One Smooth Summer Lookbook 2015 by Style Quarterly

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THECURRENTSTATEOFCONTEMPORARYJAZZ
PEOPLE, PROFILES & PERSPECTIVES SURROUNDING THE WORLD OF COMTEMPORARY & SMOOTH JAZZ
In this article, my featured guests happens to be two of the coolest guys on the Contemporary Jazz scene. The first
is Southern California’s very own chart-topping guitar- ist, writer, and producer Nils, who’s currently celebrating
the release of his new album (after more than 3 years). The other is Baltimore, Maryland’s keyboard extraordinaire
David Bach, who recently flew in to discuss the formu- lations of a new project to be produced by Nils. The three of
us decided to meet at a centralized cool spot in Studio City, which offered a pleasant canopy-like setting sheltering us
from the sweltering heat on one of the hottest days of the summer to discuss “The Current State of Contemporary Jazz ”.
Over the past several years I’ve been ask-
ing musicians, D.J.’s and industry execs
about their point of view regarding the
current state of Contemporary and Smooth Jazz,
and more specifically the sustainability or the
future of the genre. Many are shaking their fin-
ger at terrestrial radio for their over-saturation
and over-commercialization of a regurgitated
programmed sound that hindered the creativity
of yesteryear’s and today’s artist.
Listen, I get it, people love familiarity; if
they’ve never heard it before and it rubs
them the wrong way, then you better
play something they have - and quickly,
otherwise they’re packing their bags and
off they go to the next station.
Remember when radio was essential? Or,
perhaps when it seemed like they cared
about the music? If a song was on the radio and
it was a good song people would go to their
favorite retail oulet and buy it - or whenever
they went to a concert or a night club they
expected to hear it. A good Club or Mobile D.J.
knows how to mix and blend the “unfamiliar”
along with the familiar, he’s bent on building
a reputation for himself by becoming known
for breaking and introducing new songs or just
being the first to play a song that could become
the next hit. People trusted radio and D.J.’s to
feed their need for music and current events
surrounding the entertainment community
locally and abroad.
I understand this dilemma from a specific angle
considering I spent 15 years as a local Jock play-
ing at notable Night Clubs and running my own
Mobile D.J. Service. During this time I promot-
ed various events in the Los Angeles area. As a
Record Pool Director, presiding over 125 D.J.’s I
would issue D.J.’s with the latest promotional 12”
vinyl records from the labels and then reported
back to the labels with an accurate feedback
as to what was hot and what was not, all the
while working at two music trade magazines
simultaneously.
This “commercialized-sound” forced musicians
to adhere to a style that became more imitated
and saturated rather than offering a newness
that would broaden the spectrum while opening
doors to a variety that would garner a freshness
that could only benefit the genre by introducing
new artists, new sounds and new life.
Nils’ Comment:
“I am very excited about Internet radio and in-
ternet TV stations becoming a new force in the
music industry. It seems there is a fresh
wind coming with these stations that
offer a broader playlist, less commercials
and are now easily accessible even in your
car. From an artist point of view they are
easier to access and should be part of the
groundwork every artist undertakes to
get his or her CD promotion campaign
rolling. They also help to close the gap
that a declining radio format left open.
There is a big difference in exposure a new
single can get from when Pacific Coast Highway
was number one 10 years ago to today. See my
blog article
. I know the fans are still
there, and I am optimistic that we can find a
new and even better way to connect with them
through internet radio and social media. By
taking the time to answer e-mails and offering
personalized/autographed CDs on my website
to establish a closer bond with my audience.
Nils’ Social Channels:
OPEN FOR
DISCUSSION
Don | Nils | David
Hangout: Aroma Coffee & Tea • Studio City, CA
Photo: The Anonymous Press
Style Quarterly • California Style
SMOOTH TALKIN’
OFFERINGACREATIVEPOINTOFVIEW
OF THE ARTIST & THE ARTFORM UNLIKE ANY OTHER
SPONSOR
Don Martin | Publisher
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