Happy Birthday! JazzWax Turns 3

On August 3, 2007, I started JazzWax on a dare. I vowed not to make the site about me but about the recordings and the artists, keeping myself in the background as much as possible. Rather than e-yammer about what I did each day, I decided to tap into my background as a journalist and historian and simply write about the jazz albums and legends I admire most. I also vowed to post daily—giving myself just one day off each week. So far so good.

What has been most gratifying is that this recipe—keeping the focus on the music, particularly jazz of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s—has attracted a good-sized global audience and several superb sponsors (JazzFM.91, The Jazz Cruise and Smarter.com, among others). What's amazing to me is that all of this was done without paper, ink, mailings, marketing and fulfillment departments, or delivery trucks. It just is, and the result has become something of an e-meeting place for those who feel passionately about the music. Hopefully JazzWax enriches and enlightens along the way, and makes visitors feel good for a few minutes before or after their work day.

Today's column marks my 1,019th post, with a total of 567,000 page views. What's more, JazzWax remains ranked No. 1 by Invesp.com, an independent blog ranking service (click to enlarge):

Thanks to all of you—for the emails, for the encouragement, for the praise, for the criticism, for the suggestions and for the gripes. As always, JazzWax will remain home to the great global dialogue about the music we love—its past, its musicians, its recordings and its future. 

And now, I'm giving myself the rest of the day off. Back tomorrow.

Comments

[wen mew]

congrats!
http://www.musiconlinealive.com/moa/album/sundaymorning/home.moa

[Jeff Rzepiela]

Congratulations, Marc! This blog is a fantastic resource. I'm not sure how much money you've cost me recommending so many great recordings, but it has definitely been worth it! Keep up the great work.

[Jeff Helgesen]

Happy birthday, JazzWax!

[Mel House]

Congratulations, Marc...and a big Happy Birthday to JazzWax! May it ever continue!

Mel House

[Denis Ouellet]

Happy Birthday to this great blog.
Always a welcome read.
Long life to JazzWax

[Marco Romano]

Bravissimo!

[Han Schulte]

By far the best jazzblog in the (internet)house. Keep on writing, Marc!
Han Schulte
Netherlands

[Bruce Stevens]

Congrats Marc! Every morning I always look forward to a fun and informative read! Keep it coming!

[Don]

Marc,

I greatly enjoy reading your ne plus ultra jazz blog. I read it daily at lunch. Looking forward to many new articles and interviews in the future!

Don

[Rab Hines]

Congratulations and thank you again, Marc. In three years you've turned your bet into an internet jazz institution. And, as well noted above, into a resource. I am continually impressed with your accomplishment.

[ortega]

Happy birthday to you and congratulations to ... us! Thanks for all that good work.

[Andrew Gilbert]

Mazel tov Marc! You've created an invaluable jazz resource. I check your site regularly and I'm often fascinated by your observations and interviews (the recent conversation with Gary Burton was another winner). I hope you have the time and resources to continue feeding the insatiable content beast.

[Ed Leimbacher]

Well, gee, bud, Happy 3rd. You survived the terrible twos and left that toddler stage long ago. Now JazzWax keeps growing taller and smarter. No wonder we fans feel like proud parents, since we invest time in you daily and have come to rely on your intelligence and journalistic hustle and your Internet connections... Congrats, the training wheels are off.

[Steve Provizer]

Admirable effort, my friend.

[Agustín Pérez]

Congratulations, Marc! 3 years and many more to come, I hope!

[Sarah Razvi]

Mr Brett Primack asks: "Is Jazz Dead?". Like he, not that long ago you found a marvellous platform in bringing your work to the masses and found how it took off with a phenomenal following. Your access to interviewees, records and archives gives us a colourful and fascinating insight into the lives, poignant moments and thoughts of the people in the list to the right. How could we not be interested and dedicated readers? You've done a wonderful thing for jazz listeners who would otherwise not know all this that you write and rely on our imagination. Actually our interviews do stimulate the imagination. Glad to be part of your readership, Mr Myers.

[Greg Lee]

Put another candle on your birthday cake... since I can't sing the song on this post, I attach the following, from my favorite TV cartoon show as a kiddie growing up in Southern California:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O7jj0kq_bo&feature=related