First Annual Jazz Improv LIVE! Convention and Festival to debut Halloween weekend

Jazz industry folks and fanatics can check out over 80 panel discussions, live interviews and workshops at the Jazz Improv LIVE! Convention and Festival, taking place Oct. 25-28 at the New Yorker Hotel & Manhattan Center. But to make it easier, attendees can pick one of three varying “tracks” of events to concentrate on.

Jazz fans can choose the “Fan/Listener Focused” track, with events such as an interview with Frank Wess, a discussion entitled “Jazz Artists as TV Studio Musicians” with Mark Pender from Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Ron Blake from Saturday Night Live and a keynote speech by George Wein.

Or, musicians, students and teachers can select the “How-To’s of Making Music” track, which features events such as a workshop with Barry Harris, a panel entitled “Can You Make a Living in Jazz? Yes!” with faculty from the Manhattan School of Music and a bass clinic with Harvie S.

Finally, jazz industry members can choose the “Music Business” theme, with events such as a discussion with speakers from ASCAP about the ins-and-outs of music licensing and royalties and a workshop called “Promote Yourself-How to Get Exposure for Your Music/Career” with Jim Eigo of Jazz Promo Services.

Regardless of what theme concertgoers choose, all attendees can enjoy performances from the Pat Martino Quartet, the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra, the Stanley Clarke Trio, the Roy Haynes Quartet (Haynes is pictured) and many other musicians during Friday and Saturday.

For more information on the First Annual Jazz Improv LIVE! 2007 Convention and Festival, visit the official Web site.

Originally Published September 11, 2007