Showing posts with label eric jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eric jackson. Show all posts

Monday, July 9, 2012

Folk, Blues, Classical and Jazz Funeral for Passed WGBH Music Programs, Copley Plaza, 7/27

Hundreds of jazz musicians and fans turned out at the "public" radio WGBH studios in Brighton this past Thursday to hold a funeral for the reduction of WGBH jazz programming. 


A second funeral, not limited to just the passing of jazz, is planned for Friday, July 27, starting at 6pm, in Copley Plaza. Fans of all passed and endangered music forms (folk and blues were killed in 2009, classical was shuffled off to an inferior carrier in 2010, and there is no guarantee from WGBH management that Celtic, the only remaining form, will not be next) are expected.  The second funeral will be held in conjunction with the Boston Summer Arts Weekend, which is sponsored in part by WGBH. A bit of irony is that with Steve Schwartz terminated after 27 years of service and Eric Jackson's (30 years) program reduced and moved from weeknights to weekends, some WGBH blueblood will have to emcee the Preservation Hall Jazz Band as there are no remaining jazz staff available.


For more information about the funeral, click here.


Read more about the July 5 funeral here.
Read more about WGBH reducing jazz programs in 2012 here.
Read more about WGBH dropping folk and blues programs in 2009 here
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Musicians Protest Jazz Cuts at WGBH Radio

Hundreds attended the funeral held Thursday, July 5 outside the studios of "public" radio station WGBH in Brighton, organized by community/independent college WMBR producer/host Ken Field. The jazz funeral was held in conjunction with Eric Jackson's final weekday evening program (after 30 years, Ken's weeknight program is being eliminated, his hours reduced to those formerly filled by Steve Schwartz, who, after 27 years, has been fired). 

From Ken: "WGBH Radio's management has recently demolished its jazz programming by firing Steve Schwartz and relegating Eric Jackson to weekends. Join others in saying goodbye to decades of weeknight jazz programming on WGBH by participating as a musician or listener in a short New Orleans style jazz funeral outside WGBH studios (http://www.wgbh.org/about/Directions.cfm) on the final evening of Eric Jackson's weeknight program."


Read more about the July 5 funeral here.
Read more about WGBH reducing jazz programs in 2012 here.
Read more about WGBH dropping folk and blues programs in 2009 here.


A second funeral,not limited to the passing of jazz but to mourn the passing of all music forms WGBH has reduced or eliminated (folk and blues were killed in 2009, classical was shuffled off to an inferior carrier in 2010, and Celtic, the only remaining form, could be next) will be held Friday, July 27 in Copley Plaza. More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/259272814182000/

45 minute HD recording from Videosphere [Cambridge, MA]

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Jazz Funeral for Jazz on WGBH Radio, 7/5, Brighton



Thursday, July 5, 2012, 8pm
One Guest Street, Brighton, MA


For background information, read WGBH's March Towards "Single Format" Continues

Community radio producer/host Ken Field is organizing a "jazz funeral" in protest of Boston NPR affiliate WGBH's decision to drastically cut its jazz programming (terminating Steve Schwartz's show and relegating Eric's to the weekend) with a "Jazz Funeral" outside WGBH studios. Members of the music community have been invited to attend to express displeasure with this misguided decision. 


Ken writes: "WGBH Radio's management has recently demolished its jazz programming by firing Steve Schwartz and relegating Eric Jackson to weekends. Join others in saying goodbye to decades of weeknight jazz programming on WGBH by participating as a musician or listener in a short New Orleans style jazz funeral outside WGBH studios on the final evening of Eric Jackson's weeknight program."


