Kathy Moses Salem Presents at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee

Article by Elizabeth Carney, Editor, Night is Alive

The week before Easter, Night is Alive Managing Director Kathy Moses Salem traveled to Tallahassee Florida – not for a vacation, but to give presentations at Florida A&M University. On Wednesday, April 17, she stood up in front of an audience of students and faculty to speak about her career and what it means to become a professional musician in today’s fast-paced world.

 

Some topics Ms. Salem touched on are universal, not merely specific to the music industry:

 

  • If you’re on time, you’re late.

 

“You know time; you can keep time; so show up on time,” Ms. Salem said.

 

  • Dress professionally.

 

“First impressions count. Make sure yours is a good one.”

 

  • Keep your promises.

 

“Don’t say something unless you mean to follow through.”

 

  • It’s not what you know, but who you know and what they think of you.

 

“Don’t be arrogant. Play well with others on and offstage! If people don’t like working with you, you won’t be hired a second time.”

 

  • Remember your Third Grade Teacher.

 

“Write with good grammar. Remember your manners. Think back to those elementary school lessons and always put your best foot forward.”

 

The audience was interested and engaged throughout the presentation, that, with questions, lasted a full three and a half hours (from 1:00pm-4:30pm). Students even approached Ms. Salem, interested in music management, and asked if she would be willing to mentor them. “They seemed to love it,” Ms. Salem said afterwards. “I want to change how jazz is perceived. If these young people can get out there, go to jazz clubs and be a part of the audience, then we can start to make that happen. That’s my ultimate goal.”

On Friday, April 19, Ms. Salem attended an evening jazz ensemble rehearsal at the University to personally award six scholarships to students specially selected by their professors. A need-based award, the scholarships are given in the form of a personal check to give recipients the ability to focus more clearly on their studies. “Most scholarships can only go towards tuition, which is helpful sometimes, but what if a student needs a new set of tires?,” Ms. Salem mused. “What if they need groceries, or to help pay their family’s rent that month? That’s what these scholarships are for – to help students in need so they can attend the University and study jazz.”

“On the Road with Kathy – ‘How Far to Starbucks?’”

Touring can be fun, though the time spent on the road is often long and exhausting. However, this is mainly how musicians make their living and connect to their audiences in a meaningful way. If a musician has little radio, newspaper, or magazine coverage, the road becomes their new best friend. As Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard sang in their famous 1960s recording, “On the Road Again” is the touring musicians’ theme.

With the long days and emotional demands of touring, it is no wonder that coffee becomes the touring musician’s new best friend and go-to drink. As the saying goes, “Behind every successful person is a substantial amount of coffee.” This miracle, life-supplying liquid helps one stay awake and energized, and is a go-to drink for many people. With that in mind, it is not surprising to hear a musician say “I need my coffee” in the morning.

Florida, the “Land of Sunshine,” is a very beautiful but peculiar state. The coasts of the peninsula are densely occupied whereas the population becomes scarcer and more spread out the further inland you travel. Space between towns grows, and farmland, cattle, and horses become more common than coffee shops.

During one particular tour in the middle of Florida, we had stayed overnight at an old hotel. At 9:00 in the morning the group was preparing for departure to the next gig via car (no planes or trains, only automobiles!). Everything was moving ahead nicely and we were doing well on time, when the vocalist swept into the lobby and said, “I need my coffee!” Understanding completely, I pointed her in the direction of the hotel’s free coffee bar on the other end of the lobby, conveniently available to all guests. I even had a full to-go cup in my hands.

“Oh, no,” she responded. “I need my Starbucks.” Now, we were the middle of the state with not much other than the horses and cattle nearby – and I can assure you they didn’t know the first thing about being a barista. “There is a Starbucks just down the road,” she continued, phone in hand. “Could we please go there?”

I reluctantly responded that she should to ask the band leader, who, being a nice guy, agreed to drive the group to Starbucks. Unfortunately, no one thought to ask how far or in what direction the Starbucks was from the hotel, and we had a three and a half hour commute to the next gig.

Where was the Starbucks in relation to our next destination? You guessed it – the opposite direction. How far away was “just down the road”? Twenty-five minutes. The quick coffee run turned into a full-fledged 50-minute detour. I didn’t even get out of the car when we arrived at the Starbucks, glaring at the green mermaid on the store window and fretting about how long the drive was going to be, hoping we didn’t run into detours or other problems on the road.

And that wasn’t the last of it – during the final six days of the tour, the hunt for Starbucks locations relentlessly continued. Luckily, the band was very accommodating, and it became a running joke to begin each morning with the most important question of the day: “how far to Starbucks?”

 

For more information about the musicians with Night is Alive, please visit our web page (https://nightisalive.com/) or contact directly via phone.

