By Walter Price

Hey jazz fans, have you heard that some jazz radio stations rely on professional programmers or marketers to decide what gets played on their stations? I discovered this little piece of groundbreaking news in the lastest issue of DownJazz (that's Downbeat for beginners). I couldn't believe it, I mean, could it be true... radio stations, even that bastion of jazz independence-public radio are relying on programmers to slice and dice what gets played? No way man, THIS is news, perhaps the BIGGEST jazz story of the past 20 years!

Being the ultra-intelligent guy that I am, I began to ponder. Hmm... is this why I never heard anything funky like Marcus Miller on those smooth and creamy, warm jazz, soft whisper, radio stations? Could it be? Is this why when Bitches Brew was re-released, I never heard the title cut from it because it lasts over 25 minutes? Is this why I never have fully appreciated free jazz because I never heard it on jazz radio except at 2:00 AM at the local college booming 5 watts of Archie Shepp and Abert Ayler? Is this the reason why I never heard Grover Washington playing Mister Magic followed by Charlie Parker's Now's The Time because of some specialty programming of jazz genres?

Hey DownJazz, this article is about as fresh as that overexposed ventriloquist-dubbed Pepsi girl. That jazz radio is being programmed to demographics, money, and markets was long-figured out by astute jazz fans, let's say... 20 years ago!! Here's a suggestion DownJazz, instead of writing about the sad ass state of jazz radio and programmers, just write about the EXTINCTION of jazz radio in a paragraph or less, or DownJazz's part in contributing to the downfall of jazz radio.

And on a completely different note...

A SALUTE TO THE DUKE

With all the accolades being thrown at the Duke and deservedly so, let's hope that people like Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonslaves, Jimmy Blanton and many others in the Duke entourage get some praise for contributing to Ellington's song writing and band playing. In most of the 2 minute tributes on the national news, I just hear Duke, Duke, and Duke. Jazz to me is about ensemble, combos, trios, etc. Can't we pay tribute to Duke while giving some props and much needed exposure to the Duke Ellington musical family? Is that asking too much? Yeah I know, it probably is!

Feedback? Send your love letters to Walter Price.