Social media is being used to spread the word. Ken has created a Facebook event titled "Jazz Funeral for Jazz on WGBH Radio"
WGBH Radio's management has recently demolished its jazz programming by firing Steve Schwartz and relegating Eric Jackson to weekends. Join others in saying goodbye to decades of weeknight jazz programming on WGBH by participating as a musician or listener in a short New Orleans style jazz funeral outside WGBH studios (http://www.wgbh.org/about/Directions.cfm) on the final evening of Eric Jackson's weeknight program. 
Musicians: Please arrive by 7:45pm. We will start with Just a Closer Walk in Bb done as a slow processional, followed by an uptempo 2nd line section, followed by an uptempo Down By the Riverside in Bb. I'll post some charts here.
Three Facebook groups are being used to facilitate communication about WGBH's continuing march towards "single-format" (all news/talk) radio:


SAVE ERIC IN THE EVENING
(recently created and managed by Robb Willison)


WGBH is considering cancelling Eric's decades-old weekday evening programming, as well as Jazz with Steve Schwartz. We think this would do a disservice to listeners and the greater Boston community and we'd like WGBH to reconsider.


and its event - Jazz Funeral for Jazz on WGBH


Save Jazz on WGBH Now!
(recently created and managed by Sue AuClair)
Here's a page that includes both jazz programs--Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz are the best! Let's see what we can do together....OCCUPY WGBH?
(as of 7/3 9am there was no jazz funeral event associated with the group)
and
Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH
 (created 11/09, managed by Jeff Boudreau)

"Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH" is dedicated to the few hearty souls who fought WGBH's blue-blood stuffed shirts and lost the battle, but not the war."I can only assume this has something to do with the almighty dollar. Isn't this supposed to be public radio and aren't we the public. Folk music has been a mainstay on WGBH for as long as I can remember. Acoustic artists are as popular as ever and in some ways even more popular then in days gone by. I don't get it. WGBH should be ashamed of itself. Well, as Ma Joad said, "We're the people and you can't stop us and you can't lick us. We just keep coming, 'cause we're the people."-Jim Kweskin, November 11, 2009.
"Leslie Warshaw, a WGBH producer for over 30 years and now retired, noted that the station constantly spoke in her day of “mission.” Gradually it changed from “mission” to “service” and then, she noted wistfully, became “business.”"
We are the dedicated listeners and supporters of "Folk on WGBH" and "Blues on WGBH", deemed "nonnews elements" that do not fit the new "single format" (news/talk). Both programs were canceled 12/1/09.
WGBH's words from the past ring hollow today. "WGBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives." ~ WGBH website
"We are proud of the folk and blues programs we have offered and of the many contributions that WGBH and our hosts have made to these genres, so it was a difficult decision to discontinue Blues on WGBH and Folk on WGBH..." ~ press release announcing program cancellation.
To read additional background information, the official WGBH statement and host/producer information, go to http://notlobmusic.blogspot.com/2009/11/wgbh-drops-folk-and-blues-programs.html...


Between the three events some 4000 individuals have been invited the funeral. Some 2000+ more could be if and when "Save Jazz on WGBH Now!" creates its.


One person who will not be in attendance is fired 27-year veteran jazz producer/host Steve Schwartz. So his presence does not interfere with his last show the following evening, WGBH management has "counseled" him that attending would "not be cool." 

Whether the jazz funeral will convince WGBH management to alter its decision remains to be scene, but what is certain is Brighton is in store for a large scale jazz funeral.
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

WGBH's March Towards "Single Format" Continues

On November 7, 2009, notloB Music raised the alert that WGBH was canceling the folk and blues programs, and predicted jazz and Celtic would follow in turn.
notloB Music: WGBH drops folk and blues programs  Nov 07, 2009
Folk music has been a mainstay on WGBH for as long as I can remember. Acoustic artists are as popular as ever and in some ways even more popular then in days gone by. I don't get it. WGBH should be ashamed of itself...

Today from Steve Schwartz' Facebook page, on the termination of his show after nearly 27 years we read...
You've heard by now: My almost 27 year run on WGBH radio is coming to an end as of September 1st. I will no long be on the radio doing a jazz show. It is a gigantic blow, not only to me but to the jazz community at large. Not only here in Boston but all around the country and the world. We have listeners on line everywhere. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this community and I hope still be able to contribute to it in other ways.You can let WGBH Management know how you feel by writing to:phil_redo@wgbh.orgThanks for your support and keep swinging!

also today, on Eric Jackson's Facebook page we read 
Changes at WGBH are coming. My evening show is going to be eliminated. I will be on the air Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 PM until Midnight. Steve Schwartz will be let go and my position will be scaled back to part time. I am not sure if there will be any change to Bob Parlocha's show.


