wbgo's upbeat march/april 2014

WBGO Program GuideJazz 88.3 FM

www.wbgo.org

MARCH/APRIL 2014MARCH/APRIL 2014

WBGO Program GuideJazz 88.3 FM

www.wbgo.org

WBGO Celebrates35 Years!

WBGO Celebrates35 Years!

Mar_April_14_Upbt_FNL_FNL.qxd:Jan_Feb10_Upbt_FNLv50.qxd 2/5/14 10:33 AM

2 Upbeat March/April 2014 www.wbgo.org

Upbeat is available in a large print edition upon request.

Acting Prs./CEO Amy Niles

MarketingManager Brandy Wood

VP of ContentJosh Jackson

Music DirectorGary Walker

Membership Mgr.Roslyn Turner

Design/LayoutPenguin Graphics

MEMBER-SUPPORTED Public Radio

54 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102Tel: (973) 624-8880Fax:(973) 824-8888

Vol. XXXVINo. 3

E-mail:[email protected] Page:www.wbgo.org

stationnotes

in the wbgo GALLERYThe first WBGO Gallery exhibit of 2014 features

the paintings, quilts, and mix media work of self-taught artist, Ramsess. The show, Ramsess—

A Retrospective—30 Years of Genius, featuring over 60pieces, focuses on one of the artist’s greatest loves: jazz.

Using various mediums including mosaics, acrylics, oils,textiles and etched glass, this ardent fan and lover of bluesand jazz music honors the music and the musicians that havedefined jazz for the world, including Charlie Parker, SarahVaughan, Miles Davis, Celia Cruz, Nina Simone, WyntonMarsalis, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. This exhibit is arare opportunity to see a large collection by the Los Angelesbased artist.

Ramsess began creating works almost 30 years ago, but itwas not until 2010 that he began making quilts. Each work is designed, cut and sewn bythe artist using varied shapes, textures and styles of cloth. The “Ella Fitzgerald” quilt,which is part of the exhibit, is one of the artist’s most recent works.

This exhibit will be on display through April 3, 2014, with a closing reception onThursday, April 3, 6–8pm at 54 Park Place in Newark, New Jersey.

Don’t miss one of WBGO’s largest exhibits. The WBGO Gallery is wheelchair accessi-ble and open to the public, Monday through Friday, 10am-5pm. For more information,visit wbgo.org/gallery. Don’t wait to see this beautiful tribute to jazz. We are sure you’llwant to visit more than once.

EllaFitzgeraldQuilt

Our next WBGO Board of Trustees meeting will be held on

Monday, May 19, 2014 at 6pm. The meeting will be held at

WBGO, 54 Park Place, Newark, NJ 07102. This meeting is

open to the public.


www.wbgo.org March/April 2014 Upbeat 3

For 35 years, WBGO has been presentingjazz, blues and R&B plus the best pres-entation of local and national news. We

are proud of our rich history and excited aboutour future, with more people listening thanever before!

We are celebrating by continuing to bringyou the best of Vintage, Big Band, Latin, World,Classic Soul and Blues, plus the best oftoday’s jazz, with an eye to the future with ourInternational Jazz Day (April 30) broadcast ofstudent ensembles. We also mark this mile-stone by revisiting some of the music andmoments what make WBGO unique.

In this issue, you will read pieces written bytwo of WBGO’s “taste-makers,” MichaelBourne and Josh Jackson, highlighting some

WBGO Turns35!

A History of Shaping the Future of Jazz

of their experiences interviewing and record-ing both iconic and rising artists. We’ve alsoincluded a brief history of the station, so ourmany new listeners can learn about the rootsand the direction of WBGO.

We hope you will celebrate with us this April,as WBGO turns 35. Tune in and come out tothe WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series, theGateway 2 free lunch time concerts, thegallery reception and many other celebrationswe are planning for April, which is Jazz Appreciation Month. Please visitWBGO.org/events to see where you can con-nect to WBGO in person this spring andbeyond — whether on our trips to Montreal orNewport this summer or a free concert inCentral Park, the future is looking good!

ourstory

F ounded in April 1979 by an urban thinktank in Newark to affect change afterthe riots there in 1967, WBGO has

become the Jazz Source and the world’s pre-mier, publicly-supported, cultural institutionthat champions jazz and news in its home-town of Newark, throughout the tri-state areaand around the world.

