Calling all jazz sponsors: that’s the message producer George Wein released today (March 17) in search of corporate support for his proposed 55th anniversary Newport Jazz Festival.
So doing, Wein also announced the end of a 24-year association with JVC Corp., the electronics manufacturer that has been title sponsor of fests formerly staged by Wein’s company Festival Productions in New York, Chicago, LA, Concord CA, Miami and Paris. If JVC has pulled out of sponsoring jazz fests — and not just disassociating with Wein — the effect will be widespread. No details on any of these events happening in 2009 have yet surfaced, although Holland’s North Sea Jazz Festival 2009 website still bears a JVC sponsor logo.