[Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio Shows -- Length Of Cuts

[Stan Brager]

Bill;

I agree with your philosophy of carefully selecting cuts for your show. It's
akin to a jazz musician "telling his story". Like you, my radio shows were
scripted - sometimes with a bare outline; others almost word for word. It
depended upon what the "story" was.

Regarding long cuts: all too often a long cut (even shorter cuts) is mostly
boring with just a solo or two of any sustaining interest (some of the Bix
with Whiteman recordings). It's a matter of judgment to determine if that
particular cut belongs on the show.

As the producer of a show, one can only judge the quality of the music by
one's own personal standards - to do otherwise would subvert the quality of
the show. If we aren't pleased with the music we play, the audience will
know.

Many people don't realize how much time it takes prior to airtime to
organize and prepare a show. When doing a show featuring a particular
artist, I would often have to research that artist in great detail - reading
biographies and autobiography. There were also many times when I had to
obtain good copies of recordings suitable for playing on the air. Your
experience of 7 - 8 hours of research to an hour of showtime is a good
ratio.

Then, there are the unexpected problems which must be resolved such as when
you bring in 78 rpm recordings and discover that the 78 rpm turntable isn't
working. Or when a script is completed an hour before showtime and I haven't
slept all night.

I don't regret one minute of my radio experience.

I feel certain that you and others who have produced such shows can relate
and have had your own experiences.

Stan
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Haesler" <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
To: "Robert S. Ringwald" <ringwald at calweb.com>; "DJML"
<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 1:20 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Radio Shows -- Length Of Cuts


> on 31/1/04 4:25 AM, Robert S. Ringwald at ringwald at calweb.com wrote (in
> part):
>
> > A few days ago it was mentioned that Bill Haesler, on his radio show,
will
>  not play a cut longer than 5 minutes.  I am wondering why?<
>
> Dear Bob,
> Not quite true.
> Although I do tend to play shorter tracks a lot, as mine is only a one
hour
> specialist program of classic and vintage jazz with tunes predominatly 3
> minutes long. Which programs, incidentally, take 4-7 hours to research and
> produce. Depending on the subject. Johnny Dodds, Jazz in Chicago, Memphis
> Minnie, Lu Watters, Jimmy Blythe, Woody Herman and the Band That Plays The
> Blues, Humprey Lyttelton and the like.
> (I have always disliked the idea of presenters taking a bundle of records
> into the studio and ad-libbing their way through. Sorry about that ,
DJMLer,
> Phil O'Rourke. Big grin.)
> But back to the reasons for not playing long tracks. It depends on whether
> the program has a mix of bands or is devoted to one particular group. If
the
> latter, then long, interesting performances ARE included. But not a 2O
> minute version of, say, "Weary Blues". If a CD contains about 5-6 tracks
it
> makes the choce so much harder.
> If the former, I prefer to fit in as many groups as I can at the expense
of
> long performances. Fairer all round, in my opinion.
> I started presenting my 'Classic Jazz Era' in March 1982 on 2MBS-FM, which
> broadcasts widely for about a 100 mile radius of Sydney.
> 2MBS-FM is a 24/7 'classical' music  station, which provides about 10
hours
> of jazz (all types) a week. A bit more a few years ago.
> I took over from DJMLer Anton Crouch. (He was to return to 2MBS a year or
so
> later with his excellent researched program of mouldy oldies.)
> Mine was a midday Sunday program every fortnight.
> Eventually, the 'Classic Jazz Era' program was broadcast weekly. As the
> title suggests it was devoted to recordings made between 1917 and the
early
> 40s.
> If it was in Rust's 'Jazz Records' or "Blues and Gospel Records' it got
> airplay.
> Also, on a regular basis, I featured a 'New Releases' program which
included
> Australian jazz.
> I also included regular special programs in the series devoted to an Oz
> musician or band.  Graeme Bell, Dave Dallwitz, Bob Barnard, Paul Furniss,
> Eric Holroyd, The Southern Jazz Group, Sydney-Zenith Jazz Band, New
> Wolverine Jazz Orch, etc.
> A jazz colleague, Bruce Johnson had a monthly Sunday 'Home Cooking'
program,
> which I frequently hosted over the years when he was unavailable or made
> lengthy trips overseas.
> In addition, I filled in for other jazz presenters when they were ill, on
> holiday or had left and an immediate replacement was not available. Too
bad
> if it was for one of our 'modern' presenters, as there is little or none
of
> that jazz in my collection
> I reluctantly gave up the 'Classic Jazz Era' program in March last year,
> after 22 years and proudly boast that there was no repeat of a particular
> subject.
> (Anton quit 2MBS at the end of 2002.)
> Then, just after I announced my intended resignation, Bruce Johnson
decided
> to give up his monthly 'Home Cooking' program!
> This would have meant no exposure for Australian jazz on this widely
> listened-to radio station. So I took over 'Home Cooking'. Which is all I
do
> at 2MBS at the moment.
> Unfortunately, with Anton and me now out there is very little 'old' jazz
on
> 2MBS. But, along with some others (now gone), we gave it a great run for
> quite a few years.
> Oh dear! Much more than I initially intended to say.
> But it should answer Meg Graf's question.
> I now only play Australian jazz on air.
> But I still collect everthing I can lay my hands on. Particularly reissue
> material. It's a disease.
> 8>)
> Very kind regards,
> Bill.
>
>
>