Jazz collective in Atlanta's future?

Hoping to generate support for an Atlanta jazz collective, local musicians Jay Norem and Ken Gregory helped organize the Atlanta Jazz Reunion on Sunday at Studio 281. Today, I asked Norem to shoot me an e-mail with an update on the project. Here’s what he had to say:

“It’s very difficult to sell the idea of a musicians’ organization here. This is not much of a town for original music. I spoke to one player who was very interested in the idea, but it’s going to take a lot more than that to get a real scene going at Studio 281.

We’re going to keep putting on shows and working to get more bands and musicians involved. I want to create an environment where everyone involved will benefit from the interest that the entire organization generates. Yes, I’m an idealist, but I just can’t see how much good can come from things staying the way they are in Atlanta. It will take time, but it’s not going away.”