 

Article by Kathy Salem, Managing Director, Night is Alive

Revised and Transcribed by Elizabeth Carney, Content Editor, Night is Alive

A Little Bit About John William Coltrane

John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was born in his family’s apartment in Hamlet, North Carolina. In 1938, most of his family died, and he ended up moving to Philadelphia in 1943.He was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and was later at the forefront of free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions during his career.

Coltrane played the clarinet and the alto horn in a community band before taking up the alto saxophone during high school. He had his first professional gigs in early to mid-1945 – a “cocktail lounge trio,” with piano and guitar. He was only 19 years old when playing in lounges.

As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in music history. He received many posthumous awards and recognition’s, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane and a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007.

To avoid being drafted by the Army, Coltrane enlisted in the Navy on August 6, 1945, the day the first U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. He was trained as an apprentice seaman at Sampson Naval Training Station in upstate New York before he was shipped to Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed at Manana Barracks, the largest posting of African-American servicemen in the world.

Coltrane became one of the few Navy men to serve as a musician without having been granted musicians rating when he joined the Melody Masters, the military base swing band. As the Melody Masters was an all-white band, however, Coltrane was treated merely as a guest performer to avoid alerting superior officers of his participation in the band.

In 1946, he was discharged from the military and returned to Philadelphia where he immersed himself in the jazz music scene. He was known as “Trane” throughout the jazz music world. He went on to famously become a member of groups led by several other famous musicians Dizzy Gillespie, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges in the early to mid-1950s.

Trane is still inspiring musicians today and many try to replicate his sound. He will forever be associated with great early American Jazz Music.

Did you know Ralph Moore honored John Coltrane at the Lakeland Jazz Festival? Read about how the former Tonight Show saxophonists performed here!

4 Tips for taking care of your health while on tour

Touring takes planning and effort, and you’ll want to make sure everyone is firing on all cylinders when it comes time to perform. There’s a lot at stake, too, and you risk losing out on money and booking future gigs when you compromise your health on tour.

Eat healthy food

Just because you are on the road doesn’t mean that every meal should be fast food. You need to pack some healthy food and snacks, so you aren’t going to the only places open at 3 am. (None of them are healthy.) Bring a cooler so you have some fresh fruits to snack on throughout the day. Make the effort to go to a grocery store; not only will you save a lot of money, but also your body will thank you for the quality food.

Don’t drive for too long at one time

If you’re traveling with two or more people, be sure to switch drivers every few hours. Arriving safely at your gig and going to all the scheduled gigs on the tour should be the end goal of your drives. Staying awake and alert goes a long way for safety.

If you’re traveling alone in a car, you have fewer options. For more safety and less stress, you should take a break every two or three hours at least for a chance to rest your eyes, relax from the tension of the road, and stretch your legs.

Exercise when possible

Yes, you’ll be busy traveling around, but at some point, you will have some down time. Take a walk, even if it is just around the hotel property or to a nearby park. Most hotels have pools so pack a bathing suit and plan on taking a swim and unwinding in the hot tub. Exercise will help keep your mind engaged and your body functioning well, which will help to avoid getting sick.

20 minutes of walking once a day is great, if you can get more then you should.

Drink lots of water

Whether driving or on an airplane be sure to drink lots of water and stay hydrated.  Buy a bottle water and drink it during your flight.

Keep your blood circulating. Don’t sit in place for more than 3 hours whether driving or on a plane.

These rules may seem basic, but all of the musicians represented by Night is Alive follow them! How’s that for a #LushLife?

Learn more about our musicians and their schedules. 

What Makes Being a Musician So Great

Musicians are often the envy of the working world, and for good reason. Seriously, can you think of a more entertaining career? I doubt it. Here are a few solid reasons why music makers have the greatest jobs ever.

  1. Gratification and recognition. Your fans and peers express true interest and appreciation.
  2. Acceptance. Everyone wants to be accepted and have a sense of belonging somewhere in the world. Musicians are no exception and the music world is a very large and diverse place.
  3. Set your own hours. No punching a clock here. Just show up and do what you love every day.
  4. Day-to day variety. Not looking at the same cubicle’s interior every day. Something new every single day and this is how great memories are made.
  5. Meet and hang out with other cool musicians. Musicians are by far the most creative people on the planet. It is how their brains literally work and makes them exceptional at their craft.
  6. Inspire others. We all are looking for some inspiration at times and many times listening to a certain song or watching a performer can trigger some great inspiring life moments.

What about you? Why did you become a musician? Why do you think that being a musician is the greatest job ever? Have you had some great Gigs that you’d like to tell us about? Any tips you have for other aspiring musicians? Leave your most excellent comments below!

