Keeping Jazz Alive

In recent times it seems that many things, including the arts is being cut back in terms of financial support and sponsorship. Listening to some of the organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, it seems very difficult to obtain and retain sponsorship. Many big corporates that use to support some of the arts, are pulling out or reducing their sponsorship.

Sponsorship is not the only area. The media is also cutting back. One national radio station recently reduced their weekly dedicated jazz program from three hours to two hours. Although, some radio stations have all the resources, they steer away from dedicating airtime to jazz.

Listening to one of the so called big Cape Town radio stations, the presenter interviewing the director and conductor of a Cape Town jazz orchestra, made the comment that jazz is not alive in Cape Town. I have to disagree with him. Not attending or supporting many serious jazz events around town, how can he made such a comment. Come on guys, you can do much more to support the music.

In these hard times, where we can, we have to support this art form to keep it alive.

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