Los Angeles Jazz Hero
In a recent Instagram post about a tribute concert in his honor at the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, our great saxophonist Wayne Shorter wrote, “Special thanks to Darlene Chan for continuing to be the essence of what a true Empresario (sic) should be.”
Darlene Chan is indeed a true impresario, producer, artistic director, coordinator, advisor, guide, counselor, champion of the artists and so much more. Any attempt to outline her 50+ year career would be unjust but I think it’s important for people to know that while she has had a high public profile in the Los Angeles area — producing the Playboy Jazz Festival/Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival since its inception in 1979, for one thing — Darlene has had a profound impact on jazz throughout the world.
She has worked in Asia, Europe and all over America. She has played critically important roles at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, the JVC NY Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, NJPAC TD James Moody Jazz Festival and on countless tours, at fundraisers and special events.
Darlene has always treated musicians with tremendous respect and fairness, and mentored numerous professionals on the business side for her entire career. I have had the great fortune of being one of those mentees during the past 30 years and don’t know where I’d be without her.
Others feel the same way. In 2019, Darlene was honored with the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award at the Jazz Congress. Prior to his recent demise, George Wein wrote on his Facebook page, “Darlene Chan is the greatest producer I know. She has the amazing ability to get musicians to do what she wants as a producer, and they still love her when the event is over. We have worked together for over 50 years. The only thing that changes is that I keep getting older and she keeps getting younger! Congratulations, Darlene… You deserve it!”
Amen. Darlene is the greatest producer I know too and she is definitely a Jazz Hero, for the JJA, for Los Angeles, for the world! — Danny Melnick
