Past IAJE Conference memories.....

[Mike Schwartz]

With the recent news regarding IAJE and it's apparent demise as many of us have known it, brings some fond moments to mind, musical and otherwise.

Many of those include meeting quite a few people who post here.

Also, the IAJE meet worked wonders for me, so far as hooking up with musicians, publicists, record company folks and others that had previously only telephone or e-mail communication prior to meeting at the IAJE conference.

That said, how about sharing misc. meetings, performances, hangs, meals and experiences (on & off site) from the IAJE meets you were at?

[Tom Marcello]

Mike, meeting you was memorable!

[Mike Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Tom Marcello

Mike, meeting you was memorable!

Likewise........that's what I'm talking about.

Upstate NY guy who has been in contact with NorCal guy for years, uses that meet for a long overdue hookup.

I'll find another.....perhaps Jazz Improv, which had a fair amount of good feedback for year #1, if they are able to continue.

JazzWeek in Rochester is another possibility, but is not timed well for me regarding the day gig, especially this year.

[Scott Yanow]

Is there going to be a second Jazz Improv convention? I see nothing about it online.

As far as IAJE goes, I just hope someone eventually will be jailed for robbing and destroying that organization. But I won't hold my breath.

[makpjazz57]

The only IAJE conference I attended was the most recent NYC based event in 2007. The most memorable thing about that conference was getting to hang in close proximity to Roy Haynes, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz and Javon Jackson at the Hilton lobby bar (thanks Val)!

I'm sad for the kids because one of my other memories (so I guess I have two) is seeing the excitement on the young musicians' faces as they performed, as well as their enthusiasm at hearing, for example, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. So, the kids really lose regarding this one!

Marla

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by makpjazz57

The only IAJE conference I attended was the most recent NYC based event in 2007. The most memorable thing about that conference was getting to hang in close proximity to Roy Haynes, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz and Javon Jackson at the Hilton lobby bar (thanks Val)!

I'm sad for the kids because one of my other memories (so I guess I have two) is seeing the excitement on the young musicians' faces as they performed, as well as their enthusiasm at hearing, for example, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. So, the kids really lose regarding this one!

Marla

and don't forget Lew Tabackin! nice that we have wonderful pictures to help us keep those memories.

and, yes, it's the kids who are the biggest losers here!! the saddest thing of all, to be sure.

[cookie]

Kids lose not only by not being able to attend the conference. They also lose at home because their teachers won't have as many opportunities to learn new teaching techniques and approaches. I can't tell you how important that is.

IAJE had also made significant progress in the area of elementary jazz education by running their summer teacher institutes. That was a very new area that IAJE had really expanded in the past 10 years. While the MENC sponsors jazz workshops, they couldn't offer nearly the variety and depth of teacher jazz training that the IAJE was capable of.

That's why I was hoping that perhaps the MENC might expand their schedule to include some of the workshops/presenters who might have appeared in Seattle. Yes, I know it isn't a jazz-specific organization, but it is a jazz-supportive organization.

Favorite memories from IAJE:
I really loved the songwriting panel I went to in NY a few years back. Meeting Bob Dorough was one of the highlights of my life. I love that cat!

Also really enjoyed the singers' hang where I got to meet with many, many singers I have admired from afar for years.

And of course, the concerts!!

And I agree with the above points: why file for dissolution rather than reorganization. And yes, 1 million is fairly paltry when talking about a large organization. Something's very fishy and I'd like to know the true source of the stench.

[GoodSpeak]

Long Beach IAJE.


I had such a good time meeting with all of you and just talking about whatever came up.