where's the justice part II

Just got back from an amazing show - not at the Roy Thompson Hall, not at the Humingbird Centre, not at Massey Hall. Just a small bar downtown, on a sleepy Wednesday night. The band in question was a quartet of absolutely phenomenal musicians - all in their mid-twenties: Jesse Barksdale on lead guitar, Drew Jurecka on violin, Roberto Rosenman on rhythm guitar and an excellent bassist whom I don't know. I've played with all the three young gents named above but have never heard them play together as a unit. Tonight I witnessed a display of blinding virtuosity, served with a great sense of fun and with a maturity and musicality worthy of musicians twice these guys' age.

They blazed through a repertoir of Django chestnuts (Minor Swing, Dinette, Manoir des mes Reves) and the usual standards (Shine, Pennies From Heaven) - the latter two sung with humour and zest by Drew. The joint was about half full and there was a couple of hoofers, swinging away to the the side of the stage. The people that were there were certainly appreciative of the music but I couldn't help but think two thoughts: in my extensive travels through Europe the only place where I would see an act of this calibre would be in a major concert hall, yet in North America one can wonder into a small bar in the middle of the week - in Toronto, in Memphis, in Austin, in Montreal - and listen to such unbelievable talent. The other thought is related: why, oh f...ing why, on any random music channel I can see a never ending array of no-talent rockers sporting the right haircut but zero musical ability and making millions when right in this city, right now I can listen to guys who have spent thousands of hours honing their craft and yet play for tips in a side street bar on a Wednesday night.

One part of the answer is self-evident. The music these guys play - as gorgeous as it is - is simply too complex to ever be highly commercial. Also, the technique required to play this music is so demanding as to go right over the heads of 90% of radio listeners. And yet....still there is no justice. It can be claimed with a fair degree of certainty that a highly skilled brain surgeon will make more money than a family physician straight out of college. A landscape architect will make more money and gain more recognition than a gardener's apprentice. That's simply not how it works in our business. If you can package it and if you can sell it, perhaps the content of the package is not all that important. Conversly, even if you have an exquisite gem but don't know how to sell it or promote it you'll play on a quiet side street, not on MTV. Injustice? Certainly. The way the cookie crumbles? Most definitely.

In the meantime, if you're in Toronto, check out the Victory Cafe on Markham Street every Wednesday night. You'll be amazed!