Jazz’s Future Is on View, If You Look for It

We’re writing to contest--to put it mildly--the opening comment in Dean Kuipers’ piece, “All That Young Jazz” (June 20), that Leimert Park’s World Stage died in the 1990s.

Not only did the Stage grow considerably in the 1990s, offering many opportunities to artists of all ages, but it continues to present a wide range of programs, despite the passings of key participants Billy Higgins and Horace Tapscott.

The error does a disservice to the music’s history in this city and to young artists in search of a nurturing, creative environment.

STEVEN ISOARDI

JEANNETTE LINDSAY

Santa Monica

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I would like to inform Dean Kuipers and your readers that the Young Artist Jazz Series has been going strong for more than six years. One Monday night a month, young musicians are showcased at Catalina Bar & Grill, L.A.’s premiere jazz club.

Besides being an exciting performance opportunity, this series provides a venue for the young artists to support and network with each other. Many great collaborations were born through this program. Although it isn’t a specific club where the musicians can hang out regularly, it is still an integral part of the young jazz artist community.

BARBARA BRIGHTON

Producer, Young Artist Jazz Series

Woodland Hills

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I’ve been a jazz fan ever since I discovered Dixieland in high school. My taste touched down on R&B; and the Harlem Hit Parade, through Jazz at the Philharmonic and into West Coast cool. I continued to listen to that music, but jazz has never been popular and I doubt that it ever will.

The vast majority of people want to hear melodies. A catchy tune properly presented will be played again and again, until it palls. Beyond that, people want to hear songs sung, preferably by someone attractive.

There are many of us who leave our radios tuned to the jazz stations wherever we go, but lack of a scene isn’t limited to Los Angeles. Here in San Diego, a jazz fan has a difficult time keeping track of such major talents as Hollis Gentry, Peter Sprague and Holly Hoffman. They don’t appear in concerts at Qualcomm Stadium.

‘Twas ever thus. Unless there’s a major overhaul of the human psyche, young jazz artists will always have to ‘shed, waiting for the public to catch up.

BOB KELLOGG

Del Mar