In 2009-2010 many of us attended community advisory committee meetings, sent letters to senior executives and the board of directors and withdrew support via volunteering and memberships. All to no avail. WGBH management's answer then was, on the advice of "industry experts" there was room in the Boston market for an all-news/talk public radio outlet (the other being WBUR) so it was going "single format" (all news and talk). It appears today WGBH management, with the support of the board of directors and the members who elect them, are holding steady by reducing jazz broadcast hours. 

What's next, the complete elimination of jazz and reduction/elimination of "A Celtic Sojourn?" That would be the logical course in keeping with the "single stream" business approach. We chose to use the word "business" as WGBH has become an operation run as a for-profit business, not a not-for-profit rooted in serving the public. Remember the public, it's the operative word of "public radio."

When WGBH management pulled the plug on folk and blues programs, Jim Kweskin provided the following quote:
"I can only assume this has something to do with the almighty dollar. Isn't this supposed to be public radio and aren't we the public. Folk music has been a mainstay on WGBH for as long as I can remember. Acoustic artists are as popular as ever and in some ways even more popular then in days gone by. I don't get it. WGBH should be ashamed of itself. Well, as Ma Joad said, "We're the people and you can't stop us and you can't lick us. We just keep coming, 'cause we're the people."
That was true on November 11, 2009 and, unfortunately, remains true today.


Captured from the WGBH website before the pages are sent down the memory hole:


http://www.wgbh.org/listen/schwartz_steve.cfm



Steve Schwartz | Jazz from Studio Four


Steve Schwartz  Steve Schwartz
"There's always new music to discover and old music to rediscover."
Background: Born and raised in Boston. Discovered jazz on the radio as a teenager living in southern California. That freed me from having to listen to Elvis Presley and Pat Boone anymore. I've been at WGBH for 19 years and am looking forward to many more. There's always new music to discover and old music to rediscover.
Nickname(s): The only nickname I ever had was while I was living in California during the late 1950s. Because of where I came from, my schoolmates began calling me "Boston Blackie." My grandchildren call me "Pops."
First album I ever owned: The Jazz Showcase, Introducing the Mastersounds. Bought in Los Angeles in 1959, 50 years ago. This music was just issued on CD for the first time by Fresh Sounds. It's great to hear it without all the surface noise that had accumulated on the original LP.
Five desert island albums: Duke Ellington, Piano in the Foreground (Columbia Records); Charles Mingus, Blues and Roots (Atlantic Records); Bill Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Riverside Records); Betty Carter, Inside Betty Carter (United Artists/Blue Note Records); The Beatles, The White Album (Capitol Records).
Favorite podcast: Real Time with Bill Maher
Greatest place to see live music: The Village Vanguard in New York City
Most memorable concert: Charles Mingus at Lennie's on the Turnpike in West Peabody, Massachusetts. Or was it John Coltrane's quartet at the Jazz Workshop on Boylston Street in Boston? Or was it...
Favorite movie about music/musician: 'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris
Favorite book about music/musician: Chet Baker: As Though I Had Wings, The Lost Memoir
When not listening to jazz, I listen to talk radio (to hear what the world at large is talking about).
Finest moment on the air: Every Friday night 8pm-midnight
Most embarrassing moment on the air: Never had one
If I weren’t a radio host, I’d be a jazz night club owner on the island of Guadaloupe. Or maybe a bicycle mechanic (which I actually was before getting involved in jazz radio full time).


