Page 1 of 1

Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 3:23 pm
by nowmedical
When Burt comes to the UK his concerts sell out within a few weeks, right to the back of the upper balcony. Full house, I know, I've been to the concerts.

So have a look at the Smith Center website for his upcoming Las Vegas concert in August - over 800 tickets still available including row 6...am I missing something?

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Fri May 05, 2017 8:20 pm
by Chip
If I recall the Smith Center concert has been rescheduled to August I believe. Burt was injured several months ago. Hopefully to return soon...and Yes we all Love the Maestro...Burt and Hal have been the soundtrack of our lives

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 2:19 am
by nowmedical
Yes, it's the August concert I'm describing.

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 4:38 am
by Marcel
Ive looked at the site of them, Burt will perform in the biggest, the Reynolds Hall. it`s a 2050 seated guests hall...so there are sold 1200+ tickets.

kind regards,

Marcel

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 8:03 am
by Blair N. Cummings
Another angle is that the audience for Burt is, uh...not exactly young, whereas those blowing money in Vegas are (or, at least youngER). In addition, the splashy entertainers in residence there now tend to be Boomer wash-ups like Cher and Elton John. The audience isn`t the same as that for which Burt played half a century ago.

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 9:32 am
by face
When I saw Burt a few years ago here in the US, the venue was full and very enthusiastic. However, it only sat about 2,000 people. Echoing what Blair said, nearly everyone there was on the older side -- there was lots of white hair! The artists from that era (Dionne among them) always say that their European audiences are their most loyal and devoted. It must come down to America's obsession with youth and trendiness, in contrast to Europe's embrace of history and tradition.

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sat May 06, 2017 9:42 am
by Blair N. Cummings
Exactly. And don`t forget the great jazz innovators whose names would fill pages here and who created the only art form that this sorry country has produced. Many, if not most, ultimately emigrated to Europe or Japan just to make a living.
I was still living in NYC when Dizzy, Archie Shepp and the like were still on the club circuit. Seeing Sun Ra`s band one night and noting that those on stage outnumbered the audience, I asked John Gilmore how he and the rest even paid their bills. His reply: "European record sales."
The jazz piano virtuoso Hiromi Uehara can today sell out the Blue Note for a week once a year but the other fifty-one weeks are spent all over the rest of the world.
La plus ca change....

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 10:01 pm
by someonenameddavid
It seems to me that the class acts that remain are largely boosted by the casinos, which offer tickets through their affinity programs. This is why you will see Burt at places like the Mohegan Sun.
He does do more traditional venues than a certain other writer I won't mention here ;-)

Burt has always been a big deal in the UK, ironically running counter to the British Invasion, but I suppose the music industry is so big in the US, that he is not quite the big fish that he used to be. But it was always thus, contemporary music .

It is good to treasure the gift he has given us.

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 6:27 pm
by vincent.cole
I fell in love with Burt’s music over a ½ Century ago (55 Years to speak)!

Music comes and goes. To really appreciate someone music in my judgment, you have to live through that period! How fortune I live in the time when Burt, Hal & Dionne were @ their zenith!!!

Mozart came along 250 years ago and people still love his music. The same is true with Burt today! But could Mozart today fill up a 2,500 seat theater today? Hey there is still over 2 ½ months to go. In addition over my 30 years of having the joy of seeing Burt in concert, you would not believe the 1st timers there!

Yes, it’s true most of the ‘Baby Boomers’ and old ones on the most part still go to Burt’s Concerts! I have also seen many younger people at these shows, such as Layne & Jennie who attend these events!

Many individuals have heard Burt’s music, but did not know who the composer was. When they go to these concerts, they are blow away!

Take care;

Vincent

Re: Doesn't America like Burt?

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:58 pm
by someonenameddavid
Hey Vincent, just a word for Mozart: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CfC1bzr5Ezc
Lang Lang filling the Royal Albert Hall (5700 or so, seats) for Mozart....

There are certain composers who are for all of time, and there are those of their own time. I believe Burt's music will survive the test of time.