“WBGO is unique for many reasons,” saysDorthaan Kirk, Community Relations andSpecial Events Coordinator, and widow of jazz

legend Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who hasworked with the station from the beginning.“We’ve got location on our side and we’re inthe perfect spot to serve the tri-state area.Most of our programming is done in housewith our announcers, and they have theirown following. All of them have been herefor many years and we’ve stayed consistent,all the time, trying to fine-tune the program-ming within our original format.”

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NATION’S PREMIER JAZZ RADIO STATION

cont’d on next page


On April 9, 1979, a decade after the Newark riots,Robert G. Ottenhoff, a young Rutgers Universitycommunications specialist and jazz fan, launchedthe station on the 88.3 FM frequency from thefourth floor of Central High School in Newark, theeducational entity that had broadcast school les-sons from that signal since 1949.

“It was a terrible waste of a frequency,” Mr.Ottenhoff told the New York Times in 2004. “Hereyou had a station on the air school days only,school hours only. If it was a Friday in June, itwould go off the air until September. Yet itreached 20 million people.”

After Ottenhoff and his associates acquired thestation from the city and secured a broadcastinglicense from the federal government, they movedthe fledging jazz station to its present location, at that time an abandoned furniture store; first,on the top floor, and eventually occupying theentire building. In 1980, the station startedbroadcasting 24 hours.

The next two decades were a period of excep-tional growth for the station.

“During my tenure,” says former GeneralManager Anna Kosof. “My purpose was to devel-op the station into a jazz institution. During thattime, we had the one-and-only NEA Million DollarChallenge Grant, which we matched, and itenabled us to create an endowment. We alsobecame very involved with NPR; produced theNew Year’s Eve Coast to Coast broadcast, anddeveloped the partnership between the stationand Jazz at Lincoln Center during that period. We


created a superb on-air jazz presence, and manyof the stellar on-air staff is still there.”

WBGO has the most accomplished communi-cators in the business, including weekdays withGary Walker (Morning Jazz), Rhonda Hamilton(Mid-Day Jazz), Michael Bourne (Afternoon Jazz,Singers Unlimited, The Blues Hour), AwildaRivera (Evening Jazz, The Latin Jazz Cruise),Brian Delp, (Jazz After Hours), Bill Daughtry(Fridays: Afternoon Jazz, The Blues Hour) andJosh Jackson (The Checkout), plus weekendswith Bob Porter (Portraits in Blue, The SaturdayMorning Function), Felix Hernandez (RhythmRevue), Monifa Brown (Saturday AfternoonJazz), Rob Crocker (Evening Jazz/SundayAfternoon Jazz), Daniel Karcher (SundayMorning Harmony), Sheila Anderson (WeekendJazz After Hours), Bill Daughtry (Late Night Jazz)and Eulis Cathey (Sunday Night Music Mix).

Rhonda Hamilton, the first on-air announcerhired by WBGO in 1979, was a model for the sta-tion’s on-air hosts. “We try to represent themusic in all of its forms and varieties,” she says.“We use the phrase, ‘the best of what’s classic,and the best of what’s new.’ We make it possiblefor people to learn what jazz is and about thecontinuum of this music. I think that’s one of thethings that makes WBGO special. And listenersappreciate what we do so much. It’s a wonderfulthing and it’s very encouraging.”

Josh Jackson, Vice President of Content andhost of The Checkout, a one hour, syndicatedmusic magazine, responsible for the station’soverall sound and programming.

“We treat our community with professionalismand dignity,” says Jackson, “Our announcersand programming staff are the most experiencedmedia presenters of jazz anywhere. WBGOrespects the continuity of the present creatorsand the historical foundations of the music. We serve our audience and embrace the tech-nology to reach them wherever they are. We are committed to outreach and education and connecting jazz to people. Because this is people music.”

Along with its top-notch announcers, WBGOhas also produced a staggering array of award-winning, syndicated shows and concerts over

Dr. Billy Taylorwas the first toplay the pianoin the WBGOPerformanceStudio.

