George Wein interviewed

Christian Broecking visits the jazz festival veteran George Wein who sold his company Festival productions but will continue to direct their business for the next three years ( die tageszeitung ). On the one hand one has to reach a bigger audience today to make ends meet; on the other hand there are fewer stars such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk or Ella Fitzgerald. Only Herbie Hancock or Keith Jarret come to his mind when he thinks about artists who could draw a similar crowd. The American audience is hardly interested in European or American musicians. Complaints aside, Wein is sure that one day "a new Dave Brubeck" will come along to address a really large audience. Where before the ticket sales were enough to finance a festival, today one needs sponsors. One of the nicest festivals he ever produced was the Grande Parade de Jazz which he organized in Nice, France, from 1974 up into the 90s. He thinks it's sad that European festivals such as North Sea or Montreux offer mostly a pop program.