Eric Jackson | Jazz with Eric in the Evening


Eric Jackson  Jazz with Eric in the Evening host Eric Jackson"Eric Jackson has been the dean of the Boston jazz scene for 25 years."
-Boston Magazine
First album I ever owned: I bought my first three records all on the same day — Chicken and Dumplings by Bobby Timmons, Soul Clinic by Hank Crawford, and Soul Message by Richard Groove Holmes.
Five desert island albums: Anything by Coltrane or Miles
Greatest place to see live music: I love outdoor festivals and concerts.
Favorite book about music/musician: The Music of Black Americans by Eileen Southern
When not listening to Jazz, I listen to Stevie Wonder, Prince
If I wasn’t a radio host, I’d be a psychiatrist.
The best part of my job is hearing lots of new music and meeting lots of people.

89.7 WGBH HOSTS

Jazz on WGBH with Eric Jackson

Each Monday-Thursday, 8pm-12am, and Sunday nights, 10pm-12am, the "dean of Boston jazz radio" Eric Jackson brings listeners the very best jazz on Boston radio's home of jazz, 89.7 WGBH.
LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES >>
89.7 WGBH HOSTS

Jazz on WGBH with Eric Jackson

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES
Each Monday-Thursday, 8pm-12am, and Sunday nights, 10pm-12am, the "dean of Boston jazz radio"Eric Jackson brings listeners the very best jazz on Boston radio's home of jazz, 89.7 WGBH.
89.7 WGBH HOSTS

Jazz on WGBH with Steve Schwartz

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES
Host Steve Schwartzfeatures a weekly artist's profile, live performances from the WGBH studios, and contemporary and classic jazz selections.

Fridays, 8pm-midnight on 89.7 FM
89.7 WGBH

Jazz with Bob Parlocha

Bob Parlocha is a nationally known jazz expert. His show airs on 89.7 weekdays from 12am to 5am and weekends from 12am to 6am.
RAY SMITH

Jazz Decades

BROWSE OUR ARCHIVES
LISTEN TO OUR STREAM
We are proud to continue sharing Ray Smith's love of music through archived episodes of Jazz Decades, on 89.7 everySunday at 7pm and online anytime.
JAZZ

Arni Cheatham Live at WGBH

LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Celebrated jazz saxaphonist Arni Cheatham visited WGBH for a show with members of the WGBH Jazz Club.

Recorded live in theWGBH Fraser Performance Studio.
WGBH JAZZ

A Tribute for Gil Evans on His 100th Birthday

By WGBH Jazz
Jazz legend Gil Evans would have celebrated his 100th birthday on May 13, 2012. WGBH Jazz hosts Eric Jackson and Steve Schwartz dedicate hours of listening to his compositions and arrangements, in particular his work with Miles Davis.
JAZZ IN PERFORMANCE

The Stanley Sagov Band

LISTEN TO MORE JAZZ
South African jazz pianist Stanley Sagov performed live in the WGBH Fraser studio with his band.
JAZZ IN PERFORMANCE

Marco Pignataro

LISTEN TO MORE JAZZ
Jazz Club members and guests welcomed Italian saxophonist Marco Pignataro to WGBH's Fraser Studio this month for an exclusive performance.
LIVE PERFORMANCES

New Venues And A WGBH Broadcast At First Night

By WGBH News
New college partnerships mean more stages for the 1 million visitors to Boston's First Night. WGBH is airing the Julian Lage Trio's performance as part of NPR's annual "Toast of the Nation" broadcast.
LIVE PERFORMANCES

Remembering Al Vega

To commemorate the late, great jazz pianist, we share a June 2011 recording of his trio live at WGBH's Fraser Performance Center.

Jazz from NPR

Redferns
Five Jazz Songs That Speak Of The Freedom Struggle
June 19, 2012 | NPR · For the annual celebration of Juneteenth, today's jazz luminaries — musicians such as Jason Moran, Christian McBride, Orrin Evans, Jeremy Pelt and Bobby Watson — reflect on recordings about the ongoing process of African-American emancipation.
Ray Anderson: A Pocket-Size Suite Makes A Huge Racket
June 19, 2012 | NPR · It's tricky making a little band sound this big, but trombonist Ray Anderson knows his tricks.
 Windows Media |  MP3 |  NPR Player |  Add to NPR Player
iStockPhoto
Around The Jazz Internet: June 18, 2012
June 18, 2012 | NPR · The top 20 records of the last 20 years, more money from music and the Latin Jazz Grammy returns.