Where Did The Word “Gig” Even Come From?

Gig is slang for a live musical performance. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word “engagement”, now refers to any aspect of performing, such as assisting with and attending musical performance. More broadly, the term “gigging” means having paid work, being employed.

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the first documented use “gig” in this way appears in 1926: Melody Maker 7 September 1926, with the story byline stating, “One Popular Gig Band Makes Use of a Nicely Printed Booklet.”

Currently the term “gig” refers to a “set”, which is a term that comes from “set list,” which is a list of all the music that an individual or a band is going to play throughout the course of a performance.

In recent years, the term “gig” has been used in a broader context in the economy. Our new “Gig Economy” refers to the new reality that many people now work several jobs just to make ends meet.

Night is Alive books gigs for some of the highest-ranking jazz artists today. Learn how we can provide the right musician for your performance venue at our Contact page!

Top 5 Jazz Festivals for the Ultimate Jazz Lover

If “will travel for jazz” is your motto, you’re in the right place. We’re going to share some of the top jazz festivals from around the country, and the world,  that will probably be right up your alley. So, go get a good suitcase and make sure your passport is ready to go. We’re certain the urge to travel will be even stronger after you read this list.

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Image result for Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Of course, we have to start with what has been ranked as the world’s largest jazz festival. The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal was started back in 1979 and its goal was to bring some of the world’s best musicians to the public. Since then, festivalgoers have been treated to performances from the likes of Ray Charles, Chick Corea, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Tony Bennett, Pat Metheny group, Wynton Marsalis, Madeline Peyroux, Aretha Franklin, Esperanza Spaulding, Diana Krall and many more. The festival runs for 10 days in downtown Montréal towards the end of June. This year marks the festival’s 40th year.

Montreux Jazz Festival

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Montreux Jazz Festival

Created in 1967, the Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in Switzerland for two weeks in early July and it tends to draw more than 250,000 visitors each year. It’s been said to be one of Europe’s best-known events. While Montreux’s foundation was built on blues and jazz, many other genres have found a place at the festival as well. Montreux has seen historic performances by Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, and Stevie Wonder.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Image result for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, started in 1970 when George Wein, the jazz impresario behind the Newport Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk Festival was hired to design and produce a unique festival for New Orleans. Held during the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the festival has since turned into an epic event for the city and generates about $300 million dollars each year.

The Festival tends to blend a wide mix of well-known artists. Past performers include Dizzy Gillespie, Santana, Sarah Vaughan, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Dave Matthews Band, Tito Puente, Al Green, Lenny Kravitz, Abbey Lincoln, and Erykah Badu.

Newport Jazz Festival

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Newport Jazz Festival

The Newport Jazz Festival is held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island. It was established by socialite, Elaine Lorillard, back in 1954. It was the first outdoor music festival that was devoted entirely to jazz. Around 13,000 people attended the first festival. This year’s festival will be held August 2-4. Past performers include Roy Hargrove, Gregory Porter, Corinne Bailey Rae, Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Billie Holliday, Carmen McRae, Nina Simone, Muddy Waters, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Monterey Jazz Festival

Image result for Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival

This year marks the Monterey Jazz Festival’s 62nd season. Founded in 1958, the festival has donated its proceeds to music education from the very start. Dave Brubeck was instrumental in getting city approval for the first festival. He even performed for the city council to persuade them to let it take place. He ended up performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival 14 times.

Five hundred top jazz artists perform on nine stages during the third weekend in September. In addition to the performances, the Monterey Jazz Festival features jazz conversations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, clinics, and an international array of food, shopping, and festivities.

We know there are many more festivals out there for jazz lovers like you. Tell us. What are some of your favorite jazz festivals?

Are Artists Suffering from Streaming?

Who is really buying music?  Where the money comes from now.

The music industry has gone through some monumental changes in the past 20 years.  What was once driven by consumer purchases has now become a subscription-based model that eliminates the need for physical record stores.  For the vast majority of the modern music industry, selling records was the main business focus.  While some fans still prefer to purchase a hardcopy, the popularity of Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Pandora have opened up a new way to access artists’ material.  This computerized marketplace has begun a new debate within the music industry: how will artists get paid in the world of the digital download, and where does the money come from?

Without a doubt, the way most big acts make their money is touring.  Many artists are under the impression that when signing with a record label they will see profits once their album is live.  While a record label can legitimize an artist and help them launch their career, labels expect to be paid back for the money they put up for the new artist.  Even as the album begins to pick up steam and sell, the label is paid first. For example, the Black Eyed Peas didn’t see a big paycheck until their second hit album.  Touring is different. The artists are paid for the shows they do. The more shows they do, the more they make. U2 is one of the most successful bands, and it all comes from the groups’ dedication to hit the road and tour.  A recent Citigroup report stated that of the $43 billion in revenue the music industry produced in 2017, only 12% when to the artist. Of that 12%, touring was by far the most significant profit center for musicians. While streaming services are increasing in popularity, these earnings are not enough alone.  Album and soundtrack licensing sales usually come in second with streaming services, publishing, and merchandise sold at concerts following in that order.

