Correspondence: The Jazz Audience

Vibraharpist, composer, teacher and entrepeneur Charlie Shoemake writes from Cambria, California:

Regarding a recent column of yours about the shrinking audience for jazz, I’m happy to report that our concert series here in Cambria is now in its sixteenth year and though we broke an attendance record last year, this year is even stronger with sold-out crowds for almost every event. (Still about thirty Sundays a year). Of course the first four years were in the red and I’m sure that there are no club owners who would have stuck with it for even close to that long. Since Sandi and I were the sole responsible party financially, that is no doubt the only reason the series was able to finally gain its footing. At any rate, I wish there hundreds more like it around the country. (We just need more jazz musicians to have a feel for Wall Street).

Mr. Shoemake’s virtuosity extends beyond the keyboard. He also plays the market.