Jazz music might be a staple in places like New Orleans and Monterey, but it’s taken root in Las Vegas as well.
Uli Geissendoerfer has played a big role in that.
Originally from Munich, Germany, Geissendoerfer is a pianist, composer, and educator. He moved to Las Vegas in 2009, where he was the conductor, pianist, and bandleader for the shortlived Cirque du Soleil production "Viva Elvis."
His next assignment was resurrecting the Latin Jazz Ensemble at UNLV, where he still resides, as well as musical directing at the Dispensary Lounge.
Clearly, jazz is in his heart.
Now, Geissendoerfer is starting a record label called Vegas Records. It will focus on new music by local players and reissue older albums by veteran Vegas musicians.
DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS:
What does jazz offer about expressing emotions?
When I grew up, I studied classical music and loved classical music, but as soon as I started playing blues and then going into jazz I could express myself. I could be in the moment and taking whatever piece you have, whatever tune you have, and shaping it the way I feel.
How do you talk to students about including the audience in that moment?
You can always just play. Making noise is great and sometimes it is very artful noise but if you don’t tell a story you don’t involve your listeners. It is one of my centerpieces that I try to get across.
Do you think the jazz scene in Las Vegas is going to break through at some point?
I believe it is breaking through as we speak. I talk to a lot of old timers who talk about how great jazz was before the strike [the musicians' strike of the late 80s] and the thriving jazz, but it was never a very creative scene. A lot of came through and played but there wasn’t a lot of recording. It was just a lot of playing.
There are so many great kids who grew up in Las Vegas that are very creative. I have seen them in the last years going through UNLV and it’s just one wave, after another wave of really talented musicians. And not just musicians… but also being artists. That means culminating the moment, trying to take the moment, making something out of it, creating something that lasts a little bit longer than just the five seconds or the five minutes that it takes to perform something. Taking the moment, shaping it, and creating a message – a reflection of what’s going on.
How did you identify the need for the new record label?
There was nothing like that anywhere. I think looking at the business and the dying record industry. Basically, everything I’ve learned over the last 40 years about the record industry is now null and void. So, you have to re-invent that. One way to re-invent that through sheer numbers. So, let’s unite. Let’s create a hub of creativity. Let’s create a hub for new music that we put everything up there and attract attention.
I think there is a real [Las Vegas jazz] identity developing and so I saw that and thought: How can we promote that. And suddenly this idea arose in my head and now I have to live with it.
How is this record label going to work?
It will have multiple levels to it. The back catalog [of musicians] like Nate Kimball, Nathan Tanouye and myself that is there, will be there as a hub. All the artists can put up their stuff and we’ll be creating artists pages for free. It’s not really about making a profit. It is about making a hub.
Then, I’m also designing it as a not-for-profit organization. With that, I can immediately start promoting young artists. There is a handful of young artists that I think are already worthy of greater attention.
Eventually, it goes further by creating the Vegas Records jazz fest. A real jazz festival in Las Vegas. And maybe being able to put people on the road. Of course, that is long-term thinking.
It will be just simply a hub for all great music that comes out of Vegas.
Creating this record label means you get to stay in one place for a little while?
I love Vegas. I am staying here. I have a club here that I started six years ago, which is an amazing thing. I have great musicians that played with me that I get to play with. I bought a house. The family is happy. I’m here for the time being. I teach at the university, which is great. I teach at [Nevada School of the Arts]. Things are good and things are looking ahead. I really feel that there is a place for me here that I need to work on more and grow and nourish.
This story originally ran in November 2017.
Uli Geissendoerfer, founder, Vegas Records