by Chris Stilwell

Welcome to Radio Free Jazz. This is the first of a series of columns exploring the world of jazz radio, the people in it, jazz itself, and when it seems right, we'll improvise something new. It will also be a place where your input & ideas as readers will be an important part of the mix. We'll get to that in a moment.

First, an introduction. I'm Chris Stilwell, and I love jazz & radio. I've been a DJ on & off, starting in 1972 at KTIM in San Rafael, one of the last bastions of true FM Free Form. Most recently I've been doing The Vetshow, "Music, News & Views By Vets, For Vets, Their Families, And Anyone Else Who Cares", on KAVE-FM and KRVM-FM, both in Eugene, Oregon. I've also worked with bands doing promo & publicity, specifically Gary Duncan & Quicksilver. I'm especially grateful to Michael Ricci for giving me the chance to write about one of my deepest passions, jazz radio. My Thanks.

On with the show... In these columns we'll talk about jazz, the radio stations & DJs who are involved, how the genre has changed, and lots of other things. Here's where you come in. We'd like you to e-mail us with information on jazz radio in your area. What's your favorite jazz station? Your favorite DJ? Do you have more than one jazz station in your town? What else? We'll go exploring the airwaves together, & no doubt, we'll have a blast doing it.

So Turn Your Radio ON and send us some e-mails about what you like to hear. And if you just have some other general information, send that too. Things don't have to be all tight & constrained around here. Whatever you contribute will be close enough for Jazz.