Sound Decisions

Attending the Kemah Jazz Festival as the official photographer for the last several years has been a treat. I am a fan of music… especially when it is performed by such skilled musicians. I have also been quite amazed with the behind the scenes production by such a skilled sound company as we are fortunate enough to have year after year. (Full disclosure) I am friends with three of the guys that keep this show running, but please do not hold that against them.

It is quite a dance that they are able to pull off when for example the “Dennis Dotson Quintet” finish and Bob McGrew (festival founder and union secretary-treasurer) fills in a few furious moments as the stage is transformed to accommodate a huge Jazz band that is in this case the HSPVA Jazz Ensemble (a nationally recognized school for the arts). So, we go from 5 to 30 musicians. Bring on the chairs, music stands, and of course the mics. Lots of microphones strategically placed to capture every nuance. Imagine juggling 24 bananas… now imagine that they all have to be tweaked to sound great and they have to be responsive to different soloists being featured during different arrangements that you have never heard.

What you get is Les (Lester Williams), (Billy) William Rasmussen, and John Hill making it happen note after note, song after song, band after band, year after year. It is too easy to overlook the tremendous job that they do while being wowed by the very sound that they are responsible for. Give credit for a job well done and this job is incredibly well done. Bravo gentlemen.