Jazz Tonight & All That Jazz

Jazz Tonight airs weeknights at 8 pm

All That Jazz airs Sundays, 9-11 pm

~PLAYLISTS~

On my WVTF weeknight program, Jazz Tonight, I'll be drawing on my many years of listening to, playing and love of jazz. I first was introduced to the music in the late 40s and early 50s listening to the big bands and small jazz groups on my Dad's Magnavox console "hi-fi," one of the first on the market to play the then "new" 10-inch LP records. In early high school, I became a fan of Andre Previn, Stan Kenton, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Byrd, and most importantly, Dave Brubeck.

At about that time, I started playing upright bass with three other high school friends who were also discovering jazz. We formed a quartet modeled after Brubeck's and played his then-wildly popular "Take Five" at our high school's Junior Talent Night. We actually won first place!

By the time I began attending Virginia Tech in the early 60s, I already had a sizable jazz and blues record collection which I listened to probably at the expense of my studies. While at Tech, I played in a folk group as well as with the school dance band, The Southern Colonels.

Next on to missile electronics in the US Air Force, where I ended up in Thailand in 1968, and by a twist of fate, had a chance to play in a trio backing up Rosemary Clooney on a USO tour. After leaving the service, my career in the audio field brought me to Roanoke where I got the chance to resume playing jazz with some of the best regional musicians.

By a strange fluke, I got a chance to produce a jazz show on WPVR in 1972 and started my Saturday night "All That Jazz" show on the then-upstart WVWR (now WVTF Public Radio) public radio station a year later in August 1973. That program has been on the air ever since and has allowed me to share with my listeners my love for jazz and why it is such an infectious musical form.

With my new week night Jazz Tonight venture here on WVTF, I'll be expanding on the foundation of my Saturday night program, All That Jazz, by playing a greater variety of the various types of jazz that still maintains those vital links to the mainstream of the music--improvisation, swing, a groove, and most importantly, a feeling of the blues. You should be able to enjoy the program whether you are a casual listener, a full-blown jazz fan or a musician.

You'll hear the latest releases from the up and coming "young lions," as well as a wealth of music from the jazz greats drawing from the station's vast CD library and from my personal collection.

I hope the music makes you tap your foot, brings about a smile--maybe even a tear--and just makes you feel good!

• Staff