Upbeat duringthe nineties.

L–R: PeterBernstein, WBGO'sMonifa Brown, Dr. Lonnie Smith



the years. In 1987, the station co-producedClassical Jazz at Lincoln Center; a series ofsummer concerts hosted by Wynton Marsalis,which later became Jazz at Lincoln CenterRadio. And in 1999, the station co-produced andsyndicated the 13-part Duke EllingtonCentennial Radio Project. For twenty years, thestation has produced JazzSet, hosted since2003 by Dee Dee Bridgewater, and previouslyhosted by Branford Marsalis. Some of their mostnotable current productions include Toast of theNation, WBGO’s all night, multi-time zone NewYear’s Eve celebration, carried on more than 150stations; Rhythm Revue, WBGO is the originalhome of Felix Hernandez’s classic soul show;Bob Porter’s in depth look at the artists whoshaped the blues, Portraits in Blue; TheCheckout, which brings one-of-a-kind perform-ances to listeners and Playdate with MattWilson, launched in 2014, which focuses on 20years of WBGO’s incredible archival live record-ings. The station also produces, co-presents andbroadcasts over 100 concerts, including its KidsJazz Concert Series, now in its 21st season; TheCheckout: Live at Berklee; monthly free concertsat the Gateway complex in Newark; and thenational broadcast of the Newport Jazz Festival,in partnership with NPR.

The station’s news division is just as impres-sive as its music programming, as evidenced byhundreds of national and regional awards forbreaking news and in-depth stories. Now head-ed by Doug Doyle, News Director, Morning NewsAnchor, host of SportsJam and Co-Host of TheWBGO Journal, WBGO is a leading source fornews and information in and beyond Newark.The News team includes Andrew Meyer(Assistant News Director, Anchor and Co-Host/Producer of The WBGO Journal and Host ofNewark Today), Allan Wolper (Conversations with Allan Wolper) as well as a dedicated groupof contributors.

When Cephas Bowles joined WBGO asPresident and CEO in 1993, the station beganproducing the Kids Jazz Concert Series and laterbegan hosting quarterly receptions in its artgallery, featuring original works by local, regionaland national artists, often on the theme of jazz.

In 1996, the station became one of the first tostream its programming on the Internet, and in2011, a new transmitter and antenna werelaunched atop 4 Times Square in New York City,improving the signal throughout the metro area.

Bowles said, “The signal enhancement proj-ect was part of WBGOs comprehensive pro-gramming strategy and vision to expand thejazz audience. Along with improving the terres-trial signal, we also enhanced our infrastructurewith a new digital channel focused on new andemerging artists and we developed a dynamictravel and events program. This way, we cater to audiences over the airwaves, digitallyand in person.”

Reignited in 2013, WBGO Travel is a culturalconcierge service that provides jazz trips to fes-tivals and events across the nation and aroundthe world. The all-inclusive packages providebehind-the-scenes experiences that only WBGOcan deliver. Destinations include the Umbria JazzWinter Festival in Orvieto, Italy, the Newport JazzFestival in Rhode Island, Jazz on the Mountain at Mohonk Mountain House, and the MontrealJazz Festival.

Named by The New Jersey State Council onthe Arts as a Major Impact Arts Organization fornearly 20 years, and a two-time winner of theJazz Station of Year Award from The GavinReport, WBGO today is a thriving 501(c)3 organ-ization that employs more than 50 full and part-time staff. It’s funded by more than 17,000annual members, as well as corporations, busi-ness, foundations, and governmental grants. Thestation is governed by a Board of Trustees,broadcasts to over 400,000 weekly listeners inthe tri-state area, and attributes much of its lasting success to its primary focus on servingits audience.

