Comments on: SHOCK NEWS http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/ Digby's fantastic new website, with news, datesheet, shop, blog, sound archive, movies, contacts and lots more ... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:26:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Derek Akien, Watford, England http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-137 Derek Akien, Watford, England Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:59:37 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-137 Hello, Regular Readers. Bit more info for you Jazzers. Found 'AccuJazz.com' on the Internet - lets you choose the STYLE of music you prefer - West Coast, Guitar, Fusion, Piano, Vocal, Sax, etc, just click on it. Other good sites 'Dinner Jazz Excursion' and 'KOQX Internet Blues Radio'. I use the IR radio to listen to for the quality, and have the computer on for the playlist of the CD. Also found some old jazz artists on 'You Tube' - worth a look. Any other tips you find please post here and share. Hapy New Year listening - 'things can only get better'. Hello, Regular Readers. Bit more info for you Jazzers.
Found ‘AccuJazz.com’ on the Internet - lets you choose the STYLE of music you prefer - West Coast, Guitar, Fusion, Piano, Vocal, Sax, etc, just click on it. Other good sites ‘Dinner Jazz Excursion’ and ‘KOQX Internet Blues Radio’. I use the IR radio to listen to for the quality, and have the computer on for the playlist of the CD.
Also found some old jazz artists on ‘You Tube’ - worth a look.
Any other tips you find please post here and share.
Hapy New Year listening - ‘things can only get better’.

]]> By: Nick Smith http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-135 Nick Smith Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:05:01 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-135 Derek: A bit late but I've just found your message. Many thanks for that. Derek: A bit late but I’ve just found your message. Many thanks for that.

]]> By: Chris Barker http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-134 Chris Barker Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:06:45 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-134 I can recommend WGBO, Newark, New Jersey, USA, on the web as a Jazz station worth a listen. Buy one of those little fm transmitters, used in car for ipods etc. Plug into you computer and listen on any fm radio in the house. Oh, Happy Christmas to you all! Chris. I can recommend WGBO, Newark, New Jersey, USA, on the web as a Jazz station worth a listen. Buy one of those little fm transmitters, used in car for ipods etc. Plug into you computer and listen on any fm radio in the house.
Oh, Happy Christmas to you all!
Chris.

]]> By: Derek Akien, Watford, England http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-133 Derek Akien, Watford, England Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:11:24 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-133 Nick. Checkout the 'Lemonrock' website for live music. Just key in your postcode and get the gigs within 25 miles (do the same when you're away on holiday). Really changed our lives. Found little-known clubs. Met some great new friends, got to know some talented unknown musicians, get invited to semi-private functions. And the satisfaction of supporting live music and independent pubs at very reasonable prices! Nick. Checkout the ‘Lemonrock’ website for live music. Just key in your postcode and get the gigs within 25 miles (do the same when you’re away on holiday). Really changed our lives. Found little-known clubs. Met some great new friends, got to know some talented unknown musicians, get invited to semi-private functions. And the satisfaction of supporting live music and independent pubs at very reasonable prices!

]]> By: Nick Smith http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-124 Nick Smith Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:12:06 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-124 Hi Digby, Well, Jazz FM (a misnomer now it's on DAB)is back and they have the colossal nerve to namecheck Art Blakey on their site but has anyone heard him played yet? Bar "Dinner Jazz", it is largely songs, not recognisable jazz proper during the day and we all expected as much if my namesake Andrew, above, is anything to go by. It is merely O.K. as a breather from the rest of repetitive pop radio but not the breather that theJazz was. I'd LOVE to hear your opinion of it. And one more on the scrapping of a station with nearly 500,000 in the audience: the huge number of stations spawned after the success of the offshore boom in the 60s and beyond, PLUS new digital technology that further multiplies them, divided into a not-much-greater population than before means tiny audiences for every one of them. Gcap et al. must have known this so why redline stations that managed to get so many listeners? Who's using theJazz's hardware? I'd like to know. Rant over; I just had to get it off my chest - again! Cheers Nick (Sutton Coldfield) Hi Digby,

Well, Jazz FM (a misnomer now it’s on DAB)is back and they have the colossal nerve to namecheck Art Blakey on their site but has anyone heard him played yet? Bar “Dinner Jazz”, it is largely songs, not recognisable jazz proper during the day and we all expected as much if my namesake Andrew, above, is anything to go by. It is merely O.K. as a breather from the rest of repetitive pop radio but not the breather that theJazz was. I’d LOVE to hear your opinion of it.

