WBGO Blog

  • Kudos to Morning Maestro Gary Walker

    March 4, 2008. Posted by Doug Doyle.

    Add new comment | Filed under: air drums, bassist john, dictionary, dizzy gillespie, first few days, gary walker, jazz 88, Jazz Alive, jazz club, Jazz Community, jon faddis, maestro, music, newscasts, radio station, sax, sports, talented artists, tenth anniversary, trumpeter, west orange

    As my tenth anniversary at Jazz 88 is fast approaching, I remember my first few days at the radio station. I didn't know enough about the music to comment on anything. I had to rely on my personal Jazz Dictionary, Gary Walker. Thanks to the morning maestro, I've learned so much about jazz now...to a point where I play air drums, piano and sax in the studio in between newscasts. I'm also blessed to be working at a radio station where so many talented artists come to visit. Two recent events made me realize I've actually become a part of the jazz community. Trumpeter Jon Faddis agreed to shoot the breeze with me about sports and jazz on SportsJam and bassist John Lee complimented my work during a recent visit to Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange. Very cool to have two terrific guys who played with Dizzy Gillespie make me feel special!

    Doug Doyle

    © 2008 WBGO

  • The elegance of Eliane Elias

    January 18, 2008. Posted by .

    Add new comment | Filed under: brain, café con leche, desk, Diversions, eliane elias, Encounters, good reason, gray matter, honey, Jazz Alive, jobim, Live Music, morning shift, newscasts, photograph, pianist, smooth man, speakers, special man

    Something For You CoverI rarely work the morning shift around here. 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. newscasts are Doug Doyle territory and for good reason. It takes a special man to get up at 3:30 a.m. and get here in time to deliver the news at 6 a.m., sharp. Frankly, I ain't that special, man. Those of you who've heard me at that time in the morning, know what I'm talking about.Still, when Doug's out, I get the call. One recent morning, however, I was sitting at my desk, staring blankly at my computer monitor, the written word failing me, when all of a sudden, dripping from the speakers behind me, like honey on a nubile neck, comes Eliane Elias singing Jobim's "Photograph (Fotografia)."

    The vocal, so lush and silken, insinuated itself into my soft gray matter and swirled around like the café in my café con leche. I closed my eyes and drank deeply, Eliane inside my brain. MMM. It's just about the only thing that went right that morning.

    Eliane Elias is just smooth, man, (as both a singer and a pianist) so if you get a chance, I urge you to join us (yes, I'll be there) tomorrow at J&R Music's Park Row store (23 Park Row, NYC, Second Floor) for a FREE live performance and broadcast of some of the material from her new release "Something For You: Eliane Elias Sings and Plays Bill Evans."

    The performance starts at 4 p.m. and, even if you're in Rio, Brasil, you can hear it live. - David Cruz

    © 2008 WBGO