“I always suggest that new staff and boardmembers take a turn answering phones duringthe fund drive and speak directly with our mem-bers—to speak directly with those who supportus and hear why they chose to do so,” says AmyNiles, Acting President and CEO. “They learnquickly that for so many, we are such an impor-tant part of so people’s lives. No matter what

cont’d on page 14

L–R: WBGO’sDorthaan Kirk with Wayne Shorter

Rob Crocker,during theearly days



wbgobroadcast

WBGO’s Student Broadcast Festival

As well as being WBGO’s birthday month, Aprilis Jazz Appreciation Month. In celebration,WBGO will once again bring bright, new jazz

talent to its airwaves with the annual student jazzensemble live broadcast event. This year, to coincidewith International Jazz Day on April 30, WBGO willpresent a special four hour broadcast of the best of thebest student ensembles, recorded throughout the month

here in the WBGO Performance Studio.WBGO listeners will get a glimpse into the future, as ensembles from schools such

as Berklee College of Music, The New School, William Paterson and more, bringtheir “A game” to the ’BGO airwaves.

Tune in Wednesday, April 30 from 10am–2pm. For updated information, visitwww.wbgo.org/jams.

Wed.April 30


pro

gra

ms

at a

gla

nc

e

Cov

er A

rt: B

rand

y W

ood


programguide

March/April 2014


The Late MulgrewMiller’s Trio at theKennedy CenterFrom Greenwood, MS,Miller (1955–2013)

played piano with Mercer Ellington, BettyCarter, Art Blakey, Tony Williams. All bandssounded better with Mulgrew. LorenSchoenberg writes “he could levitate abandstand.” His death in Spring 2013leaves the art form and community shaken.Ivan Taylor, bass; Rodney Green, drums.

JAZZSET March 9

SUNDAYS6:00AM SUNDAY MORNING HARMONY

with Dan Karcher10:00AM SINGERS UNLIMITED

with Michael BourneSingers Unlimited is four hours of new andclassic singers singing ballads and bossas,blues and be-bop. For more than 25 years,WBGO’s Michael Bourne has turned the spotlight on jazz vocalists with live in-studioperformances, interviews and more.6:00PM JAZZSET WITH

DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERRE-BROADCASTS ON WEDNESDAYS AT 6:30pmMarch 2 Dr. Lonnie Smith Recently, the 71-year-old Smith reminiscedwith NPR’s Arun Rath of All ThingsConsidered about early dreams of the now iconic Hammond B-3 organ, Blue Noterecording sessions, and—years later—receiving mysterious residuals checks whenhip hop artists sampled his music. JonathanKreisberg, guitar; Jamire Williams, drums.March 9 The Late Mulgrew Miller’s Trio

at the Kennedy CenterSee sidebar.March 16 Lionel Loueke Mark Schramm writes, “Loueke often openshis songs with his voice expanded in harmo-ny, as he plays a single line on his guitar andthen fans out from that. Everything is part of a curve. The music grows, as the bandrevels in itself and then slims back down. No hurry.” Michael Olatuja, bass; MarkGuiliana, drums.March 23 Two Skirts and A Shirt

at The Kennedy Center "Do you remember when it was not unusualfor jazz composers to write about socialissues? What happened?" asks Rene Marie,onstage with Carla Cook and Allan Harris.They raise their voices in anthems like"Compared to What," "Tryin' Times," andLeonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

March 30 Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran at The Kennedy Center

Saxophonist Bunnett traveled regularly fromToronto to Cuba for years, toting instrumentsand music for students there and bringingback the spirit of Havana. She and Duransample their album Cuban Rhapsody. Thegreat conguero Candido has a cameomoment, to audience delight.7:00 PM SUNDAY NIGHT MUSIC MIX Grammy® nominated record producer EulisCathey plays an eclectic mixture of jazz, contemporary jazz, fusion, jazz/funk, Latin,classic R&B and so much more. From GroverWashington, Jr. to Weather Report; fromJames Brown to Eddie Palmieri; fromCharles Earland to Incognito, the SundayNight Music Mix has something for every-one.11:00PM JAZZ FROM THE ARCHIVESMONDAYS6:30PM JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER

WITH WENDELL PIERCEMarch 3 New Kings of the Crescent City Louis Armstrong. Sidney Bechet. Jelly RollMorton. King Oliver. Immortals who directedand defined the development of jazz into thebody of work that’s celebrated across theglobe. Victor Goines, a son of the CrescentCity, leads a stellar line up of musicians in


All programs subject to change.