Streaming through a music service has in many ways replaced the era of purchasing a record or CD.  Each of these streaming services, Pandora, Apple Music or the largest of the services Spotify, all have different pay scales.  For streaming services, it’s all about the number of requests for a particular song or artist. This is where a new artist will find it difficult to break in.  Many up and coming artists are not going to have enough requests on the platform to see any real money. Many streaming services do not count a song until it has reached 1000 requests.  These services benefit famous artist disproportionally from a new artist.

While there are still many methods for musicians to make a living, social media and the new marketing trends are leading the way.  Instagram, Facebook, and the 24/7 information cycle require musicians that want to reach the top to have a complete package to get there.       

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Jazz on the Mind

You love jazz. You love how it sounds and how it makes you feel when you’re listening to it.  But have you ever thought about how it can affect your health? If you listen to your favorite jazz albums on a regular basis, you are helping your body and mind in a variety of ways.  Here are just a few of those health-related benefits.

Jazz Is Great For Stress Relief

After a tough day, go ahead and put on your favorite jazz album and cook, soak in the tub or go for a drive. If you have been doing that already, you’re on to something. When you’re stressed, jazz music can help you relax in a major way. Not only can it take your mind off of the day’s events, but it can also help facilitate relaxation. That’s why some music therapy treatment programs pair music listening with progressive muscle relaxation to further reduce anxiety.

Jazz Stimulates The Mind

Those pulsating, and sometimes frenetic, rhythmic patterns found in jazz music don’t just sound great – they help your brain feel great as well. As you listen, your brain will mimic those patterns, causing increased neural stimulation to occur as a result of the mental gymnastics.

Jazz music can also help you think more creatively. By listening at a moderate level, you will increase your brain’s processing difficulty. This then leads to abstract processing, which promotes higher creativity overall.  So if you are writing, painting, studying, or simply need a mental boost, crank up the jazz.

Jazz Can Help You Sleep Better

Tossing and turning at night?  Studies have shown that listening to downtempo jazz can help you catch those Zzzs.  Jazz can help reduce noradrenaline, a stress-related brain chemical, and acts as a sedative while you are trying to go to sleep. If you have been having a tough time at bedtime, try popping in your earbuds and putting on your favorite slow jazz album.  We’re sure that, as a jazz fan, you’ll enjoy it much more than counting sheep.

Blog written by Devon F.  

Symbolic Jazz Albums

There are a lot of great jazz albums out there. Because of that, it’s kind of hard to nail down what’s a classic and what’s just a solid piece of work. So, we’re going to share some albums with you that have left lasting impressions on jazz lovers over the years. Please note that these albums are in no particular order.

 

John Coltrane
“Blue Train”

Coltrane recorded “Blue Train” in 1957 during his residency at Five Spot Café. At the time, he was a member of the Thelonious Monk Quartet.  He recorded the album with Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums.  “Blue Train” has appeared on a number of essential jazz album lists. It represents the pinnacle of Coltrane’s hard bop phase, right before he moved on to more globally inspired sounds. “Blue Train” was released on Blue Note Records in 1958.

 

The Dave Brubeck Quartet

“Time Out”

“Time Out” was recorded as an experiment to convey the musical styles that Brubeck discovered during a Department of State sponsored tour of Eurasia. The Quartet was only allowed to create it after they recorded a more conventional album made up of songs of the American South. The album featured Brubeck on piano, Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. Critics initially panned the album, but despite the negative reviews, “Take Five” became a Top 40 hit single and remains the biggest-selling jazz single of all time.  Released in 1959, “Time Out” also became the first instrumental jazz album to sell over a million copies.

 

Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown

“Sarah Vaughan”

Vaughan’s self–titled album has often been called her greatest. Recorded in 1954, it is the only collaboration between Vaughan and jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown, who won the DownBeat magazine critics’ poll for New Star of the Year that same year. In addition to Vaughan and Brown, the album featured Paul Quinichette on tenor saxophone, Herbie Mann on flute, Jimmy Jones on piano, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Roy Haynes on drums.  ”Sarah Vaughan” has been recognized for it’s remarkable ensemble work, gorgeous standards, and an intuitive interplay between Vaughan and her horn players, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

These are just a few of the many essential jazz albums in existence. If you are interested in learning more, be sure to check back in the coming weeks when we discuss jazz festivals for the ultimate jazz lover!