Jazzed-up Civic Center leads city's arts charge

May 7—The sun was setting and an easy breeze drifting over a multicultural crowd sprawled across a grassy slope.

"Summertime," vocalist Nayo Jones drawled at the Scottsdale Jazz Festival April 28, "and the livin' is easy."

Fish might not be jumpin' in Scottsdale, but visitors sure are biting at Scottsdale Arts' offerings.

Coming in at around 25% over its original budget, massive renovations also took far longer than expected, with the new Civic Center finally making its debut in October.

Highlighted by concerts at the new East Bowl amphitheater, the first season of the $33 million Civic Center Plaza is coming to an end.

If Scottsdale had a "Rookie of the Year" award, this space would win by a runaway.

As the Jazz Festival's website promised, "A beautifully designed amphitheater style in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale's biggest park, the Scottsdale Civic Center offers the perfect venue to fully absorb the sounds of world-famous jazz and fusion artists."

Unlike Gershwin's tune, cotton no longer grows high on land long ago turned the Civic Center — where post-renovation revenues are soar high and higher.

That had Gerd Wuestemann singing hallelujahs to City Council last month.

In anticipation of a big May before the June heat hits, the charismatic Scottsdale Arts president/CEO gave a PowerPoint presentation to the officials who fund Scottsdale Arts.

Sizing up a packed crowd at City Hall, Wuestemann cracked, "I'm thrilled to see such a big audience — of course, you're here to hear about art and culture in Scottsdale, so thank you for that."

That was more than a bit ironic, as most in the crowd were at the April 16 meeting to weigh in on Old Town's parking saga.

As an opera, this would be more "Parking Lot Mess" than "Porgy and Bess."

While some begged the mayor and council representatives to build a parking facility in the northeast part of the Entertainment District, the likes of businessman/critic Bob Pejman argued all the shows Wuestemann is putting on demand more parking closer to the Civic Center.

Avoiding the parking debate like a skilled dancer, Wuestemann trumpeted the Scottsdale Arts season.

"It's been an exciting year for us as we're starting to wrap up our season going into the summer," he said. "I'm happy to report that we have presented 485 shows, exhibits and events for this fiscal year."

That translates to an average 1.5 events per day, he added.

The annual Canal Convergence attracted a record 187,000 visitors, the Scottsdale Arts director said.

Describing it as a winner on both aesthetic and pragmatic levels, Wuestemann noted the newly renovated Civic Center received a national award "for architectural beauty, landscaping and sustainability...And just as importantly, since the opening of the Civic Center Oct. 3 of last year. we have hosted more than 85 events to which more than 150,000 visitors found their way."

Producer perspective

Best known around Scottsdale as a public relations guru, Jason Rose is also an event producer. In 2011, he co-founded the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships — which has become the country's most attended polo event.

Rose's production company Quixote Productions has also launched musicals that played New York.

When old friend Doc Jones — jazz legend and father of singer Nayo — asked him to help grow the Scottsdale Jazz Festival, Rose stepped in as co-producer.

The first thing Rose wanted to do was move the festival across the Civic Center plaza to the East Bowl amphitheater.

"SPECTACULAR NEW VENUE," the festival's website promised — and, Rose feels, they delivered.

"The amphitheater hasn't had a ton of events, but ... it's charming," Rose said. "You know, it's better for patrons because you're not staring into the sun."

Those waiting in seemingly endless lines for food would agree with Rose's assessment that "there were challenges."

Just the same, those lounging on the soft, grassy slope to mesmerizing sounds likely would agree with Rose's bottom line:

"The result was spectacular and beautiful, in my opinion."

Rose praised Jones for building a solid, audience-pleasing lineup.

"The diverse crowd was fantastic," Rose said.

"And it was really cool to kind of see Doc's vision go to the next level."

Having produced events at WestWorld and Scottsdale Stadium, as well as big venues in Phoenix and New York City, Rose looks at the renovated Civic Center Plaza with an admiring — yet critical — eye.

"You have a $40 million investment," Rose said. "Now, you have a 2,600-seat venue and you have a 1,500 seat venue — getting it right is super important because of the economic impact that can have for Old Town businesses.

"I've talked to some of the businesses down there and they're like, 'Wow' — because of the bigger venues, more people are eating in the restaurants or stopping in stores. That's a good thing."

The pressure is on Scottsdale Arts, Rose feels, as the city-sponsored cultural organization produces its own shows and events — and also rents out spaces to the likes of Jones and Rose.

"It's a big, bureaucratic organization," Rose said, of Scottsdale Arts. "And so I do question whether they are the right ones to be operating those venues."

The promoter-producer said he has some "speed bumps" with the organization, particularly being required to use the Scottsdale Arts ticketing system "which is not very good. And they hold all the money until after the event ... for an indefinite period of time. Now, that's not helpful."

Wuestemann defended Scottsdale Arts' system: "Dozens of promoters value our work and appreciate our top-notch ticketing system. Our business guidelines and pay-out schedule are in line with any comparable venue in the Valley."

And, he stressed, "Scottsdale Arts often suspends rental fees for nonprofit partners — as it has for the past nine years for Scottsdale Jazz Festival. We are supporting these events without any financial profit to our organization."

Though he has his doubts, Rose is trying to be open minded about Scottsdale Arts renting out its new, open air venues — and working with big producers.

"They may prove themselves and be great and wonderful at it," Rose said.

"They need to get right — because Scottsdale has created something wonderful."

Coming soon

If this one is anywhere near as roasting as the record-shattering summer of '23, few are likely to want to enjoy outdoor events from mid-June through September.

But Scottsdale Arts leader Wuestemann is hoping relatively cool weather holds through May.

He said he was "looking forward to quadruple back-to-back shows: The final Golden Hour concert at Scottsdale Civic Center's West Bowl featuring Latin folk fusion band XIXA on May 9; David Sedaris' return to our lineup at the Orpheum on May 10; Joshua Bell with Larisa Martínez — "a great performer with interesting new repertoire pushing boundaries" — on May 11; and the closing concert of Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra's inaugural season May 12.

Looking forward and back, the big picture, as "Desert Man" — the translation of his German name — sees it:

"As the city's nonprofit culture partner, Scottsdale Arts has programmed Scottsdale Civic Center for decades. We manage its highest and best utilization for the community and have played a leading role in the reimagining of the current spaces and the resulting bond measure."