put out by German-speaking countries over the satellite channels. I know that taxation is high in Germany (isn't it everywhere right across this continent, though  ) but if my tax dollars were going towards this I'd feel that there was at least some payback.

You are probably referring to the jazz shows on 3Sat on Friday and Saturday nights, which are broadcasting concerts from recent german festivals. Those shows are unique on german TV, only some regional stations also occasionly have jazz but national TV stations never.

And the price germans pay for public TV and radio is very high indeed: 16.15 Euro per month. It is not financed from the state budget but from a specific TV/radio tax that every owner of a TV set or radio has to pay (and if you declare not to own a TV set you get spied on by the GEZ )

Edited December 1, 2003 by Claude

[mikeweil]

Considering this institute is only 25 miles from where I live, it's a damn shame I haven't been there yet .... -_-

[rockefeller center]

Considering this institute is only 25 miles from where I live, it's a damn shame I haven't been there yet .... -_-

Irre! Are there any youth hostels or very cheap hotels in Darmstadt?

[mikeweil]

The youth hostel is closed for renovation and will re-open in May 2004.

For hotels, click here. (It's in German, but understandable, I guess it is neither complete nor cheap, I'll ask some friends there for info.)

Edited December 2, 2003 by mikeweil

[rockefeller center]

Vielen Dank, Mike.

[mikeweil]

Until I get any further info, I suggest you ask them by e-mail: jazz@jazzinstitut.de - they should know a cheap hotel close by.