One year after longtime Earshot Jazz Executive Director John Gilbreath announced his retirement, the Seattle nonprofit has announced that its search for leadership is at an end. Stephan Blanford, who in July stepped down after five years as the executive director of Children’s Alliance, has been named the new executive director of Earshot Jazz. He began the job last week and likens his initial days to “drinking from a fire hose.” Luckily, he’s done this before.
“I’ve been about 30 years in Seattle,” Blanford said, “and every year, I’ll go to at least one show at the [Earshot Jazz] Festival, but some years a lot of shows. Some of my favorite jazz musicians I’ve been introduced to through Earshot.”
An Earshot Jazz news release noted that over 70 applicants sent in resumes for the position. After reading about Gilbreath’s retirement last year, Blanford said, “There was part of me that wondered if stepping into this role might work out.” He’d previously told the Children’s Alliance board that he wanted to remain executive director for five years, and his five years were up. “They were sad to see me leave,” he said. “But I was ready to do something else.”
Blanford’s love of jazz arrived at an early age. His father was in the military and moved the family around a lot. As an audiophile, he also lugged around the family music collection. “I remember reading 8-track tape notes as a little kid in Japan,” said Blanford. And the jazz habit only picked up with time. “My first trip with my girlfriend, who became my wife, was to see the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland,” he said.
These bona fides relate to artistic taste, not organizational aptitude. But for a nonprofit like Earshot, where music is the mission, taste matters. In Earshot’s news release, Board Chair Maurice James wrote, “[Blanford’s] depth of nonprofit experience, combined with his lifelong passion for jazz, makes him the ideal person to shepherd Earshot into its next chapter.” The release adds that Blanford “helped to secure billions in new investments for kids” during his time at Children’s Alliance.
It goes without saying that Blanford has large shoes to fill at Earshot Jazz, and not just because his predecessor is a tall guy. Over Gilbreath’s 33-year tenure, he became known as a premier booker of national jazz talent, both at Seattle’s annual Earshot Jazz Festival and at other events. Blanford said that nothing has been decided yet with regards to booking this year’s festival. But he’s got plenty of help. Halynn Blanchard, who’s organized events and artist relations across innumerable local stages, hit the ball out of the park booking last year’s 37th Earshot Jazz Festival. If it’s on the table, fans would welcome a repeat experience.
For now, Blanford is busily adjusting to his new position. He met every board and staff member during the interview process — “It was pretty involved,” he said — but the real test will be how he interfaces with the community. Jazz is on the up and up in Seattle but remains a precarious economical pursuit. Here’s hoping that Earshot can strengthen the framework not just for local fans, but for local musicians.
“I really want to listen to our audience, both our existing audience and our audience that we can aspire to grow to,” said Blanford. “I want to hear what their preferences are. That way, we can make sure that jazz remains strong here in Seattle.”
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