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2019 Jazz Fest at 50
001-2019-003
49:19 Master Camera files on Hard Drive, Mp4
Thu Apr 25 2019
With the Founder George Wein. Interviewer - Quint Davis
01:41 Quint Davis introduces George Wein as the founder of the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals, as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; George Wein describes the origins of Jazz Fest 04:18 Davis explains how he was hooked up with Wein through Dick Allen; describes the experience at his first Newport Jazz Festival, and his first tour, with Duke Ellington, celebrating more generally the impact a long collaboration with George Wein has had on his life 09:08 Wein describes how he came to conceptualize Jazz Fest, and what made him think it would be a success, explaining his technique of building local staff wherever he goes 12:09 Davis describes an incredible encounter at the Louisiana Heritage Fair between Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson, and the Eureka Brass Band, and reflects on Wein’s ideas about longevity and the economics of creativity 15:57 Wein describes how production and organization can, and sometimes must, impact a place 20:40 Rachel Lyons asks about moving a Duke Ellington concert from a cathedral to an auditorium in 1970, which Wein doesn’t seem to recollect 22:22 Davis explains that he was technically at Tulane when he paired up with Wein 23:34 An audience members asks about the importance of Allison Miner, and what compromises have been made economically in keeping the festival alive – Davis explains that they were a couple early on, and she was tantamount to the festival, foregrounding the importance of musicians as individuals. He reflects on how the festival has remained the same, just scaling up, becoming more of itself, which he attributes to the culture having expanded and grown 32:59 Wein speaks to keeping the “guts and body” of a festival in tact to keep it alive; Davis reflects on the natural diversity of Jazz Fest; An audience member thanks them, having come to Fest for thirty-two years 36:07 An audience member fact checks some of her memories from 1970 and 1971; Dodie Simmons, joining Davis and Wein on stage, reflects on her origins with the Fest, and early memories, including being awed by Joyce Wein 46:30 Davis reflects on the fact of how many Festival Productions employees have long tenures 49:20 Interview Ends
video recording
Public Access is available in the Archive due to copyright restrictions. Copyrights are retained by the participants. The video is available for viewing at the archive.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive