 |
|
 |
SJ.COM: Is "Smooth Jazz" still doing it for you after all these years? Are you still feeling the passion for the music? SS: Having been privileged to be working in the format since nearly the beginning, it's a been a wonderful journey to see how we've evolved over the years. Starting out as a fringy, niche format to becoming a major dominating force on the radio landscape has been extremely gratifying. I know a lot of radio people who aren't working in the format of their choice. They do their show, or put in their hours and then forget about it. They don't listen to their own station when they're not there. This is my music of choice, and I am honored to earn a living doing what I love, with great people in a great city. Yeah, the tastes have changed, and the music has changed, but my passion remains. The day I stop feeling passion for the music is the day I retire from radio and find something else to do. Life is too short to not live it with passion. Every time I slip a new CD into the player and I can just feel that it is going to be a hit, I still get that rush. SJ.COM: In your opinion, what's up with new music? Are you happy with the direction that the format is heading and what would you personally like to hear more of from the new stuff? SS: Like any format, there are some great records being made and some not so great records coming our way. We're not really concerned about where a song comes from, what label it's on or who it is by. The only thing that really matters is what it sounds like when it comes out of the speakers. As long as it feels like a hit, and fits in contextually with our overall sound, we're inclined to go with it.Ê I think there is always a danger of creating too much of a homogenized sound to play it safe, and not pushing the lines a little bit. When an artist tries to create a piece of music specifically designed to try and get radio airplay, and they check their heart and passion at the door, I think we all lose. Again, this is not unique to our format. It's good to believe in new music, and take chances when you believe in something. If we're wrong, so be it. I would rather be wrong from time to time about a song I put on the air, instead of being wrong about a song I didn't put on the air. I think sometimes we ignore our initial impulses about a piece of music and try to be rational and intellectual about why something will or won't work instead of trusting that part of our body and brain that responds emotionally to a piece of music. Most people connect with music on an visceral, and subjective level to begin with. SJ.COM: What's the best way for a new Smooth Jazz artist to develop their career? SS: Have talent to begin with. Write great songs. Don't try to do everything yourself.Ê I am frightened by some of the "emerging" artists that have come across my desk lately who simply cannot play their instrument. There's a segment out there who think that Smooth Jazz is really easy to do, and if you lay down a Casio groove in your basement and maybe a couple of Pro-Tools tracks, it's a hit record. I get really nervous when a CD comes in where the artist also is listed as performer, writer, arranger and producer on every track. They are too close to it, and have no perspective. Like going into any business venture, and it is a business, be wary of the company you keep and the promises made to you. Get to know reputations, ask for references, question all decisions made on your behalf. SJ.COM: If you could cross over any sound or artist into the format without concern of risking ratings, who or what would you introduce to Smooth Jazz? Why? SS: Honestly, I don't think there's any kind of limit. We've been enjoying the grittier and dirtier acid jazz type of sound for several years now. I think the mixing of traditional and contemporary jazz stylings is cool. Something that leans a little more urban could be cool, maybe some mix DJ stylings and hip hop flavors. Keeping it fresh in the context of what we do will always be a challenge for artists and radio alike. I welcome innovation, change and diversity. I think there is an influence from almost anywhere that if done well can work. The whole Latin and Afro-Cuban scene is huge right now. I think all should be experimented with. SJ.COM: What are you doing in your market that you feel is unique to the format? SS: WNUA is a very active radio station. We have an international, Grammy award winning artist in Ramsey Lewis as our morning show host. Nothing says Chicago and Jazz more than having Ramsey on every morning! We produce all of our own shows, be it our Navy Pier Summer Concert Series, or our shows at The Chicago Theater, We're about to release our 15th Anniversary CD Sampler, and we are banging on the door of our 3000th winner in our Trip A Day contest! We just began a Thursday night Smooth Jazz series at The Isaac Hayes Club here where every Thursday we bring in top local talent or a national act to a club setting. This is an indoor continuation of our very popular Summer Thursday series. It seems to be going great so far. We're definitely staying busy!ÊÊ SJ.COM: How do you utilize Internet presence to further your radio station's image and your programming? SS: We have a tremendous website that is updated constantly. Station info, concerts, contests, email database, client messages, live streaming. All the usual good stuff you would want and expect in a well run website. We offer email blasts to our database with trip time information, we let them know about concerts early before we hit the air with it, and give them the ability to purchase their tickets first. SJ.COM: What was the last live show you caught? SS: Since being back in Chicago I have seen Bona Fide and Greg Adams (both came in for shows for our Thursday night series), Jane Monheit, and tomorrow night we present Chicago's own, and now National artist, Michael Manson. A week from Friday we present Chris Botti and Fourplay at the Chicago Theater for our CD release party. SJ.COM: What's in your CD player (home or car)? SS: My wife and I have very eclectic tastes. The CD changer at home has the following in it: Sade - "Lover's Live" Brian Bromberg - "Jaco" (Jaco Pastorius tribute CD) Ry Cooder - Buena Vista Social Club Johnny Hartman - "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman" Frank Sinatra - "The Reprise Years" (Disc 3) SJ.COM: Outside of radio, are you an enthusiast for anything else? SS: My wife and I travel extensively and try to do one or two big trips every year in addition to smaller long weekend getaways. Last year we did a Eastern Caribbean Cruise, the year before we traveled through Italy for 9 days, and this year we are going to the Sea of Cortez and the Mexican Riviera to see the Blue Whales. I'm sure we'll also find time for few days in Las Vegas and LA just for fun. We own two dogs, an 8 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and a two year old Italian Greyhound. |
