Jazz on Boston radio takes a hit or three

Jazz promotions stalwart Sue Auclair sent around an email this week with bad news on a couple of fronts. "Jeff Turton announced today that WFNX FM (101.1) has cancelled his show, The Sunday Jazz Brunch, as of his show yesterday and after 26 years on the air on Sunday mornings. ... Tuesday, May 15 brought the news that ALL of the (WGBH 89.7 FM) Jazz Gallery hosts would be departing at the end of May. That included (Al) Davis on overnight Fridays, 15 year veteran Kevin Ball overnight on Saturdays and Ron Gill, overnight on Sundays." Gill is moving to North Carolina, so he'd be leaving anyway, but it's too bad to see the show go. Turton apparently won't be replaced at FNX, which is not exactly a jazz station. The 'GBH hosts will be swapped for Bob Parlocha's syndicated jazz show from Alameda, Ca., which already airs on 'GBH weeknights. (I've got an email in to 'GBH asking for the "why.")

Budget cuts are hurting everyone these days, and jazz is already a vulnerable market segment, because the audience is loyal but small. While Parlocha's show is fine, it's not the same the local flavor and years of experience of the other hosts. WGBH still has a considerable jazz presence of course, and the venerable Eric Jackson will be saluting the departing hosts on "Eric in the Evening," beginning with Gill this Thursday night at 8.

The best way to support jazz is to listen. On Friday at 9 p.m., 'GBH will be broadcasting a March performance at the studio by pianist Fred Hersch. Here's a sample:

UPDATE: WGBH statement after the jump...

The official statement from WGBH on Jazz Gallery's fate: “Effective Friday, May 31st, WGBH 89.7 will no longer air Jazz Gallery overnight on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The program will be replaced by Jazz with Bob Parlocha.
Unfortunately, current economic realities have forced WGBH Radio to make staff and programming cuts. Although jazz will continue to be heard every night on 89.7, Jazz Gallery will no longer air on weekends. It will be replaced by Jazz with Bob Parlocha, a well-respected show that 89.7 currently airs on weekdays.
Prior to the decision to make this change, host Ron Gill announced that he was leaving WGBH to pursue an opportunity in North Carolina. Al Davis and Kevin Ball will still be heard on our air as occasional substitute jazz hosts. Kevin and Al remain active in the local jazz scene, and will continue to pursue their careers outside of WGBH. We thank them for the outstanding service they have provided to our audiences, and wish them the best of luck.
WGBH 89.7 remains committed to Jazz. The program that will replace Jazz Gallery overnight on the weekends, Jazz with Bob Parlocha, is a well-respected national jazz music program that we currently air overnight during the week. The program’s host, Bob Parlocha, is a frequent winner of Jazz Times’ reader’s favorites poll, and he has been nominated several times for the Jazz Journalists Association’s ‘Excellence in Jazz Broadcasting Award.’”

Comments

[Robert]

That is too bad, I would rather a local oriented Jazz program with the personable hosts of 'The Jazz Gallery' and its varied and unhindered content than the syndicated 'Jazz with Bob Parlocha' and his signature "we play mainstream jazz".

[Jordan Flipsyde]

A very well written article I must say.
Personally I am rather new cause I have only been listening to electronic music for only the past 1.5 years.