Celebrating “Celebrate Brooklyn!” Behind the Scenes with Producer Jack Walsh

The 2010 “Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival” is off to a rousing start, thanks to opening night gala headliner and Brooklyn resident Norah Jones. With upcoming acts ranging from alternative rockers Sonic Youth to New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint to soul sensations Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings — plus an amazing variety of up-and-coming singers, musicians and dance troupes – it’s sure to be another stellar music season in Prospect Park. Brooklyn Roads sat down for a chat with Jack Walsh, the Park Slope native who has been working behind the scenes to produce the iconic annual event for nearly 30 years.

ORIGINS

Tell us a little about the origins and evolution of “Celebrate Brooklyn!”

“Celebrate Brooklyn!” was the brainchild of its original producer, Burl Hash, who in 1979 wanted to revive what he felt had become a barren cultural landscape and at same time help revitalize Prospect Park. I was privileged to be hired as his assistant in 1981 and began working for Brooklyn Information and Culture, which evolved into the BRIC Arts Media organization that we have today. 1994 was my first full season as Producer and I was fortunate to have great people to work with, such as Rachel Chanoff, our Artistic Director. Our series is a part of a borough wide arts programs that BRIC runs throughout each year.

Where did the “Celebrate Brooklyn!” title come from?

Since the series was created to help bring people back into Prospect Park, after New York City’s budget crisis in the 1970’s and began to gain in popularity and attendance, it was natural to come up with a name for the festival that had a flair and “Celebrate Brooklyn!” is what we came up with.

A SOUND QUILT

How are the acts and types of performers selected?

The festival is a curated one and by that I mean that we try to draw on both of our missions: to provide artists with a platform and to reflect the diversity of Brooklyn. We are driven by our history of presenting eclectic performers and weaving a sound quilt each year.

Why do you think Brooklyn has given birth to or nurtured so many diverse and talented musicians and singers?

For one thing, rents are cheaper, so like-minded artists tend to flock here. It’s not a new phenomenon. A lot of people don’t know that Brooklyn has a rich jazz tradition that goes far back to the likes of Eubie Blake and which enjoyed a revival in Williamsburg in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

MILESTONES

Did any of the concerts stand out from the others? What were the most memorable ones?

One of my first and most memorable concerts featured jazz singer Betty Carter. Another was headlined by the legendary jazz drummer Max Roach, who played solo and with an all-percussion ensemble called M’Boom. Then there was Johnny Clyde Copeland, who used a 100-foot-long guitar cable so he could go play IN the audience. The 2003 Leonard Cohen tribute featuring multiple artists was also special and of course we were proud to host Bob Dylan’s Brooklyn debut in 2008. Dylan was looking to play “off the beaten path” and we were able to get him to do a benefit concert for us. That season saw a number of milestones, including Isaac Hayes and Hal Wilner’s Bill Wither’s Project performances.

Walsh says last year’s David Byrne concert was also extra special.

We had been asking David Byrne for years. Last year with the recession he agreed to open “Celebrate Brooklyn!” by doing a free show as a gift to the people of New York, his adopted home city. The concert was special because he had just begun working with Brian Eno as his producer and this was the first time since the Talking Heads broke up that he played a significant amount of Talking Heads music. We have a venue that holds about 7,000 people and nearly four times that many people showed up – but we were prepared for that, so everything went smoothly and the crowd loved it.”

While Jack’s list of Brooklyn music “hall of famers” would be too huge to print here, he says it would have to begin with the aforementioned Mr. Blake and Ms. Carter and, on the pop side, would be topped by Neil Diamond.

Neil is an icon whose roots go deep. His music is revered by multiple generations and is still going strong today.

Thank you, Jack Walsh, for bringing great talents year after year to “Celebrate Brooklyn!” We look forward to yet another spectacular summer under the stars.