Early this past March, Ooligan hosted its very first public title vote for our forthcoming jazz project. This poll ran for two weeks and offered up four titles with space for clever minds to add in their own suggestions.

Rhythm in the Rain: Jazz in the Pacific Northwest was voted best title for the project, which was previously known as Mastersounds.

This process varies from the traditional way Ooligan develops new titles for projects, which consists of a week or two of brainstorming among the project team, sharing the best of these ideas with the author for their thoughts, and finally discussing and voting as a group at our executive meeting.

The choice to open up the title vote to the community came from the idea that jazz music in its best form comes out of a group effort, whether from open gigs at a club, or a house party concert for friends. We wanted to mirror that creation process and find a way for the local jazz community to be involved with the book. In the near future, there will be more ways for the community to help with the development of this project.

We were amazed and excited to see that 152 people cast votes in this poll, with five new ideas submitted. After analyzing all the data we received, the top-ranked titles went to the author and the press for final votes, and as of April 3 we have a new title! Follow the Rhythm in the Rain on its Start-to-Finish page.

Rhythm in the Rain is an upcoming nonfiction narrative about the jazz community in the Pacific Northwest that examines the people, places, and events that have made cities like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, so popular among musicians. Written by local musician, radio broadcaster, and author Lynn Darroch, Rhythm in the Rain serves to inform and entertain, while showing that jazz is undoubtedly another of the countless cultural offerings this wonderful corner of the country has cultivated throughout its history.