Each time we search ‘jazz’ on the web, we come up with anything between 45 and 90 million websites.   So we really need another one, right?   Well, maybe not and in this part of the jazz jungle, we guess that survival will be the test.   However, there may be one or two niches which we think are undersubscribed.

Undeniably, anyone who claims to promote the jazz message, whether by peddling CD’s cheaper than the next link or providing gig information, reviews and education must be good for the business.   But count the grey(ing) heads at your next visit to the local club and check the performers driving away in this years’ top-of-the-range model and two things are apparent.   We’re not getting through to enough young people and jazz performers are underpaid in the context of their skills.

Looking at the first point, it’s unlikely that an aberrant rhythmic and harmonic gene rose up in the 1920’s, peaked in the 1950’s and then slowly mutated to one which now responds to whatever current rave is being pushed by the media.   Sure, the jazz fans were influenced by what was ‘hip’, but we would argue that underpinning the fashionable element was a thrilling and exciting art form.   The substance of the art is still there, the talent of some of today’s young performers is evidence of that, and maybe we have to ask young people to start listening again.   Perhaps, too, we should help them to try to make the music.

And on the second point, we have a subset of what is true of all musicians except those who successfully ride the media tiger.   Despite the best efforts of unions, the music profession is progressively undermined by lack of reward, redundancy, recorded backing for 'live' shows, sampling and illegal copying, amongst other things.   The professional image has also suffered, too.   For example, search some film and TV credits for the names of participating musicians.   We’re not talking professional comparisons here with lawyers, financial gurus and doubtful celebrities we’re talking about getting into the same list as the ‘focus puller’ and the assistant carpenter.

So what is the point of Jazzorg?   Well, in today's market-driven economy, we could let Darwinism rule.   But that might mean that the particular music that we love might fly in ever-decreasing circles with the inevitable consequences.   As part of the resistance to that, Jazzorg, a non-profit organisation, aims to provide material, from professional jazz performers, free at the point of use, on this site.   Additionally, we hope to provide a vehicle for aspiring jazz players to air their compositions and arrangements and for fans to comment on what they hear or read on jazz, in general.   We hope that students and educational establishments might find the site content useful, thus encouraging more young people to participate.   There may be issues to be resolved, not least in copyright considerations, but we think that it’s worth a try.   Stay in touch or even contribute some material – we’re working for your art form.