It's been a long time since Milwaukee had a thriving jazz scene. Now that Hal Leonard has ceased sponsoring the Jazz Series at The Pabst, another nail has been pounded into the coffin of America's classical music here; thanks, as always, to economics.

Certainly, Hal Leonard and The Pabst would love to be able to keep the series going.

"It was certainly a difficult decision to relinquish our sponsorship," said Hal Leonard CEO Keith Mardak.

Don't get me wrong, there are jazz musicians in Milwaukee -- and some really great and hard-working ones, at that -- and there are a few venues where you can hear the music live -- The Estate, Caroline's, The Baby Grand, etc. -- but in the 25 years I've lived in Milwaukee, there's never been a place to reliably see America's best jazz musicians.

Unless you count Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase ... in Chicago.

Once in a while, a big name pops into town for a one-night stand at a theater, but the Hal Leonard Jazz Series accounted for a good portion of those events each year. But the fond memories of Milwaukee jazz fans almost always date back to the days of Jazz Gallery on Center Street or Ellington at Washington Park Bandshell or seeing Miles with Trane Downtown or hearing Herbie Hancock make his pro debut here.

Sure, Alverno Presents will bring a couple shows to town, The Pabst will insert a jazz gig or three into its annual line-up. But that's not a jazz scene, anymore that Israel Vibration playing Turner Hall is a sign of a thriving reggae scene.

According to a Pabst statement, the Pabst family of venues, "will focus on individual showcases."

"While we will no longer promote the music in a series format, Jazz enthusiasts can rest assured that the music will not disappear from our venues," said Gary Witt, Executive Director of The Pabst Theater Foundation. "We will continue to seek out
great Jazz musicians to perform at The Pabst, The Riverside, or Turner Hall Ballroom, as we do with all genres of music."

But, it's really too late, because despite the Hal Leonard series, the music all but disappeared from Milwaukee venues years ago. With jazz erased from WUWM and WYMS, the music doesn't even get broadcast in town anymore with any kind of regularity.

What the city needs is a top-class, well-funded jazz club that can nab the same kind of national and international greats that visit places like New York's Blue Note and Segal's place. But without a fervid and fairly numerous two-drink-consuming fan base, such a place won't ever exist here again.

Maybe the end of Bronzeville and Downtown's jazz clubs of the 1950s, jazz really did die in Milwaukee and all we hear now are the echoes.