Most Popular

JAZZ ON WGBH WITH STEVE SCHWARTZ

Featuring Stanley Cowell 5/6/2011



JAZZ DECADES

Jazz Medley 11/7/2010



JAZZ ON WGBH WITH STEVE SCHWARTZ

Featuring Ellis Marsalis and Hampton Hawes 11/12/2010



JAZZ ON WGBH WITH ERIC JACKSON

Spotlight On Charles Earland 1/23/2011



Latest Comments



========================================


Two hours since Steve's posting, sentiments expressed by friends and fans to his Facebook page:




Steve Schwartz
2 hours ago
You've heard by now: My almost 27 year run on WGBH radio is coming to an end as of September 1st. I will no long be on the radio doing a jazz show. It is a gigantic blow, not only to me but to the jazz community at large. Not only here in Boston but all around the country and the world. We have listeners on line everywhere. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this community and I hope still be able to contribute to it in other ways.
You can let WGBH Management know how you feel by writing to:
phil_redo@wgbh.org
Thanks for your support and keep swinging!
14

    • Bobby Jackson Horrible....
      2 hours ago

    • Joel Chriss Our voice will be heard. Thank you for all you've done and I anticipate you will find other ways to contribute.
      2 hours ago

    • Jason M. Rubin Really, really sucks. Very unfair yet not the first stupid thing GBH management has done.
      2 hours ago · 1

    • Jason M. Rubin Time for you to write a book.
      2 hours ago · 1

    • Kristophe Diaz People should really mobilize and write to the provided adress. Eric Jackson has also posted some information and has gotten lot's of comments on his post. I think if enough people (I already did) complain or say something, they might at least think again of their choices?
      2 hours ago

    • Kim Abrams Beuttler What?! Why? What is going on with Boston radio? I will post something to protest.
      2 hours ago

    • Jim Gillis Very sorry, Steve, as a listener and a friend to hear this news. I mentioned it on my FB page.
      2 hours ago

    • Bruno Vasil Past experiences of writing to the management of WGBH have fallen on deaf ears..I will no longer support them financially...and in the words frequently heard on "Are you being served"... "and I am unanimous"...
      2 hours ago via mobile

    • Mike Shuman Will contact GBH and no dinero for them Steve. Ellie will be in town tonight and is likely to picket GBH all of July on your behalf. Could be opportune time to bring your show to a global audience on the Internet. Best thoughts to you and Connie.
      2 hours ago · 1

    • Phil Grenadier Very upsetting Steve! Still hoping something can be done...
      2 hours ago

    • Mike Shuman I promised Phil that my contributions will go to WBUR until this decision is reversed.
      2 hours ago

    • Kevin Bresnahan This is terrible news. I will write to GBH now although if history is any indicator, I doubt it will do much good. Have they ever reversed a decision like this in the past?
      2 hours ago

    • Bob Pilkington If it sticks, we will miss your show. Don't give up, find another venue. Yeah, the Internet, less economic pressure there.
      2 hours ago via mobile

    • Bob Pilkington Is complete financial boycott the right thing to do? That could end up destroying what's left. Not sure. How about more pledges for programming to continue? Rent party?
      about an hour ago via mobile

    • Fernando Huergo That's ridiculous! It is a privilege for Boston to have you and Eric on the air! I will email Phil Redo right now!
      about an hour ago

    • Pete Malinverni Hard to believe, or maybe not. Stay strong. You've been a good and important part of the scene for a long time.
      about an hour ago via mobile · 1

    • Peter Schwartz I like the Internet radio idea.
      about an hour ago via mobile

    • Marla Kleman Steve knows how I feel, as we spoke earlier today. I'm encouraging folks to get the word out via social media, including facebook and twitter. This is about preserving jazz, preserving the programs of two of jazz's great radio hosts and decisions like this one ultimately affect all radio stations currently featuring jazz shows...thanks. At the very least, let your feelings about this loss be known!
      about an hour ago