celebration of the names that made NewOrleans a latter day Atlantis of music. With Marcus Printup, Kenny Rampton, Chris Crenshaw, Don Vappie, Dan Nimmer,and more. March 10 Afro-Cuban FiestaDanzones and "sons montunos" spill into the streets as maestro Paquito D'Rivera leadsa journey through the music of his nativeCuba. Sonero and guitarist David Oquendo,Las Hermanas Marquez and percussionistCandido Camero join in this Afro-CubanFiesta.March 17 Luciana Souza TrioToast of the Brazilian jazz scene LucianaSouza offers up her trademark style of gentlebut adventurous vocal explorations. With fourGrammy® nominations for Best Jazz Vocalunder her belt, Souza lights up the AllenRoom with a panache reserved for veteranstwice her age. March 24 Abyssinian Mass Wynton Marsalis was commissioned in 2008to write a piece for the bicentennial of theAbyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Thisincarnation of the opus that emergedembraces a celebration of life, humanity, andlove, uniting musical traditions from acrosscenturies and continents. Performed with the70 piece Chorale de Chateau and the Jazz AtLincoln Center Orchestra, the AbyssinianMass must be experienced to be believed.March 31 Ethel Waters: Blues,

Broadway, and JazzSee sidebar. 7:30 PM NJ CAPITOL REPORTEmmy Award-winning anchors SteveAdubato and Rafael Pi Roman host NewJersey Capitol Report which examines NewJersey’s most pressing public and policyissues. The program looks at political, social,and cultural issues affecting the people ofNew Jersey through in-depth conversationswith the state’s top legislative leaders, politi-cal pundits, and “movers and shakers.”

TUESDAYS6:30PM PLAYDATE WITH

MATT WILSON (in March)For almost 35 years, WBGO has been thesource for live jazz from stages nationwideand around the world. Hear highlights fromWBGO’s archives dating 1980–2000 onPlaydate with host Matt Wilson. Specific program information available atWBGO.org/Playdate.6:30 PM THE CHECKOUT (in April)This hour-long music magazine, hosted byJosh Jackson, is also available as a podcast,which can be found at the show’s websiteWBGO.org/thecheckout. The multimediashow features what’s new in the New Yorkjazz scene, including featured new musicselections, sessions from the WBGO perform-ance studio, as well as interviews. April 1 Jason Moran & Robert Glasper,

Caravan Palace and moreApril 22 Brian Blade at

the Village VanguardBlade performs music from his latest record-ing (release date April 29).

Ethel Waters:Blues, Broadway, and JazzMichael Feinsteinleads a trio ofvocals in tributeto the womanwho marked her career defy-

ing cultural boundaries—black and white,jazz and Broadway, secular and gospel.Ethel Waters’ legacy lives on in this hour ofshow stopping numbers. Adriane Lenox,Catherine Russell, and Tracie Thoms light upthe Allen Room with song.

JALC March 31


programguide

March/April 2014


Tierney SuttonJazz vocalist Tierney Sutton has head-lined national venues including CarnegieHall, The Hollywood Bowl, and theKennedy Center. And she has earned fiveGrammy® nominations, including fourconsecutive nominations for Best JazzVocal Album. With her latest project, AfterBlue, Sutton takes on the genius of Pop& Folk singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell.Alongside her guitarist Serge Merlaud,Sutton performs a set of standardsincluding “Fly Me to the Moon” and “You Must Believe in Spring.”

SONG TRAVELS March 6

April 29 International Jazz Day SpecialWBGO’s Monica Miller reports from Ethiopiaon the jazz scene.7:30PM CONVERSATIONS

WITH ALLAN WOLPERConversations with Allan Wolper featuresguests whose ideas are on the cutting edge.Wolper, known as a “journalist’s journalist,”is an interviewer, reporter, documentary pro-ducer and ethics columnist, who has beenhonored by every journalism medium, win-ning over 50 awards.8:00PM LATIN JAZZ CRUISE

