|
WWUH radio changed my
life. Go ahead, call me a crazy brainwashed fool, but truth is, this
radio station - or more precisely - the individuals who have
broadcast at 91.3 MHz over the past 30 years - have had a profound
influence on my appreciation of all sorts of music, most notably the
idiom commonly referred to as "jazz."
I have been a fan of radio since I was 10;
by the time I reached high school age, the redundant playlists of
top-40 commercial stations were beginning to bore me. So I began
tuning in to the left end of the dial (remember, this was the
pre-digital era... we still had dials then), checking out
provocative new sonic realms whenever possible. Tuning to 91.3 FM
became a nightly ritual. I completed many a homework assignment
while being serenaded by Accent on Jazz. What a treat all
these years later to share reminiscences with some of my favorite
announcers from bygone days!
Special thanks also to longtime Accent
host Maurice Robinson and Program Director emeritus Sue Terry for
their written recollections. WWUH has been blessed since 1968 with
many dedicated, knowledgeable jazz volunteers; Maurice, Peter
Michaelson, Doug Maine, Terry Weichand and Stuart Feldman have each
been with the station over 20 years. Every ‘UH announcer is
allowed complete freedom to choose the music they play over the
airwaves; therefore our listeners are presented with 10 unique takes
on the jazz spectrum each and every week. We are very proud of our
long-standing commitment to provide the area with quality jazz
programming, artist interviews, live broadcasts and our Jazzline
service (860-768-5267). Jazz in the Wilde and Sounds of
Hartford are two live recordings made in recent years which
attest to the wonderful creative variety of musicianship in our
region, and to the key role which WWUH has played in bringing the
music to the attention of listeners everywhere.
Any survey of WWUH jazz history would be
incomplete without mention of Mort Fega. Mort was already a veteran
DJ when he joined our staff in 1976, having been a major voice on
New York City radio stations for well over a decade. His bopster
slang and staunch commitment to straightahead swing during fusion’s
heyday made him a distinctive figure on the Greater Hartford jazz
scene.
"I’m a confirmed bebopper," he
laughs. Mort is not shy when recalling his impact on the station’s
jazz block. "I brought a rich life experience with me," he
proudly proclaims. Indeed, at time when most ‘UH broadcasters were
students, Mort was literally a pro; besides his Big Apple
experiences, he also worked at commercial radio stations in West
Hartford (WMLB) and Manchester (WINF). Among his fans was Stephen
Joel Trachtenberg, then President of the University of Hartford, who
had grooved to Mort’s shows while a student at Columbia
University.
Mort’s in-your-face style was not for
everyone. He admits to "kind of a contrived arrogance"
regarding his refusal to take listener requests: "If people
liked what I played, solid." He relied primarily on his own
voluminous record collection for material to play on the air.
Despite his detractors, Mort actually did two shows a week for some
time, one on Saturday afternoons and one Tuesday evenings. Fega and
his wife have long since retired to Florida, but he still fondly
remembers his ‘UH years. "The station did a great deal for
me," he recalls.
Mort’s New York connections undoubtedly
helped him persuade a number of noted improvisers to play Hartford’s
880 Club. The DJ produced concerts at the 880 by Chico Hamilton, Tal
Farlow and Lee Konitz, among others. He also emceed shows at Paul
Brown’s popular Monday Night Bushnell Park Jazz Series, many of
which were - and continue - to be broadcast live during July and
August.
Mike Crispino was also involved with many
of the Monday Night shows during these years. His tenure at WWUH was
from 1977-81. Mike is still involved in broadcasting, although, as
many are aware, he moved to television long ago; first with
Connecticut’s Channel 30, and for the past six years as a
commentator and play-by-play announcer for the MSG Sports Network.
Mike had gotten his first taste of radio
during his college days on Long Island; he chose to come to ‘UH
when he returned to his Connecticut roots, determined to ultimately
pursue a career in communications. He cites his broadcasting
experiences in West Hartford as an important stepping stone, but
just as importantly as a time for ample musical education and
enjoyment.