    • Dave Bryant Email sent!
      about an hour ago · 1

    • Fernando Huergo Email sent as well!
      about an hour ago · 1

    • Allan Chase This is terrible news. I enjoy your and Eric's shows many times every week and month as I have for decades. They're such an important part of the Boston area's musical culture, awareness, education, events publicity, and daily enjoyment of music. I seem to recall something similar when WBUR dropped jazz, but the claim was there was competition re: jazz with WGBH. Do we need more talk, BBC feed, etc.? There's more of that in Boston than anyone could consume, plus podcasting makes more sense for national talk than for local jazz. I do all my talk listening via podcast and all my jazz listening live.
      58 minutes ago

    • Guillermo Nojechowicz An email my wife and sent to Phll Redo/Jon Abbot @ WGBH-Boston in October 2011. In the year of International Jazz Day proclaimed by the UNESCO, New England's leading jazz voice will be silenced. ---------------------------------------------------Dear Mr. Abbot and Mr. Redo,

      We are saddened to hear that this Sunday, your jazz programming will become an hour shorter. I know you are trying to survive, but in the process you are taking more and more music away from your faithful listeners.

      Jazz is a broad term. It includes all kinds of music: jazz fusion, modern jazz, be bop, cool jazz, pop jazz, and even hip hop. Rather that imitate other formats which include lots of talk shows and news, 'GBH always had a distinctive feel. Now it is turning into an imitation. You are about to kill all your originality.
      I know, it's about listeners and fundraising and all of that BUT you could have re-invented yourself by adding new and original music shows.

      All you're doing now is imitating a model that was invented long ago. And by the way, some of your "new" news programming is repetitive and does not meet the standard. Is Mediocrity what you are striving for?

      Two concerned and faithful listeners,

      Guillermo Nojechowicz
      Laurie Covens-Nojechowicz

      ----------------------------------------------- Dear Mr. Nojechowicz and Ms. Covens-Nojechowicz:

      Thank you for writing and expressing your thoughts and concerns about the recent adjustment to our Sunday night schedule.

      I can certainly understand why you are unhappy and a bit frustrated.

      Perhaps the best way for me to respond is to point out there is a finite number of hours in a week, and it forces us to make some tough decisions whenever we wish to try a new program or approach.

      As a faithful listener you must know that we are very committed to the local community and creating original local content, in all its many facets - from music to talk. One such area is the notion of "ideas" and "Innovation". This is what we are hoping to explore by expanding by an hour what has been on our schedule as Arts and Ideas from 8-10P every Sunday night. The new show is called Innovation Hub. It is locally produced and hosted, and we hope it will provide our listeners, including you, to hear from Boston area thinkers and doers.

      I realize this not what you, individually, would prefer – but I hope you can understand our honest effort to keep improvising and trying new things.

      Thanks again for writing to share your thoughts.

      Best Regards,

      PHIL

      Philip L. Redo
      Managing Director
      89.7 WGBH Radio
      617.300.3748
      56 minutes ago

    • Yoko Miwa hoping this unpopular decision will be reversed Steve!
      48 minutes ago

    • Bill Beuttler What lousy news. Hang in there, Steve.
      43 minutes ago

    • Bruce Teague Sad
      32 minutes ago via mobile

    • Bev Getz Horrible. Email sent.
      27 minutes ago

    • Sanna Craig-Vuckovich Steve - Larry and I feel something good will open for you, but what an immediate loss to WGBH and the jazz world. We've always appreciated your support of Larry's music. Blessings on you and your future projects.
      25 minutes ago

    • Paris Mariano Steve!!!!!!!!!! no way man! this is terrible to hear! I'm so shocked and saddened for all of us and you--you and eric. you both have done and given so much to the collective jazz consciousness. have they no shame? i will be sending an email to this redo char-actor! he needs a re-do!
      4 minutes ago







...and similar sentiments from the first three hours of friend and fan comments to Jackson's Facebook announcement:


Eric Jackson
3 hours ago · 
Posted by at 3 comments:
Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)