JAM Magazine: June/July 1999 Issue: Contemporary Jazz

by Jeff Charney

Jazz Record Sales Take a Dive
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but jazz record sales are down. According to the Recording Industry Association Of America, jazz sales -- which also includes Smooth Jazz -- have dropped from 2.8 percent of records sold in 1997 to a disappointing 1.9 in 1998.

Jazz had been running neck and neck with classical music in '96 and '97. In fact they were both tied at 2.8% in '97, but classical sales jumped to 3.3% in '98 as jazz took a dive.

To give you an idea in real numbers, Smooth Jazz sold 5,169,029 units in 1996 back when the format was really taking off. In 1997 it dropped 26 percent to 3,830,118, and in 1998 it dropped another 23 percent to 2,958,677 units. That's 49% in two years.

Traditional jazz hasn't done much better. In 1996, 2,067,018 units were sold. In 1997 the number was 1,697,782, a drop of 18%, and in 1998 the total was 1,691,581. So, at least things stayed relatively flat last year in that category, with the biggest drop happening to Smooth Jazz, the kind of music I enjoy the most.

Why is this happening? According to Randall Kennedy, who handles marketing and retail for Warner Brothers, "Smooth Jazz hasn't popped an artist in a long time. Although we all pull enthusiastically for someone like Boney James, he's still several million short; and the (traditional) jazz genre hasn't produced anybody big, either."

Steve DeBro of Atlantic records says that "while Smooth Jazz outsells traditional jazz by 70%, with extra promotional and marketing costs needed for Smooth Jazz titles, the net profit picture becomes nearly the same. Even though there are 1.3 million more (Smooth Jazz) units sold than traditional jazz, it still costs a lot more money to do business with Smooth Jazz because of the cost of hiring indies for radio. A Smooth Jazz act has a chance to break to a larger level, but you often work a successful Smooth Jazz airplay record for an entire year. You add up your promotional expenses, and it comes to about $2,000 per week."

One thing is for certain: a 50% drop in two years is a major problem. And a problem that, for now, has no solution.

(Thanks to Keith Zimmerman from The Gavin Report for the above information.)

Recommended Releases
Speaking of records, here are a few new releases for '99 that will fit nicely in your collection.

El Chicano, Painting The Moment -- Great Latin jazz from this East L.A. group. It has generated the most calls from listeners in the history of my Sunday Jazz Brunch show and is worth every penny. You might have to order it on the 'net at: www.thumprecords.com
Scott Wilkie, Boundless -- A tasty debut record from this L.A. piano player who's originally from Detroit. Wilkie has also done some work for Disney and the NHL team The Mighty Ducks. Name side musicians include Russ Freeman, Paul Jackson, Jr., Jeff Kashiwas, John Patitucci and Steve Reid.
Spyro Gyra, Got The Magic -- This may be another typical SG record, but I'm still a huge fan. It's been on my changer nonstop since I first picked it up.
Special EFX, Masterpiece -- Chieli Minucci is back. And Jorge Jinda is still in the hospital with myoclonic disorder, a neurological condition resulting in an almost total loss of his physical functions. This is a pleasant CD. The guys had a falling out a few years back, but when Minucci played this music for Jinda in the hospital, Jinda is reported to have cried. David Mann guest stars on sax.
Ken Navarro, In My Wildest Dreams -- Another solid performance from this D.C.-based guitarist. Contemporary jazz West Coast style.
Nite Flyte, Ascension -- This is the second CD from this Acid Jazz group out of the UK and it features the producer and multi-instrumentalist Tony Campbell as well as Gota guitarist, Mark James. This group is very big on the London street scene right now.
Amadee Castenell, Sax Dreams -- Castenell is from New Orleans, and has been a member of the Allen Toussaint Orchestra for nearly 25 years. Lots of nice, easy listening tracks here.

And This Just In...
KC native Norman Brown's Warner Brothers debut, Celebration, has been pushed back again. This time WB promises it will be in stores August 10th. Stay tuned.

And it's just been announced that The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman, Paul Taylor and Craig Chaquico will be appearing at Starlight Theater on Thursday, July 15. Additional details will be listed in Whole Notes, the KCJA monthly newsletter.

