Jazz YYC: an Interview With David Steele

Ever since I picked up the trumpet in 7th grade, I’ve had a vast appreciation for music and its many genres. It didn’t take me long to discover Jazz and from there on out, a love affair was born. My love for Jazz only blossomed when I entered High School. I’ve had so many crazy opportunities, such as working alongside industry professionals such as Dick Oatts, Luis Bonilla, Terell Stafford, Christine Jensen and Brad Leali. One of the things I like to do with my friends is go out and watch jazz concerts, which I try to do as often as possible. There’s something almost ethereal about watching live music as opposed to a recording- “Ethereal” being a word I often associate with jazz. Last month I had the opportunity to attend David Braid’s concert with the Lands End Chamber Ensemble, an event put on by JazzYYC as part of their JazzYYCIllumin8 concert series. With Jazz being one of my passions and April being International Jazz Month, I figured what better way to bring together my passions, music and writing, then through an interview. Through a series of corresponding email’s, I was able to speak to JazzYYC’s past president, David Steele, on topics ranging from the importance of youth getting involved with music to the details of International Jazz Day, which is on April 30th.

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When was JazzYYC established?

“Jazz YYC started in 2010 and 2011 with a series of meetings with stakeholders, musicians, educators, funders etc. who were interested in jazz in Calgary and preserving it after the Calgary Jazz Festival cancelled at the last minute in June 2010. The legal name of JazzYYC is The JazzIs Society of Alberta, which was a non-profit society which had provided a handful of jazz concerts over the previous ten years or so. That society had unblemished history of providing such concerts and had credibility with funders and musicians. Meetings and strategic planning sessions led to new bylaws and a new board and turned the public name into JazzYYC.”

What made you decide to work for JazzYYC?

“I was asked to come back on the board of JazzYYC in January 2014. Previously I had been President of The JazzIs Society of Alberta, stepping down in the early days of the meetings to establish JazzYYC as other volunteer commitments demanded my volunteer time. I was asked to come back on the board because I love jazz, I have lots of experience with non-profit boards, and I’m interested in governance, which is one of my responsibilities with JazzYYC.”

What is JazzYYC’s mission?

“JazzYYC is Calgary’s jazz collaborative. It’s Vision is to serve and nourish the growing and vibrant jazz community in Calgary and beyond. The JazzYYC Mission is a sustainable society creating and facilitating accessible, memorable jazz experiences.”

JazzYYC obtained it’s charity status last fall, can you talk about why you guys decided to do that and why that change was important?

“Having charitable status gives people who want to donate to JazzYYC to support what it does the chance to get a tax receipt so they get that benefit too.”

In your opinion, how important is it that youth get involved with music?

“Music is important for everyone! It is important for young people to appreciate music in all its forms – they are the musicians and audience of the future. That is why JazzYYC has the Youth Lab Band encouraging high school students in Calgary to nurture their interest in playing jazz.”

Are there any ways youth can get involved with the local jazz scene?

“Youth can get involved in the local jazz scene by volunteering and going to concerts to support the music and musicians.”

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How did International Jazz Day come to be?

“International Jazz Day is something started by the great jazz musician Herbie Hancock who played in Calgary a few years ago. It’s purpose is to celebrate jazz every April 30th and importantly, to celebrate how music, and jazz in particular, can help bring people together, with jazz being a common musical language for all. That is the reason International Jazz day is sponsored by the UN, through UNESCO. This year is the 5th International Jazz Day this coming Saturday. We are proud of the fact that Calgary’s International Jazz Day is the second biggest in the world after Paris, which has the headquarters of UNESCO.”

For a list of Jazz events happening in Calgary on Saturday, April 30th, click here.

Have you been inspired by any Jazz musicians? If so who, and how have they influenced you?

“Dave Brubeck, who played last in Calgary in his late eighties and played jazz concerts until he was 90, had an integrated quartet, with a black bass player. He steadfastly refused to play where there was any hint of segregation in the audience or where the bass player was required to stay in a segregated hotel. Making a stand like that helped the civil rights movement. The alto saxophone player in the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Paul Desmond, was my favourite jazz musician and famously suggested he wanted his playing to sound “like a dry martini.””

Lastly, do you have any advice for aspiring young musicians?

“Music is important and the best way to learn about music is to go to concerts and appreciate it. Anyone aspiring to be a musician should think about trying to join the JazzYYC Youth Lab Band. There is an audition process for that. Anyone interested in that can just send an email to the Contact link on the JazzYYC website, and someone will be in touch. We have a Juno winner and another Juno nominee on our board as well as some of the leading musician in Calgary, so there is a wealth of experience for advice just on our board.”

For further information on local jazz events and how to get involved, visit JazzYYC’s website here.

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