"The thing that sticks out in my mind
is being able to talk with these jazz giants - the best in
the business." Among Mike’s happiest ‘UH memories are his
saxophone jams with fellow announcer Peter Michaelson and the
interviews he conducted with Bill Evans and Toots Thielemans.
Crispino’s frequent partner-in-crime at
the outset was onetime WWUH Program Director Roger Stauss. The two
collaborated on an interview series known as Conversations;
subjects for the half-hour program included Elvin Jones and Eddie
Jefferson. "At the time, I didn’t realize the importance of
what we were doing," he admits. The pair also did a
"morning comedy rock show" as part of the station’s FM
on Toast block; Roger points out only half-jokingly that this
program was a precursor to the team-DJ approach which currently
dominates morning FM programming on the commercial airwaves ...
another example of WWUH in the broadcasting vanguard!
Roger joined the ‘UH staff in 1971 while
a University of Hartford student. He started out as a pre-med major,
but once he’d had a taste of radio he switched to communications.
"WWUH was my first and most important professional
experience," Roger attests from his home in Vermont, where he
now runs Noteworthy Recording Studios and Shiretown Records. He
recalls how, during his tenure as PD, "one of the big pushes
was to get the station on the air consistently." Perhaps our
listeners take our 24/7 schedule for granted nowadays, but it was
thanks to the efforts of folks like Roger Stauss that the station
has achieved such a fine reputation within the region.
Another 91.3 1970’s jazz alum, Mark
Smith, sums up his experiences at ‘UH in a way which will resonate
with many other former and current volunteers.
"I’ll always treasure the creativity
and experimentation we were allowed ... and all the camaraderie and
relationships I built ... above it all, it was lots of fun!"
says the former Development Director. Mark was a U of H student when
he joined the station. "It was the first time in my life I got
a taste of what it was like to run something, to have that challenge
and that control," he continues, adding that his stint at WWUH
allowed him to hone the management skills he now uses daily in his
computer software career.
Mark claims "I didn’t know anything
about jazz when I started ... I was exposed to a whole new
world." In retrospect, he views his naiveté as a plus, since
it bolstered his urge to experiment with different combinations of
songs and artists; one of his trademarks was playing two pieces of
music simultaneously ... ah, those were the days....
Mark’s favorite WWUH anecdote may give
our listeners some idea of the lengths our volunteer staff has been
known to go, in its quest to give the area the finest jazz on the
airwaves. The year was 1978, WWUH had begun broadcasting live jazz
events from the 880 Club and Bushnell Park. On a nasty February
night, the Pat Metheny Group was scheduled to perform at Hartford’s
now-defunct Mad Murphy’s Pub. Mark and John Ramsey loaded up a
station wagon with broadcast equipment and set off for the club.
Unfortunately for the two intrepid travelers, Storm Larry had
arrived to wreak its havoc upon an unsuspecting state. Three hours
later, they arrived at their destination, which under normal weather
conditions should have taken about 20 minutes! Needless to say, the
band never made it to the gig, nor did any patrons. Mark and John
ended up spending the night sleeping at Murphy’s and lugging the
equipment back to the station the next day. "We were the only
car on the road," Mark remembers; the governor had closed down
Connecticut’s roads in the storm’s aftermath!
More recently, WWUH has collaborated with
the Beanery Bistro in Windsor to produce outdoor jazz concerts, and
with the Connecticut Jazz Confederation to present the New England
Jazz Ensemble on our West Hartford campus. The station has also
begun to annually broadcast an evening of the acclaimed Hall High
School Pops & Jazz series. We look forward to bringing the Jim
Cifelli New York Nonet to Wilde Auditorium October 9 - and to
working with the University of Hartford’s Hartt School to produce
a major concert and recording next year. The ‘UH jazz department
also has a new association with the Gavin Report, which will
assure improved CD service - in other words, even more variety on
the airwaves at 91.3 FM. Our commitment to bringing listeners the
finest jazz available remains as strong as ever. Thanks to all of
you who tune in every week; to those who provide us with feedback
and moral support; and to everyone who shares our passion for this
splendid music. |
