I had WHAT FM in Philly with Gene Shay & Sid Mark - (their AM station played 1/2 an hour of Ray Charles in the afternoon right when I got home from school)... Lenny Bruce would drop by the station, as would Bill Cosby... I was in the right place at the right time, as my friend's dad owned Pep's Bar on Broad & South, & I could go there when I was 16 during Saturday matinees to see Mingus, Diz & Cannonball... that could turn you on for life.
I completely forgot about Van Jay on RVR. He used to use the Red Garland Trio's arrangement of "You Better Go Now" as his theme song, which I use whenever i play it. Max Cole was another great DJ on RVR. Ed Beach's show was my fave, and I still have reel-to-reel tapes of some of his shows. Phil Schaap did a phone interview with Ed about the history of RVR as a jazz station, and you can find it at the Phil Schaap archives online at a US college library.(forgot which college.).
Good luck with using their crazy search engine! The Schaap tapes are located in the very building.
Columbia is having enough problems right now to bother bother with the archives of someone who worked at their radio station for 50 years or so, and even taught there for many years. lol
I remember the day clearly. I stopped by Rose Records to do some browsing and came across a display of Blue Note reissues. Ok, I thought, time to give this jazz thing a try. I came home with Blue Trane, Moanin’ and Soul Station. That’s all it took to hook me for life. For sure one of the five luckiest days of my life.
Growing up in WV along the Ohio River, midway between Wheeling and Cincy, the jazz DJs I heard included Dick Martin at WWL (New Orleans), Chicagoans Daddyo and Sid McCoy from WMAQ and WCFL, Harry Abraham and Bill Ardis at WHAM in Rochester. And being into ham radio, I also heard Willis Conover on VOA. Martin was one of the most important, because with the simple phrase, "that sounded like Al Grey" taught me that musicians had an individual sound. He also turned me on to one of my early LP's, Basie's "Breakfast Dance And BBQ," and to many other artists. I think my first LP was a Fats Waller collection on RCA; close behind was Dave Pell's "Swinging In The Old Corral," "Boy With Lots of Brass," which introduced me to Irene Kral, who remains a favorite, as well as the music of many of the arrangers who are still important to me. "Jazz Track" was my first by Miles' and his classic sextet, and Martin played that one too. "Something Else" by Johnny Richards turned me on to more exciting big band writing. "Billie Holiday" (on MGM) was my first, and I still love it. I don't tune into the wasted chops, but to the heart (and hurt) and the musicianship. And there was Woody's "Big New Herd At Monterey," which many years later I learned was a pickup band. Hanging out for a minute after a set he had played at U of Cincy, with Marian McPartland, Steve Swallow turned me on to Bill Evans, and "Waltz For Debby was the first. I also remember that I'd heard and loved Clifford on the radio in high school, but didn't have a record yet. As part of an arrangement with the YMCA, which was my Boy Scouts, I was on a 15 minute radio program talking about YMCA activities, but I also played a Clifford/Max cut from their library on the air. It was probably a year or two after he'd died, but I didn't know that then.
The Sonny Rollins Alfie choice is underrated as a gateway record — it has that rare quality of feeling like a complete statement rather than a sampler. The Oliver Nelson charts give it real cinematic weight without the music ever losing its center. I came to Rollins through Saxophone Colossus first, but Alfie is the one that made the emotional case for why this guy was different.
Outstanding selections! And although I've been a fan of jazz for more than 50 years, I've never listened to these particular albums. Thanks for sharing this list.
“King Karol”. There’s a store I frequented a great deal with my sister to buy records. Incredible. “RVR” was THE jazz station. I should sit down and make my own list. I own about half your list. Great music.
I remember hearing "Take Five" on a tasteful rock station. Our later I owned "Time Out". And when I bought it the guy in the store mentioned "Take Five" was on the radio and hour ago. "Sugar" was another album that did it for me. For someone's starter kit today: "Soul Station" is a good starter.