With Awilda Rivera

WEDNESDAYS6:30PM JAZZSET WITH

DEE DEE BRIDGEWATERRe-broadcast of Sunday’s Program; See Listing 7:30PM SPORTSJAM SportsJam takes a unique peak into thesports scene as WBGO’s News and SportsDirector Doug Doyle talks with a wide varietyof guests. Bernie Williams, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jon Faddis, Savion Glover and WBGOhost Rhonda Hamilton all agree there’s astrong connection between jazz and sports.SportsJam recently received the Best SportsAward from the New Jersey AssociatedPress Broadcasters Association.THURSDAYS 6:30PM SONG TRAVELS

WITH MICHAEL FEINSTEINMarch 6 Tierney SuttonSee sidebar.March 13 Peter Yarrow &

Noel Paul Stookey Peter, Paul & Mary rode the 1960s folk waveto worldwide acclaim. Yarrow and Stookey,along with the late Mary Travers, performedenduring anthems of social change including“If I Had a Hammer” and Bob Dylan’s“Blowin’ in the Wind,” as well as the light-hearted “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Yarrowand Stookey continue their remarkable fifty-plus-year career together and continue tosound the clarion call to social change.March 20 Rumer Singer/songwriter Rumer (Sarah Joyce) wasraised in England and Pakistan, and hersound reveals a deep connection to the ’70ssinger/songwriter era, along with shades ofBroadway, ’30s Jazz, and Gospel. Her debutalbum, Seasons of My Soul, reached #3 onthe UK charts and was certified platinum.Rumer joins Feinstein to talk about JudyGarland, Burt Bacharach, and old Hollywood,


All programs subject to change.


and performs a set including “I Loves You,Porgy,” “That’s All,” and her own song,“Come To Me High.” March 27 Ann Hampton CallawayTony nominated actress, vocalist, andPlatinum Award-winning songwriter AnnHampton Callaway has sung with top orches-tras and Big Bands the world over, includingperformances before President Bill Clinton inWashington, DC and Russian PresidentMikhail Gorbachev in Moscow. As a song-writer, she has penned tunes for BarbaraStreisand and wrote and sang the theme tothe hit sitcom The Nanny. 7:30PM PEOPLE’S PHARMACYThis program examines current issues in medicine, mental health, nutrition and fitness. FRIDAYS6:30PM PORTRAITS IN BLUERe-broadcast of previous Saturday’sProgram; See Listing.7:30PM WBGO JOURNALThis program, produced by the multi-awardwinning WBGO team, covers issues of impor-tance to the Newark/NY metro area. SATURDAYS6:00AM LATINO USA with Maria HinojosaMulti award-winning Latino USA, the radiojournal of news and culture, is the onlynationally distributed English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective. This program covers the social,cultural and political issues facing today’sLatino community.

Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino USA, is alsourban affairs correspondent for CNN and aformer NPR News reporter. In addition tobeing a broadcaster, Hinojosa is an author,and a frequent lecturer on college campuses.She has received the Robert F. KennedyAward, an Associated Press award and theNational Council of La Raza’s 1999 RubenSalazar Award.

7:00AM PORTRAITS IN BLUERE-BROADCASTS ON FRIDAYS AT 6:30March 1 Jimmy Reed, Vol. 5March 8 Little Richard, Vol. 2March 15 Big Joe Turner - Albums, Vol. 2March 22 Chuck Berry, Vol. 7March 29 Jimmy McCracklin, Vol. 3April 5 Dinah Washington—

From the Beginning, Vol. 9 April 12 Sam Taylor, Vol. 6April 19 Johnny Rawls, Vol. 3April 26 The Phantom Blues Band8:00AM SATURDAY MORNING FUNCTIONWBGO’s Bob Porter plays blues, R&B andclassic soul, with an emphasis on the early1950s to the late 1960s. New artists whoperform these styles are also featured.10:00AM RHYTHM REVUE

with Felix HernandezRhythm Revue’s blend of classic soul andR&B received the A.I.R. (Achievement inRadio) Award for the Best Weekend Programin New York, and was named Best RadioShow by New York Magazine and the Village Voice. WBGO is the original home of Rhythm Revue.March 1 Birthday tribute to Rhythm

Revue friend & Philly soul songwriter/producer Bobby Eli

March 8 Soul Hits of 1973Mach 15 Birthday tribute to Sly StoneMarch 22 Birthday tribute to