And one more on the scrapping of a station with nearly 500,000 in the audience: the huge number of stations spawned after the success of the offshore boom in the 60s and beyond, PLUS new digital technology that further multiplies them, divided into a not-much-greater population than before means tiny audiences for every one of them. Gcap et al. must have known this so why redline stations that managed to get so many listeners?
Who’s using theJazz’s hardware? I’d like to know.

Rant over; I just had to get it off my chest - again!

Cheers

Nick (Sutton Coldfield)

]]> By: Andrew Smith http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-123 Andrew Smith Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:10:41 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-123 I see that GMG are reviving Jazz FM at 19:00 on 6 October. It will be on Sky channel 0202 (once they kick Virgin Radio off that channel!!!, streaming on the internet, and it will be on "selected" DAB regions such as London, West Midlands, North West England, South Wales and Glasgow. But sadly not on the South Hampshire Mux!!!! Time will tell what the station will sound like, but unfortunately I hear it will be playing a lot of SMOOTH JAZZ and SOUL. I can just about understand them playing Smooth Jazz, but Soul? But then the GMG radio group turned Jazz FM into a Soul music station previously. I only wish Jazz FM would give Digby a 2 hour slot. I used to love Digby's programmes on TheJazz. I particularly remember the lovely tribute Digby did for George Melly. http://www.jazzfm.com/ I see that GMG are reviving Jazz FM at 19:00 on 6 October. It will be on Sky channel 0202 (once they kick Virgin Radio off that channel!!!, streaming on the internet, and it will be on “selected” DAB regions such as London, West Midlands, North West England, South Wales and Glasgow. But sadly not on the South Hampshire Mux!!!!

Time will tell what the station will sound like, but unfortunately I hear it will be playing a lot of SMOOTH JAZZ and SOUL. I can just about understand them playing Smooth Jazz, but Soul? But then the GMG radio group turned Jazz FM into a Soul music station previously.

I only wish Jazz FM would give Digby a 2 hour slot. I used to love Digby’s programmes on TheJazz. I particularly remember the lovely tribute Digby did for George Melly.

http://www.jazzfm.com/

]]> By: Derek Akien, Watford, England http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-89 Derek Akien, Watford, England Thu, 08 May 2008 23:52:38 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-89 Chris, Wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I normally hate 'presenters' but theJazz was different. No inane, banal chat - these guys and girls knew their stuff. Real 'experts' in the true sense of the word - I really miss them. Also the Playlist was a gem if you wanted to buy the CD. I like IR, being able to choose by genre, era, country, etc., but one drawback is not having the track/artist mentioned and no playlist available - that's torture. Still, having 6,000 stations to listen to compensates. We also go to 3 or 4 live gigs a week (usually free) to see jazz or blues - that encourages the musicians and we've bought quite a few of their CDs. Some fine artists out there. I use 'Lemonrock' gig guide - gives venues local to your postcode. Keep music live or we won't have too many artists recording. Digby, please keep up the blog - share a rant! Chris,
Wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I normally hate ‘presenters’ but theJazz was different. No inane, banal chat - these guys and girls knew their stuff. Real ‘experts’ in the true sense of the word - I really miss them. Also the Playlist was a gem if you wanted to buy the CD. I like IR, being able to choose by genre, era, country, etc., but one drawback is not having the track/artist mentioned and no playlist available - that’s torture. Still, having 6,000 stations to listen to compensates. We also go to 3 or 4 live gigs a week (usually free) to see jazz or blues - that encourages the musicians and we’ve bought quite a few of their CDs. Some fine artists out there. I use ‘Lemonrock’ gig guide - gives venues local to your postcode. Keep music live or we won’t have too many artists recording.
Digby, please keep up the blog - share a rant!

