|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| PRI’s “Jazz After Hours” Announces New Host There's a torch being passed at the long running, and well-loved radio program Jazz After Hours, created by Jim Wilke 30 years ago in Seattle. The man picking up the torch this fall is Jeff Hanley, also a well-known name in the Seattle, Bay Area, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara radio markets. Jazz After Hours airs twice weekly on more than 60 Public Radio International station. Forty years ago this winter, Wilke gave Hanley his first professional radio job on KING-FM/Seattle. Hanley engineered more than 500 jazz shows for Wilke, hosted a Sunday morning jazz show on KZAM/Seattle, and created the 24/7 jazz station KJZZ/Seattle. "To say I'm excited about hosting Jazz After Hours is an extraordinary understatement. No one can ever replace Jim, but I'm looking forward to continuing his work, playing the great jazz that is being recorded and performed today, and maintaining the show's important place in the international jazz scene." Hanley's love for jazz goes back to the days of working for Wilke. Recalling those early days, Hanley said, "Jim hosted an eleven pm to midnight jazz show on a classical music station. He would program three vinyl sides every night, usually from three very different styles of jazz. One night might be a side of very early Pat Metheny, a side of the LA Four, and a side of classic Zoot Sims. Between Jim's discussion of the music, the eclectic programming and the album liner notes, one couldn't ask for a better jazz education." Wilke noted in a post on the Jazz After Hours Facebook fan page "After 3100 shows, I think it's time to quit while I'm ahead and still healthy. Jeff Hanley will be the new show host and he's an old friend (and a darn nice guy). You'll hear him on some shows this summer as I do some traveling and then he takes over full time in October." Wilke concluded by saying, "Be nice to him and he'll play you some great music." Steeped in radio, Hanley's broadcast career comprises stints at KLOS/Los Angeles, KOME/San Jose, KZAM/Seattle, KTYD/Santa Barbara, and KJZZ/Seattle when those call letters debuted in the Northwest jazz scene. Jeff was KJZZ's creator and first Program Director. In 2000 Hanley moved to Silicon Valley to start a second career in visual media, becoming a filmmaker and digital media creative director. However, he never lost his love for music and radio, starting the online channel KZAM.net in 2002. KZAM.net is an eclectic streaming music channel that harkens back to the days of progressive FM, and features KZAM Sunday Brunch, a mix of jazz and acoustic instrumental music. KZAM.net just celebrated its 12th anniversary of continuous streaming to a global audience. Gracious and well-versed as a host, he has interviewed jazz greats such as Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Hanley said, "Practically all the jazz artists who played in Seattle in the early 80s came to my afternoon show to be interviewed on KJZZ. It's still probably my favorite period in my radio career." Additionally, he has introduced some of the top jazz musicians in the world from club stages to festivals like the touring Kool Jazz Festival. PRI/Public Radio International distributes the award-winning Jazz After Hours show to 60+ markets. Last Year Jim Wilke and Jazz After Hours won the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Jazz Broadcasting from The Jazz Journalists Association; and also topped JazzTimes Critics' and Readers' Polls for best jazz show. write your comments about the article :: © 2014 Jazz News :: home page |