Healdsburg needs jazz

Last week, while launching the new Promotions Council, members
of the hospitality, retail, arts and events marketing coalition
emphasized that Healdsburg is “more than just wine.”
Of course, we local residents already knew that. But the point
being made was that our amazing little town has become world famous
not just for its many wineries, but for its natural beauty, farms,
restaurants, art galleries and year-round special events and annual
festivals.
One of those festivals, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, is now in
trouble. And, if the Promotions Council, community leaders,
Healdsburg residents and frequent visitors want Healdsburg to be
“more than just wine,” now would be a good time to give our jazz
festival some attention and support.
Since 1999, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival has produced “world
class” jazz performances equal to our “world class” pinot noirs,
zinfandels and other Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River valley
vintages. Festival founder and artistic director Jessica Felix has
built a solid reputation for the Healdsburg festival in the
international jazz world. In fact, the festival may be better known
and appreciated in many faraway places than it is here, at
home.
And, so it goes in the jazz world. Like classical or opera
music, museums and public art galleries, none of these forms of
fine arts or performances can survive without sponsorships,
endowments or government support.
The Healdsburg Jazz Festival is no different. Ticket sales
receipts to the annual 10-days of live performances, jam sessions
and school workshops has never covered the full cost of presenting
each year’s festival.
Dozens of local people volunteer each year. Corporate sponsors,
including several wineries, have given money and other forms of
support. The volunteer members of the non-profit board of directors
have written personal checks to help cover expenses. The city of
Healdsburg and other public agencies and endowments have given
grants and in-kind support.
With the recession, the past three years of financial struggle
became tougher and tougher. Now, the board of directors wants “to
pause the festival” and find a way to “regroup, talk to the
community, get ideas, and try to preserve a community asset,” as
board chair Pat Templin told the Tribune this week.
Some longtime supporters of the jazz festival and friends of
founder Felix fear that any “pause” or suspension of the annual
festival could spell doom to any Healdsburg jazz event, worthy of
“world attention.”
Felix’s knowledge and passion for jazz as a music, culture and
unique American experience are astounding, and, in some important
ways, irreplaceable. In the early years, she single-handedly built
the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Some fear her departure may leave a
large void at the heart of the event. Others may believe a change
of leadership is needed.
We do not know the full depth or many facets of the financial
and organizational challenges Templin and her board now face. It
sounds likely that Felix and the non-profit board may be parting
company. If so, we hope the final resolutions both honor Felix’s
founding vision and spiritful dedication and, at the same time
revitalize the Healdsburg Jazz Festival event to endure.
Jazz, the most American form of music, has survived against
amazing odds. This unique musical language has grown from black
slaves’ field hollering, to Dixieland brass, to Carnegie Hall and
Lincoln Center black-tie performances. Jazz is an international
language, spoken in Latin America, Europe, ghettos, Broadway and
Hollywood. Authentic jazz — the only kind Felix ever allowed to be
played here — goes especially well with our premium wines and Wine
Country experience. Given a choice of pairings between wine and
cheese or wine and jazz, we’d take the flavorful improvisations and
timeless rhythms of jazz every time.
Let’s be sure the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and the experience of
jazz stays alive here. The board of directors has asked for our
participation.
— Rollie Atkinson