In this year’s hit motion picture “La La Land,” which ties the record with 14 Oscar nominations including the award for Best Picture, the character played by Ryan Gosling aspires to open a jazz club. There’s a scene in the film in which the young pianist is questioned by a fellow musician: Why is he willing to invest in a musical form with virtually no modern-day commercial appeal?

If Gosling’s character won’t heed the advice of his friend, actual jazz club owners are willing to offer similar cautions. Continue Reading...