R.I.P.
Legendary trumpeter Al Hirt died April 27 at his New Orleans home from liver failure. Hirt had numerous hits in the mid-1960s including "Java," "Cotton Candy," and "Sugar Lips" while becoming established as one of the world's finest Dixieland trumpet players. He also performed regularly in his own New Orleans nightclub for many years. Al Hirt was 76.

Jazz trombonist and composer Melba Liston passed away on April 23 at the age of 73. Liston was best known as the first female to make a strong statement on a brass instrument, but she was equally regarded as an outstanding arranger. She began playing the trombone as a child here in KC, then moved to Los Angeles. During her career she appeared with and arranged for Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones. She was also featured at the 1979 Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival.

Howard Lowell, manager to contemporary jazz artists Boney James, Brian Culbertson and the Braxton Brothers among others, passed away on May 4 from leukemia. He was 47. Lowell began his career in the mid-'70s as chart manager at Cashbox magazine, then moved on to Image Marketing. Following that he went into artist management guiding the careers of such contemporary jazz artists as Richard Elliot and the Perri Sisters. While managing Elliot in 1992, Lowell arranged to have the saxophonist work with the Paseo Academy Jazz Band here in KC -- a rehearsal and concert that made a lasting impression on the students. After the funeral in Los Angeles on May 10, an incredible three and a half hour jam was held at The Arcadia. Paying tribute to Lowell were Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Boney James, Rick Braun, Tony Maden, Brian Bromberg, Alan Hines, Greg Karukas, Bobby Lyle, Doug Cameron, Peter White and the Perri Sisters.

Vocalist Leon Thomas, who worked with such jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders, Oliver Nelson and Mary Lou Williams, died of heart failure May 8 in New York at the age of 61. He had also been suffering from leukemia. In 1961, Thomas replaced Joe Williams in the Count Basie Orchestra; he remained with the band until 1965. He also sang at the inaugural balls of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

And the great jazz vocalist, Joe Williams, died on March 29 at the age of 80. Best known for his seven year association with Count Basie from 1954 to '61, Williams was also an established headliner and soloist. He even appeared as a regular cast member on Bill Cosby's "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s. "Everyday I Have the Blues" was his signature song.

Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Jeff Charney Jazz Record Sales Take a Dive Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but jazz record sales are down. According to the Recording Industry Association Of America, jazz sales -- which also includes Smooth Jazz -- have dropped from 2.8 percent of records sold in 1997 to a disappointing 1.9 in 1998. Jazz had been running neck and neck with classical music in '96 and '97. In fact they were both tied at 2.8% in '97, but classical sales jumped to 3.3% in '98 as jazz took a dive. To give you an idea in real numbers, Smooth Jazz sold 5,169,029 units in 1996 back when the format was really taking off. In 1997 it dropped 26 percent to 3,830,118, and in 1998 it dropped another 23 percent to 2,958,677 units. That's 49% in two years. Traditional jazz hasn't done much better. In 1996, 2,067,018 units were sold. In 1997 the number was 1,697,782, a drop of 18%, and in 1998 the total was 1,691,581. So, at least things stayed relatively flat last year in that category, with the biggest drop happening to Smooth Jazz, the kind of music I enjoy the most. Why is this happening? According to Randall Kennedy, who handles marketing and retail for Warner Brothers, "Smooth Jazz hasn't popped an artist in a long time. Although we all pull enthusiastically for someone like Boney James, he's still several million short; and the (traditional) jazz genre hasn't produced anybody big, either." Steve DeBro of Atlantic records says that "while Smooth Jazz outsells traditional jazz by 70%, with extra promotional and marketing costs needed for Smooth Jazz titles, the net profit picture becomes nearly the same. Even though there are 1.3 million more (Smooth Jazz) units sold than traditional jazz, it still costs a lot more money to do business with Smooth Jazz because of the cost of hiring indies for radio. A Smooth Jazz act has a chance to break to a larger level, but you often work a successful Smooth Jazz airplay record for an entire year. You add up your promotional expenses, and it comes to about $2,000 per week." One thing is for certain: a 50% drop in two years is a major problem. And a problem that, for now, has no solution. (Thanks to Keith Zimmerman from The Gavin Report for the above information.) Recommended Releases Speaking of records, here are a few new releases for '99 that will fit nicely in your collection. El Chicano, Painting The Moment -- Great Latin jazz from this East L.A. group. It has generated the most calls from listeners in the history of my Sunday Jazz Brunch show and is worth every penny. You might have to order it on the 'net at: www.thumprecords.com Scott Wilkie, Boundless -- A tasty debut record from this L.A. piano player who's originally from Detroit. Wilkie has also done some work for Disney and the NHL team The Mighty Ducks. Name side musicians include Russ Freeman, Paul Jackson, Jr., Jeff Kashiwas, John Patitucci and Steve Reid. Spyro Gyra, Got The Magic -- This may be another typical SG record, but I'm still a huge fan. It's been on my changer nonstop since I first picked it up. Special EFX, Masterpiece -- Chieli Minucci is back. And Jorge Jinda is still in the hospital with myoclonic disorder, a neurological condition resulting in an almost total loss of his physical functions. This is a pleasant CD. The guys had a falling out a few years back, but when Minucci played this music for Jinda in the hospital, Jinda is reported to have cried. David Mann guest stars on sax. Ken Navarro, In My Wildest Dreams -- Another solid performance from this D.C.-based guitarist. Contemporary jazz West Coast style. Nite Flyte, Ascension -- This is the second CD from this Acid Jazz group out of the UK and it features the producer and multi-instrumentalist Tony Campbell as well as Gota guitarist, Mark James. This group is very big on the London street scene right now. Amadee Castenell, Sax Dreams -- Castenell is from New Orleans, and has been a member of the Allen Toussaint Orchestra for nearly 25 years. Lots of nice, easy listening tracks here. And This Just In... KC native Norman Brown's Warner Brothers debut, Celebration, has been pushed back again. This time WB promises it will be in stores August 10th. Stay tuned. And it's just been announced that The Rippingtons with Russ Freeman, Paul Taylor and Craig Chaquico will be appearing at Starlight Theater on Thursday, July 15. Additional details will be listed in Whole Notes, the KCJA monthly newsletter. R.I.P. Legendary trumpeter Al Hirt died April 27 at his New Orleans home from liver failure. Hirt had numerous hits in the mid-1960s including "Java," "Cotton Candy," and "Sugar Lips" while becoming established as one of the world's finest Dixieland trumpet players. He also performed regularly in his own New Orleans nightclub for many years. Al Hirt was 76. Jazz trombonist and composer Melba Liston passed away on April 23 at the age of 73. Liston was best known as the first female to make a strong statement on a brass instrument, but she was equally regarded as an outstanding arranger. She began playing the trombone as a child here in KC, then moved to Los Angeles. During her career she appeared with and arranged for Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones. She was also featured at the 1979 Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival. Howard Lowell, manager to contemporary jazz artists Boney James, Brian Culbertson and the Braxton Brothers among others, passed away on May 4 from leukemia. He was 47. Lowell began his career in the mid-'70s as chart manager at Cashbox magazine, then moved on to Image Marketing. Following that he went into artist management guiding the careers of such contemporary jazz artists as Richard Elliot and the Perri Sisters. While managing Elliot in 1992, Lowell arranged to have the saxophonist work with the Paseo Academy Jazz Band here in KC -- a rehearsal and concert that made a lasting impression on the students. After the funeral in Los Angeles on May 10, an incredible three and a half hour jam was held at The Arcadia. Paying tribute to Lowell were Norman Brown, Richard Elliot, Boney James, Rick Braun, Tony Maden, Brian Bromberg, Alan Hines, Greg Karukas, Bobby Lyle, Doug Cameron, Peter White and the Perri Sisters. Vocalist Leon Thomas, who worked with such jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders, Oliver Nelson and Mary Lou Williams, died of heart failure May 8 in New York at the age of 61. He had also been suffering from leukemia. In 1961, Thomas replaced Joe Williams in the Count Basie Orchestra; he remained with the band until 1965. He also sang at the inaugural balls of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. And the great jazz vocalist, Joe Williams, died on March 29 at the age of 80. Best known for his seven year association with Count Basie from 1954 to '61, Williams was also an established headliner and soloist. He even appeared as a regular cast member on Bill Cosby's "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s. "Everyday I Have the Blues" was his signature song. Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net, and check out his web site at: www.kprs.com. "The Sunday Jazz Brunch" can be heard every Sunday on KPRS (103.3 FM) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.