Aretha FranklinMarch 29 Birthday tributes to

Gil Scott-Heron & Marvin GayeApril 5 Countdown Top 10 soul

this date in 1966, 1969, 1970 and 1973

April 12 Birthday tribute to Al GreenApril 19 Request ShowApril 26 An hour of early soul

(1959-63)


The WBGO Kids Jazz Concert Series continues this Spring with perform-

ances in various cities in Essex County, New Jersey. These interactive, hour-

long programs give young people opportunities to learn about the distinct

qualities of jazz, and why it is a reflection of our community, nation, and world. Top

jazz and blues artists produce special programs tailor-made for young people. The

audience participates in Q&A sessions with the artists, and the children are eligible

for a prize drawing, plus all young people will receive a small gift. All concerts are

free, adults must be accompanied by a child.

Dates and locations are subject to change. All concerts are held on Saturdays and

begin at 12:30 P.M. Visit WBGO.org/kids for updates on the locations and perform-

ers in this series, as well as other news for jazzy kids!

Special thanks to our sponsors, Agnes Varis Trust, PNC Foundation, Investors Bank,

Turrell Fund, NJPAC’s Wachovia Jazz for Teens and the New Jersey State Council

on the Arts.

Spring2014

March 29 New Jersey Historical SocietyApril 5 Montclair Art MuseumApril 12 NJPAC

April 26 Newark Symphony HallMay 3 Luna Stage

CONCERT SCHEDULE




WBGO’s hometown of Newark isgearing up for a Mayoral elec-tion. All four candidates will

appear in conversation with Dr. ClementPrice of Rutgers-Newark, at NJPAC.

WBGO will carry a live web stream ofWBGO’s New Voices for Newark: TheMayoral Candidates in Conversation withDr. Clement Price at www.wbgo.org. Logon at 7pm on the following dates to hearthe candidate listed:

March 31: Darrin SharifApril 7: Anibal RamosApril 14: Shavar JeffriesApril 21: Ras Baraka

WBGO News will also air the one-hourconversations the following Sunday morn-ings at 9am on WBGO, The Jazz Source(88.3 FM). The Sunday airings are as fol-lows from 9am to 10am:

April 6: Darrin SharifApril 13: Anibal RamonApril 20: Shavar JeffriesApril 27: Ras Baraka

The broadcasts at NJPAC will be hostedby WBGO’s News Director Doug Doyle,who told Upbeat, “We are excited to onceagain partner with NJPAC and our greatfriend Dr. Clement Price of Rutgers-Newark to provide an in-depth look intothe Newark Mayoral Race. The talks willbe engaging and informative, allowing vot-ers in Brick City to make up their own minds about who they want as theirnext leader.”

WBGO NEWS DEPARTMENT

Dr. Clement Price

MEMORABLE WBGOSTUDIO SESSIONS

WBGO’s Vice President ofContent, Josh Jackson,has brought many artists

to the WBGO Performance Studioto do live and recorded sessions.This is one of the many ways inwhich the station brings listenersmusical experiences that no oneelse can. For this 35th Anniversaryissue of Upbeat, Josh provided a listof some of the standouts, comment-ing, “Each session was a differentexperience. I like these . . .”

Avishai Cohen and TriveniNir Felder

The Fellowship BandAaron Parks QuartetRobert Glasper Trio

Gary Burton and Julian LageMiguel Zenon Esta Plena

Jazz Composers CollectiveJonathan Batiste Solo

Linda Oh Trio

To hear them, visit:WBGO.org/blog/memorable-wbgo-studio-sessions

Robert Glasperin the WBGOPerformanceStudio


kind of a day they have had, the music bringsthem back to a special place. To hear how muchthis means to our members, is wonderfully gratifying. I never for a moment take what we do for granted.”

“I think it’s significant that we’ve been aroundfor 35 years,” says Midday Jazz host RhondaHamilton. “The fact that we’re a listener-sup-ported radio station, and we’ve been on the airfor this long, is a great achievement, and a tes-tament to our audience, and their appreciation ofwhat they have in a radio station like WBGO.”

