[Dixielandjazz] demise of a smooth jazz station--absence of pre-swing stations--Charlie Suhor

[Norman Vickers]

To:  DJML and Musicians and JazzFans list

From: Norman Vickers, Jazz Society of Pensacola

 

Here is a response and query from Charlie Suhor ( Montgomery, AL),
percussionist and jazz historian to Catt Sirten, DJ in Mobile-Pensacola
area.

 

Apologies to DJML for getting you in late in the conversation.  Original
story was demise of a smooth jazz station in  Columbus, OH.( Didn't think
that would excite you DJMLers)  Since Suhor's query relates to early jazz, I
thought it worthwhile to include DJML in this posting. To get the proper
sequence, start at the bottom.  Most of you, however, are able to do the
switch in your heads.  Whatever works best for you (smile).

 

Also, welcome to Musicians and Jazzfans list, Jennie Lou Mintz.  Her Pass
Christian, MS home was washed away by Hurricane Katrina.  They exiled to
central MS and are now back home in Pass Christian.  She has been a "wheel"
in the Mississippi Coast Jazz Society and also the New Orleans Jazz Club.
We had a "reunion" at the recent 10th Annual Satchmo Summerfest.

 

From: Charles Suhor [mailto:csuhor at zebra.net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 2:46 AM
To: Norman Vickers
Subject: demise of a smooth jazz station--absence of pre-swing stations

 

Well said, Catt. This comment prompted a question:

What the smooth jazz radio people have never "gotten" is that music lovers
are passionate about "their music" regardless of how laid-back, "high brow",
or eclectic the music comes across to the non-fan.  What they [smooth jazz
stations] created is a passionless format for listeners that, of another
generation, listened to Mantovani records...not that there's anything wrong
with that.

Few music lovers are more passionate than fans of early jazz and the many
permutations of Dixieland jazz. Yet there's no station I know of that's
devoted to this. (Maybe it's on Sirius [spell] or some other pay-to-listen
service?) I'd love to hear the Hot 5s and 7s, Bunk, the Bobcats, Bonano,
Condon units, World's Greatest Jazz Band, Fountain, Cullum, and others. So
much wonderful music. Is the problem that there aren't enough of us to make
up a potential market? Are we for the most part in an older/non-buying
demographic? I get wonderful modern jazz and vintage swing era tracks (plus
hip vocals from swing & post-swing pop and modern vocalists--Buble, Kilgore,
Gambarini) 24/7 on my expanded Knology contract; also, two classical choices
and about 30 other genres are on. Do round-the-clock stations for "OKOM,"as
fans sometimes call it, exist?

Charlie 

P.S.--No all-opera option, either. Same reasons?

On Aug 13, 2010, at 7:34 PM, Norman Vickers wrote:

To:  Musicians and Jazzfans list
>From Norman Vickers
 
Welcome to the list, Catt Sirten.  Catt is a broadcaster in the
Mobile-Pensacola area.  His format is jazz-smooth jazz.  His broadcasts have
been featured on various commercial stations and for a couple of years (
Catt will correct me if my figures are off) on WHIL-FM, a PBS affiliate in
Mobile.  He home/studio is on Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay.  When he was
broadcasting evenings for WHIL, they'd switch to his studio.  We'd
facetiously say that Catt could broadcast from home in his pajamas.  As I
understand it, he also cultivated his own advertisers.
 
Catt has been a friend to jazz in our area, and also personal friend, for
many years.
 
For those interested, see his website www.radioavalon.com
 
At my request, he has sent some comments about the story of the demise of
the smooth jazz format in Columbus, OH.
 
Thanks, Catt.  We hope you will contribute often.
 
Norman
 
From: Catt Sirten [mailto:catt at radioavalon.com]

Thanks for the link in reference to the station flipping formats.  It's not
a unique story.  I certainly have a perspective on the subject...Smooth Jazz
is a modern day equivalent of the old "easy listening" format.  Or at least
that's the way it's programmed by the corporate entities that now guide
almost all commercial radio.  Low overhead, little promotion, no energy...no
passion...just "music easy to listen to...".  For three-to-six rating
periods and then they flip to the next "format du jour".
 
.
 
But the result...in almost every market where "smooth jazz" exists, is a low
maintenance station with a small and passive audience that has little
loyalty to the overall product...because it doesn't give them anything to be
loyal to...it's a jukebox...a very passive, low-key jukebox.
 
In my opinion for jazz, in any form, to be successful in mass media is for
the station/website/blog/program/etc to mirror the soul of the music.  If
it's heavy metal, they should have an aggressive attitude...if it's jazz,
they should be passionate about the music...because their listeners are...or
would be, if someone would light the spark.
 
If I could use one phrase to describe the demise of radio as a music medium
it would be just that "a lack of passion"...and a plethora of "suits" that
doesn't understand the difference between John Coltrane and Kenny G.  Or the
listeners that are attracted to either...or why. 
 
I would certainly be interested in being on your list.
 
Hope all is good on your end.
 
Catt
 
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