Why doesn't Festival book jazz concert?

Once again, the Festival at Sandpoint saw fit to diss America’s only homegrown high art form.

Serious jazz (e.g. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor) is recognized by critics and music scholars, in this country and around the world, as America’s only homegrown high art form.

In fact, jazz receives far more respect throughout the world than it does in the U.S. That’s because the rest of the world is not as musically challenged as we are in America.

When it comes to serious music (jazz and classical), Americans are woefully ignorant.

The Festival should look at what the Portland (PDX) Jazz Festival has done. It has become one of the world’s premier jazz festivals, which is why, over the years, jazz fans from around the world have spent tons of money visiting Portland.

Because of Portland’s vibrant jazz scene, the city has become a must-visit destination for jazz lovers.

The reason The Festival at Sandpoint had such poor turnout for its jazz concerts is that they had no idea how to promote it.

Several times over the years, I have made the trip from Sandpoint to attend the PDX Jazz Festival.

If our “Festival” books serious jazz musicians, I know fans will travel hundreds of miles to see the shows, just as I did when I went to Portland.

LEE SANTA

Sandpoint