Sour grapes at the Clef Club

   Ariasclare - 09/18/2009

Not being one given to complain I find my somewhat negative experiences at the Philadelphia Club to be an exception to my own rule, which usually is . . . "if you don't have something good to say about someone or something, then don't say it at all" But for the benefit of the musical community at large who might be under the false impression that the Clef Club is 'the place' in town for musicians to freely express themselves - I feel that I must speak out.
I joined the club about seven months ago and first noticed a 'stifling' atmosphere at the place. More like a prison that a creative venue for musical expression. One of the first persons I met there had the audacity to say to me that my musicianship was laughable based on his assessment of my presence in the concourse at Suburban Station. And I quote - . . "you caint play motha fuka - dem kids from dem 'fine' schools come thu dere and be laffin atchoo". I thought to myself . . . "what a fine welcome this is". Needless to say I never spoke to that person again.

Previous to my coming to the Clef Club I would usually go to the Settlement Music School for any donations I might have, but now that I was at the club I decided to give the instruments I wasn’t using to them. The donation came to around ten instruments of various kinds, including a collection of twenty five expensive horn mouthpieces along with various accessories - all in excellent condition and eminently playable. Several were of professional quality and their total value exceeded $10,000.
While I expected nothing in return I did expect a modicum of respect, not merely for the donation but for myself a person - I got neither.
I have a hearing issue to deal with and when playing in their practice rooms, which are essentially unusable because of sound coming in through the partially opened ‘sash’ to the adjoining rooms, and for the fact that the rooms are excessively deadened by the use of "padded walls" and floors. Any ‘true’ sound was rather muffled. The rooms were stifling hot as well because of problems they were having with the air units. I mentioned all these things to the director, Mr. Shuna Miah and asked him if I would to be able to use an empty room on the first floor, which was acoustically almost perfect for me. Initially I was giver permission by Mr Don and was permitted to go there on one or two occasions before being chased out by Mr. Miah. He stated that it was inappropriate to be playing music in such a ‘public space’ – he appealed to ‘security’ measures as well to account for his reasoning in asking me to leave that room. I then asked if I could use an empty room on the fourth floor normally used for rehearsals, and got permission from Mr Don. But soon was chased out again by the secretary/receptionist. She stated that it was too much trouble for her to have to go upstairs when it came time for her to leave to secure the room prior to leaving the building for the night. The fact is ******** in her job deion to do just that. I also thought it rather strange for her to complain that way because that room is used almost every night for rehearsal and/or practice.
I then asked to use the auditoriums stage area, which was not in use at the time. So, because of the insufferable heat of the place they relented somewhat and allowed me to play there for a while. They soon began to complain that I was using too much light. Mr Don admonished me about the “light bill” SO I PLAYED IN THE DARK in order to appease them – to no avail. They allowed me to be there for only a very short time. Even though I had permission to use the auditorium from Mr Don, apparently the director, Mr. Shuna Miah was having a very difficult time with the idea of my being there in that wonderful musical space. So much so that he couldn’t help himself and, as time went by I noticed that he, Mr. Miah, was peeking around corners and sort of lurking around the auditorium and stage area. It occurred to me that he was unhappy with my presence there and wondered when the ax would fall again. I didn’t have long to wait for he finally came in and in a somewhat uncharacteristically gruff manner - told me to leave the auditorium. Its ‘cool’ upstairs now he said. When I mentioned my hearing issues and the good sound of the space I was in he ignored my pleas. I tried to appeal to his better nature and reminded him once again, thet even though the air might be fixed now I still have hearing problems. I further mentioned that the auditorium space was just right for me in terms of being able to hear myself as I was playing. He wouldn’t relent and chased me out once again saying that I cannot have the benefits of ‘privilege’. I said I wasn’t looking for any special treatment or privileged position – only that I just want to play my horn in a desirable environment and in peace. Following that final episode of what can only be described as an ‘indignity to the person,’ I left the Clef Club never to return. Oh – I take that back. I did go back on one occasion to retrieve one of the more valuable instruments I had previously donated. Fortunately I was able to accomplish that through the good graces of the musical director, Mr. Lovett Hines, who might just be the only reasonably thinking person in the entire institution. So – that’s my story and my review of the Philadelphia Clef Club based on personal experience. Next I will review the club itself and the manner in which it is operated as a so-called venue for jazz and jazz artistry. In that regard the place may serve the needs of students rather well but as a venue for music, particularly jazz, I will warn that it leaves much to be desired.
Ciao, Aloha for another time.

   Woodcurtiswood1 - 11/20/2008

No Treble or Bass in the CLEF!

   newton1968 - 03/04/2005

Where do I start? A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend some classes for instrumentation at the Clef Club of Jazz and Performing arts. I would like to say that this is a beautiful facility. There are several floors where different occasions can take place at the same time. However, I feel that this facility is not being fully used to it's potential. For a place that calls itself, "The place that jazz buitl" I rarely hear of any jazz events that go on here. They rent the main stage to other organizations I guess to pay the rent. To have a building and an auditorium like this one, it's sad to rarely hear of any jazz shows taking place. About 5 years ago, they had "Jazz Til Sunrise". This was a great event to me where they opened all available rooms and had continious jazz from about 9pm until about 6 am. After that night, I would hope that that kind of event that I would start to see more progress but nothing has happened. They also have thousands of records on the third floor and one day I asked Lovett Hines why no one has any access to them to listen to like libraries and his response was, "We don't have a turntable." That, for me, sums up The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. newton1968@aol.com