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Arts Alive! podcast: David Manson, St. Pete Jazz Festival
The name David Manson has been synonymous with jazz in St. Petersburg for over three decades. He began teaching music at St. Petersburg Junior College long before the name was “adultified” to St. Pete College.
Since 2015 he’s carried the title Distinguished Faculty, which means he walks softy and carries a big stick, makes students tremble at the very mention of his name, and still teaches because … well, because he loves it. And they think the world of him.
A trombonist by trade, Manson is the founder and director of the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, which is celebrating its 14th go-round this weekend. Things got started Thursday night; remaining shows are tonight in the Museum of Fine Arts Marley Music Room (pianist Zach Bartholomew’s trio playing the music of Chick Corea) and Saturday on the mainstage at American Stage (trumpeter Jason Charos and his group paying tribute to Wayne Shorter).
The founder of the nonprofit EMIT organization, the Helios Jazz Orchestra and the Brazilian group O Som do Jazz, Manson’s day, every day, is 24 hours music. And the jazz festival isn’t about filling seats by bringing quote-unquote big names to town.
“The mission of EMIT has always been to present artists that are creative, that are virtuosic, that are expressive,” Manson says during this Arts Alive! podcast. “We’re not really trying to second-guess and go ‘Well, we think people will really like this, so we’ll bring in these artists.’ It’s really like ‘Who really impresses ME?’”
Much laughter ensues.
“I want people to walk away from a concert and go ‘Wow. I really experienced something unique.’”
View the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival website here.
Click on the arrow below to listen to the interview.