Niles reflects, “As an anchor institution inNewark for more than three decades, WBGO isdeeply committed to this city and all that hap-pens in the state. We are proud to be Newark’sbeacon of jazz and news, and we look forward tocontinuing to shine the light around the world formany decades to come.”

WBGO HISTORY cont’d from page 5


MUSIC DIRECTOR GARY WALKER’STOP CDS + RE-ISSUES

Gary’sPlays

Top Tunes

Reissues

Harold MabernRight on Time (Smoke Sessions)Jed Levy QuartetThe Italian Suite (Steeplechase)Catherine RussellBring It Back (Jazz Village)Craig HandyCraig Handy & 2nd Line Smith(Okeh)Helen SungAnthem for a New Day (Concord)Dianne ReevesBeautiful Life (Concord)Anton SchwartzFlash Mob (Antonjazz.com)Danilo PerezPanama 500 (Mack Avenue)Steve DavisFor Real (Positone)

Rudy Royston303 (Greenleaf Music)

Woody ShawThe Complete Muse Sessions(mosaicrecords.com)

Stan Getz QuartetLive At Montreux 1972 (Eagle Eye Media)



Leading up to WBGO’s 35th birthday, Upbeatasked Afternoon Jazz, Blues Hour and SingersUnlimited host, Michael Bourne, to reminisceabout some of his favorite interviews in his nearly 30 years at the station. Here is hisresponse:

I’ve interviewed countless musicians andothers through my going-on-30 years asa jock on WBGO. Maybe a thousand?

Maybe two thousand — if you count the 25-a-day I’ve sometimes talked with at confer-ences or festivals we’ve broadcast from. I’veloved especially broadcasting from myfavorite festival, Festival International de Jazzde Montreal. This year being FIJM’s 35th andWBGO’s 35th, you can expect great thingswhen the world’s best jazz festival (sez me)and the world’s best jazz radio station (sezeverybody) celebrate together.

Who’ve been my favorite interviews onWBGO? So many of my favorite artists: DaveBrubeck, Tony Bennett, Antonio Carlos Jobim,Paquito D’Rivera, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams,Cleo Laine & John Dankworth, Claire Martin &Ian Shaw, Diana Krall, New York Voices,

Michael Bourne’sFavorite Interviews

Manhattan Transfer, Robert Klein, BarbaraCarroll. And in the Blues Hour: Little Milton,Gatemouth Brown, Marcia Ball, SusanTedeschi & Derek Trucks.

What’s been especially cool is that in recentyears so many of our interviews and concertbroadcasts have been archived and can beheard on the WBGO blog. [Listen to some ofthe interviews cited in this article atWBGO.org/blog/Michael-Bournes-favorite-interviews).

Several generations of jazz artists havecome along in the years since WBGO came onthe air. We’re still (and always will be) playingElla and Sarah, Dizzy and Miles, but in this last35 years, along came some new one-name-only singers and players, Kurt and Cassandra,Wynton and Branford — and they’re now anolder generation. Our annual JAM-fest (JazzAppreciation Month Festival) in April is a spot-light on the newest generation, some of thebest and brightest newcomers from schools inNJ, NY, and down from Boston. When you hearthem playing live on WBGO, you’re hearing thefuture of jazz . . . and of the station.


WB

GO

Jazz 8

8.3

FM

New

ark

Public R

adio

54 P

ark

Plac

eNe

war

k, N

J 07

102

ww

w.w

bgo.

org

TIM

E D

ATE

D M

ATE

RIA

L—P

LEA

SE

DE

LIV

ER

ON

OR

BE

FOR

E M

AR

CH

1,

2014

Non-

Prof

itOr

gani

zatio

nUS

Pos

tage

PA

IDNe

war

k, N

JPe

rmit

No. 6

132

The

curr

ent i

ssue

of U

pbea

tis

onlin

e w

ith a

dded

link

s to

con

tent

.Vi

sit W

BGO.

org/

Upbe

at.


wbgo's upbeat march/april 2014

Documents

wbgo celebrates35 years

wbgo gallerythe

wbgo unique

wbgo gallery exhibit

wbgo program guidejazz

wbgo board of trustees

best oftodays jazz

lover of bluesand jazz