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PROVINCETOWN GUIDE
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Provincetown :: Friday, February 10th 2012
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Interview with Bart Weisman
The Man Behind the Provincetown jazz Festival
By Laura Shabott
July 25th, 2010
A busy man by anyone’s definition, Bart Weisman agreed to meet me at Muir Music to talk about the 6th Annual Provincetown Jazz Festival August 13th-14th at the Provincetown High School. His band is a fixture on the Cape, with three weekly gigs, two festivals, and concerts at PAAM. I was curious to meet this mover and shaker of a drummer and producer.
| ''I started the Jazz Festival in 2005 so that concert attendees could see a number of musicians in a few days.'' |
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Q: How did you develop such a passion for Jazz?
A: I started listening to Jazz and playing the drums when I was 13. In college, I performed with masters like Ritchie Cole. Then, I joined the Air Force Band and performed with a jazz quartet called the Diplomats.
|  Paul Sanchez. |
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Q: What kind of jazz does your group play?
A: My wife, artist Anne Heller, calls it “not Jammy Jazz”. It’s straight ahead standards that appeal to a wide audience.
Q. Why did you pick Provincetown for your festival?
A: We decided to move here seven years ago from Washington DC. Provincetown’s a beautiful place to have a festival with its rich history in the arts, music and theater. I started the Jazz Festival in 2005 so that concert attendees could see a number of musicians in a few days. For the past five years, musicians from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe have performed to an international audience.
Q: You have quite a following; a thousand strong on the Cape alone! And people come from all over for the festival. How do you do it?
A: I play only on the Cape and bring the world’s greats, like New Orleans Paul Sanchez, here for the festival. People plan their vacations around this festival; creating a group that comes annually to be with us.
Q. The proceeds of this year’s festival is a benefit for the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. How did you get involved with their community?
A: Bethany Bultman., founder of the clinic, splits her time between Provincetown and New Orleans. Jazz musicians are like a family and we rally to help our own. The Provincetown Jazz Festival donates a portion of the proceeds to a worthy cause. This year, we picked the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. I never could have imagined the massive oil spill in the Gulf, so there is more need than ever to support New Orleans.
Q: Is this the first year that a record label like Threadhead is participating?
A: Yes, and we are very excited to have them join us! Bethany introduced me to Threadhead Records and they suggested bringing up Paul Sanchez from New Orleans. It is great that three non-profits from coast-to-coast (Provincetown Jazz Festival, New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Threadhead Records, based in Los Angeles) work together.
Q: Muir Music is very supportive of you.
A: Owner Nancy Yeaw loves to promote local talent. She sells tickets to the festival and sells my CD’s. You can also get tickets on our website. It’s going to be an amazing festival.
Columnist Laura Shabott loves to write about Provincetown and the people that make it so special.
www.ProvincetownJazzFestival.com
Muir Music, 212 Commercial Street
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Bart Weisman Klezmer Swing Group www.bartweisman.com
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