Sexism in Jazz: Irvin Mayfield. Who Do You Love? Video

I loved the idea but cautioned Markham that setting up something like this would be difficult to sustain monetarily, because while the idea is wonderful, there probably weren’t enough financial sponsors in New Orleans to create and maintain it. Support of a jazz orchestra at that time (2002) wasn’t top-of-mind for the sponsors of non-profit endeavors.

But Markham was very optimistic that they could make a go of it. I pledged OffBeat’s support in their endeavors.

Both Mayfield and Markham were tight with then-mayor Ray Nagin, and had found a way to tap into a deep well of money http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/music/article_d17ea608-e50f-11e7-8135-4b70bebbbdea.html (the Wisner Foundation, which the Mayor of New Orleans controls) to finance NOJO.

When Nagin left office, the money well dried up, but Mayfield/Markham by that time had used their combined talent, good looks and charm, and intelligence and quick wits to figure out how to wiggle their (and NOJO’s) way into the top echelon of New Orleans sponsor/funders who were apparently blinded by the glamour and cachet of music—and the guys themselves. Mayfield and Markham cultivated the crème de la crème of board members, most notably Ron Forman of the Audubon Institute, who formed the board of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. They also engineered a board friendly to their financial machinations at the New Orleans Public Library Foundation, one of whom was Ron Forman’s son. There’s a lot more to this story, but it most probably will not end well for Mayfield and Markham. There are 19 serious counts in the indictment that was handed down by a federal grand jury.

These guys are in deep trouble. There was a vision, but they got sucked into the idea that their vision also came with a lot of money for them personally. Just dumb. And sad for them and their families.

It’s generally agreed that hubris, arrogance and the creation of an upscale lifestyle for both of them men put them where they are today. What bothers me the most is that they had a beautiful vision for the New Orleans Jazz Market and the Jazz Market that’s been sullied by the methods in which they created it. The NOJO is still operating, but struggling mightily. The Jazz Market’s major sponsor Peoples Health pulled their name off the Jazz Market. Will these institutions be able to continue and thrive? I certainly hope they do. They deserve our support—without Mayfield and Markham.

Can we continue to love and support the concept, the vision of Mayfield and Markham’s fertile brains? They meant to do something good for music and musicians, but let their egos and screw up a really good thing for them, for music and the city. They are to be pitied.