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"Jazz from the Archives" is on Notice

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Over the past several years, I have occasionally alerted Rifftides readers to Jazz From the Archives radio programs created and hosted by Bill Kirchner. Exploring the work of important jazz artists, Bill brings to the shows his skills as a writer and producer and his insights as a big-league saxophonist, arranger and composer with intimate knowledge of the music and its makers. Now, for what appear to be slight financial reasons, the Newark jazz station WBGO is making it impossible for Kirchner to continue his contribution, which he has performed as a public service. In an e-mail message with the salutation, “Dear Friends,” he explains:

As most of you know, since 2002 I’ve been one of the hosts of “Jazz From the Archives,” which is produced by the Institute of Jazz Studies and airs every Sunday on WBGO-FM from 11 p.m. to midnight ET. To date, I’ve done 117 shows, most of them devoted to artists-many living, some deceased-who deserve wider recognition. In nearly all cases, the music that airs on these shows would not otherwise be heard on the radio, on WBGO or anywhere else.

This past fall, for reasons related to my health, my wife and I moved from New Jersey to NYC. Thus, it’s no longer possible for me to commute to WBGO’s Newark studios to record these shows. I therefore have asked Thurston Briscoe, the station’s Program Director, if the money paid to a WBGO engineer to record my shows can be reallocated to pay another engineer closer to my home. This amounts to a mere 18 hours a year for 12 one-hour shows-I’m fast, efficient, and low-maintenance.

I should add that I do these shows without any financial compensation, and that WBGO’s only cost is to pay an engineer to record the shows and do light editing. The station essentially gets these shows for next-to-nothing.

Mr. Briscoe has made it clear that he’s not interested in making accommodations so that I can continue as a host. I therefore regret to inform you that I must cease doing “Jazz From the Archives.” I’d like to thank my fellow co-hosts for their good vibes, and the many worldwide listeners to my shows who have been so kind with positive feedback over the past eleven years.

If you find this state-of-affairs unsatisfactory, you might consider sending an e-mail to Thurston Briscoe: [email protected]. If you do, please cc me at [email protected].

Kirchner’s increasing physical limitations make it impossible for him to negotiate several public and private transit transfers to get from Manhattan to the station in Newark. WGBO has limitations, too, the fiscal crunch faced by all public radio operations. Still, perhaps a bit of creative budgeting and fund-raising could take the station past this minor roadblock and save a valuable program.

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