I amassed a large collection of jazz on cassette and CD starting in the early ‘90s, but it was mostly out of a desire to have a wide collection of everything. I got into classics like Louis, Ella, and Billie, but I did not listen to lots of jazz until a big breakup in 2000, after which I bought my first Miles compilation CD. This generated a furious period where I acquired every CD by Miles and branched out more into Bird, Diz, and Sonny. My tastes and acquisitions have further broadened, but I’ve never had another phase as strong as my introduction to Miles.
What a trip down jazz lane. As always there are new discoveries here-e.g., the Sonny Rollins soundtrack and Dexter Gordon. Another reason why I love Jazz Wax!
Sometimes it's not that easy to recommend good jazz records to friends or colleagues. I've been a jazz fan for over 40 years and I'm still learning. Also thanks to JazzWax. But when a recommendation was successful, I was happy. And that's what matters. Your selection of jazz records that have influenced you is very interesting and I'm really looking forward to hearing them in the next few days.
I can still remember one of my first jazz records very clearly. And I still have this LP: Buddy Rich "Very Live At Buddy's Place" from 1974. If I am correctly informed, this jazz club in New York also belonged to Buddy Rich, which probably only existed for a few years. But you know that better than me, Marc. My favorite track from this record is “Sierra Lonely” by Manny Albam. It was recorded in May 1974 with a group of wonderful musicians: Sonny Fortune, as+fl Sal Nistico,ts Kenny Barron, p+ep Jack Wilkins, g Anthony Jackson, b Jimmy Maeulen, perc Buddy Rich, d
Dear Marc,
I had WHAT FM in Philly with Gene Shay & Sid Mark - (their AM station played 1/2 an hour of Ray Charles in the afternoon right when I got home from school)... Lenny Bruce would drop by the station, as would Bill Cosby... I was in the right place at the right time, as my friend's dad owned Pep's Bar on Broad & South, & I could go there when I was 16 during Saturday matinees to see Mingus, Diz & Cannonball... that could turn you on for life.
I got into jazz from WRTI while going to Temple, early 80’s. WHAT must have been before that?
I completely forgot about Van Jay on RVR. He used to use the Red Garland Trio's arrangement of "You Better Go Now" as his theme song, which I use whenever i play it. Max Cole was another great DJ on RVR. Ed Beach's show was my fave, and I still have reel-to-reel tapes of some of his shows. Phil Schaap did a phone interview with Ed about the history of RVR as a jazz station, and you can find it at the Phil Schaap archives online at a US college library.(forgot which college.).
PHIL Schaap was from Columbia College radio WKCR. Slava PHIL SCHAPP
💛 💙 AND RVR named after the Hudson RiViR
Actually Columbia University. And WRVR was named for Riverside Church, from where the station broadcast.
The college that is displaying his online archives is Vanderbilt University. Here's a link:
https://aviary.library.vanderbilt.edu/catalog?current_flock=false&f[collection_id_is][]=2137&f[description_source_search_facet_sms][]=Reel-to-reel&myresources=0&request_is_xhr=false&search_field=advanced&search_type=advance&sort=title_ss+asc&user_ip=173.168.23.136
Good luck with using their crazy search engine! The Schaap tapes are located in the very building.
Columbia is having enough problems right now to bother bother with the archives of someone who worked at their radio station for 50 years or so, and even taught there for many years. lol
Whoops, Aviary Library
I remember the day clearly. I stopped by Rose Records to do some browsing and came across a display of Blue Note reissues. Ok, I thought, time to give this jazz thing a try. I came home with Blue Trane, Moanin’ and Soul Station. That’s all it took to hook me for life. For sure one of the five luckiest days of my life.
