For many years now, as a result of my obvious passion for jazz (as well as my evident love for the sound of my own voice, I suspect), people have told me that I ought to be in radio. Of course, if were as simple as, say, freelance writing (which isn’t that simple), I’d have done it long ago.
The 21st century revolution in communications, for better or (all-too-often) worse, has decentralized things to a remarkable degree and given an international platform to just about anyone who wants to start a blog or Web site. Having democratized the print media over the ten years, the second decade of the century promises to do the same for audio-visual media — and I’m going to be a part of that phenomenon.
At the behest of a friend, I was invited to host a weekly jazz show on Des Moines’ first Internet radio station, “Des Moines Amplified” (click image above to visit Web site).
I’m calling my show “Jazz Matrix,” which I think combines both art and technology in a mutually enhancing fashion that will (hopefully) make a small contribution to Des Moines’ cultural life by shining a spotlight on the many talented, dedicated and (in my view) horribly under-appreciated jazz players, educators, and impresarios in central Iowa.
I intend to have local/regional jazz artist as my guests to talk about their current gigs, projects, pet peeves, etc. And of course, I want them to bring their latest recordings to play and discuss. In order to encompass musicians outside the Des Moines metro area, I’d also like to be able to offer the option of telephone interviews, a la “Imus in the Morning” (but in much better taste!) As I have done as a print/Web journalist, I also intend to discuss, play and (hopefully) interview national and international figures in the jazz world coming through town.
The time slot for my show is Tuesday from 1 to 2 pm, but the neat thing about the Internet radio format is that it’s somewhat like TiVo, in that that if someone can’t listen to (or watch — you will be able to do both on your computer) the show live, each show will be available for later viewing from an easily accessed archive. Incidentally, one other innovative element of this audio-visual format is that it allows me to do unconventional things like playing YouTube videos.
Those watching in real time will have the option of both phoning in to talk with me and my guests the old-fashioned way, Skyping the new-fangled way, or typing in comments and questions via their keyboard, as is done in instant message chatrooms.
Oh … and, this will be conducted FM-style: you won’t have to endure any obnoxious commercials or silly jingles — I promise!
I’ll keep a listing of my shows here; click on the “Jazz Matrix” logo above for more details about them. Click on the underlined links below to see more specific information about individual guests, watch a video of the show, or listen to an audio podcast.
- June 1 – Emil Viklicky
- July 6 – Sheila Linskens (Jazz in July)
- June 15 – Jeff Oatts (Foxboro)
- June 22 – Roxi Copland
- June 29 – Gabriel Espinosa
- July 6 – Paul Micich (World Port)
- July 13 - John Krantz
- July 20 – John Kizilarmut
- July 27 – Sam Salomone
- August 3 – Brent Sandy & Chris Merz (Equilateral)
- August 10 – Bill Bergren (Synergy Jazz Foundation)
- August 17 – Sara Routh
- August 24 – Abe Goldstien (Community Jazz Center)
- August 31 – Zach Mannheimer & Matt McIver (Des Moines Social Club)
- September 7 – Carrie Clogg (Civic Music Association)
- September 14 – Dave Rezek
- September 21 – John Morgan
- September 28 – Jim Oatts (Des Moines Big Band)
- October 12 – Susie Miget
- October 19 – John Krantz (Hall of Fame)
- October 12 – Jim Oatts (Des Moines Big Band)
- October 26 – Janey Hooper
- November 2 – Kurt Bowermaster
- November 16 – Gary Jackson