Great list! So many that I haven’t heard, but am going to listen to soon! I made a playlist. (Couldn’t find the Maynard Ferguson on Apple Music)
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/jazz-wax-10-albums/pl.u-DdANAGBuaZbzdP
Growing up in WV along the Ohio River, midway between Wheeling and Cincy, the jazz DJs I heard included Dick Martin at WWL (New Orleans), Chicagoans Daddyo and Sid McCoy from WMAQ and WCFL, Harry Abraham and Bill Ardis at WHAM in Rochester. And being into ham radio, I also heard Willis Conover on VOA. Martin was one of the most important, because with the simple phrase, "that sounded like Al Grey" taught me that musicians had an individual sound. He also turned me on to one of my early LP's, Basie's "Breakfast Dance And BBQ," and to many other artists. I think my first LP was a Fats Waller collection on RCA; close behind was Dave Pell's "Swinging In The Old Corral," "Boy With Lots of Brass," which introduced me to Irene Kral, who remains a favorite, as well as the music of many of the arrangers who are still important to me. "Jazz Track" was my first by Miles' and his classic sextet, and Martin played that one too. "Something Else" by Johnny Richards turned me on to more exciting big band writing. "Billie Holiday" (on MGM) was my first, and I still love it. I don't tune into the wasted chops, but to the heart (and hurt) and the musicianship. And there was Woody's "Big New Herd At Monterey," which many years later I learned was a pickup band. Hanging out for a minute after a set he had played at U of Cincy, with Marian McPartland, Steve Swallow turned me on to Bill Evans, and "Waltz For Debby was the first. I also remember that I'd heard and loved Clifford on the radio in high school, but didn't have a record yet. As part of an arrangement with the YMCA, which was my Boy Scouts, I was on a 15 minute radio program talking about YMCA activities, but I also played a Clifford/Max cut from their library on the air. It was probably a year or two after he'd died, but I didn't know that then.
The Sonny Rollins Alfie choice is underrated as a gateway record — it has that rare quality of feeling like a complete statement rather than a sampler. The Oliver Nelson charts give it real cinematic weight without the music ever losing its center. I came to Rollins through Saxophone Colossus first, but Alfie is the one that made the emotional case for why this guy was different.
Outstanding selections! And although I've been a fan of jazz for more than 50 years, I've never listened to these particular albums. Thanks for sharing this list.
“King Karol”. There’s a store I frequented a great deal with my sister to buy records. Incredible. “RVR” was THE jazz station. I should sit down and make my own list. I own about half your list. Great music.
So many unknown-to-me examples in this post…and I love it! So happy Substack recommended you today. Time to get listening!
I remember hearing "Take Five" on a tasteful rock station. Our later I owned "Time Out". And when I bought it the guy in the store mentioned "Take Five" was on the radio and hour ago. "Sugar" was another album that did it for me. For someone's starter kit today: "Soul Station" is a good starter.
Nice selection..
Sketches in Spain will always bevin my top 10.
I amassed a large collection of jazz on cassette and CD starting in the early ‘90s, but it was mostly out of a desire to have a wide collection of everything. I got into classics like Louis, Ella, and Billie, but I did not listen to lots of jazz until a big breakup in 2000, after which I bought my first Miles compilation CD. This generated a furious period where I acquired every CD by Miles and branched out more into Bird, Diz, and Sonny. My tastes and acquisitions have further broadened, but I’ve never had another phase as strong as my introduction to Miles.
Great intro for me to your Substack. “Miles Ahead” is also one of my favorites as I’m a huge fan of Gil Evans.
“Alfie” remains a favorite of mine as well.
What a trip down jazz lane. As always there are new discoveries here-e.g., the Sonny Rollins soundtrack and Dexter Gordon. Another reason why I love Jazz Wax!
Sometimes it's not that easy to recommend good jazz records to friends or colleagues. I've been a jazz fan for over 40 years and I'm still learning. Also thanks to JazzWax. But when a recommendation was successful, I was happy. And that's what matters. Your selection of jazz records that have influenced you is very interesting and I'm really looking forward to hearing them in the next few days.
I can still remember one of my first jazz records very clearly. And I still have this LP: Buddy Rich "Very Live At Buddy's Place" from 1974. If I am correctly informed, this jazz club in New York also belonged to Buddy Rich, which probably only existed for a few years. But you know that better than me, Marc. My favorite track from this record is “Sierra Lonely” by Manny Albam. It was recorded in May 1974 with a group of wonderful musicians: Sonny Fortune, as+fl Sal Nistico,ts Kenny Barron, p+ep Jack Wilkins, g Anthony Jackson, b Jimmy Maeulen, perc Buddy Rich, d
https://youtu.be/jT2lIil3x_M?si=5wuwZ0zSzAsGhZii