]]> By: Trudi Smith http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-84 Trudi Smith Mon, 05 May 2008 06:42:16 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-84 'The reason people blog here is because we feel that something has been given then taken away from us and that’s more than music. Perhaps it is a sense of belonging.' Hi Digby, Wise words from Chris.Knowing how flippant Commercial Radio Stations can be, here today gone tomorrow,I have learnt to keep the music on old-fashoned tapes, I have bought my CD's each one containing a memory and a story behind. Jazz is also entertainement. I do feel sometimes Jazz goes over my head and is only for Jazz musicians when they smile at each other knowingly..... There is always a local Jazz club but I do appreciate to go by recommendation coming from the radio presenters/DJs. I have booked tickets for your gig/concert in Ongar on May 9th as you told me to do.... With kindest regard. Trudi ‘The reason people blog here is because we feel that something has been given then taken away from us and that’s more than music. Perhaps it is a sense of belonging.’
Hi Digby, Wise words from Chris.Knowing how flippant Commercial Radio Stations can be, here today gone tomorrow,I have learnt to keep the music on old-fashoned tapes, I have bought my CD’s each one containing a memory and a story behind. Jazz is also entertainement. I do feel sometimes Jazz goes over my head and is only for Jazz musicians when they smile at each other knowingly…..
There is always a local Jazz club but I do appreciate to go by recommendation coming from the radio presenters/DJs.
I have booked tickets for your gig/concert in Ongar on May 9th as you told me to do….
With kindest regard.
Trudi

]]> By: Chris Barker http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-83 Chris Barker Sat, 03 May 2008 10:23:06 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-83 Digby. I am not a fan of djs' prattle but Thejazz was more a one of informed comment and that why I've been listening to WGBO, a jazz station in New Jersey USA. Uninterrupted music is fine but not for long. I need to hear where and when it was recorded. Also with whom - in short 'the gossip'. Do you remember the Radio Two programme Jazz Score? Maybe you were on it? Questions on jazz to jazz musicians and others but really a great stream of anicdotes. The reason people blog here is because we feel that something has been given then taken away from us and that's more than music. Perhaps it is a sense of belonging. Oh, Derek. I think the phrase you were reminded of is 'when one door closes, another slams in your face'! Chris. Digby.
I am not a fan of djs’ prattle but Thejazz was more a one of informed comment and that why I’ve been listening to WGBO, a jazz station in New Jersey USA. Uninterrupted music is fine but not for long. I need to hear where and when it was recorded. Also with whom - in short ‘the gossip’. Do you remember the Radio Two programme Jazz Score? Maybe you were on it? Questions on jazz to jazz musicians and others but really a great stream of anicdotes. The reason people blog here is because we feel that something has been given then taken away from us and that’s more than music. Perhaps it is a sense of belonging.
Oh, Derek. I think the phrase you were reminded of is ‘when one door closes, another slams in your face’!
Chris.

]]> By: Digby http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-82 Digby Sat, 03 May 2008 09:35:56 +0000 http://www.digbyfairweather.com/2008/02/23/shock-news/#comment-82 Absolutely Swithin - 407,000! There was a good piece about the situation in yesterday's 'Times' (2 May) and says 'The latest figures suggest there is an audience for a specialist jazz station' (as if we didn't know!) '- and the dormant brand may be snapped up by rival networks'! This is very interesting, and I think potentially exciting. It remains to be seen if any other network will take the chance but - knowing the voracious financial state of radio - I wouldn't be at all surprised! Only the headline was a slight downer for me - 'Jazz station wins record audience by scrapping DJs'! Oh well - I always thought radio presentation was 'fast food art' - though I'd exclude from that such classic voices as Peter Clayton and (of course) our beloved Humph who introduced many many generations to the music we love. Best wishes to you and all my friends out there, Digby Absolutely Swithin - 407,000! There was a good piece about the situation in yesterday’s ‘Times’ (2 May) and says ‘The latest figures suggest there is an audience for a specialist jazz station’ (as if we didn’t know!) ‘- and the dormant brand may be snapped up by rival networks’! This is very interesting, and I think potentially exciting. It remains to be seen if any other network will take the chance but - knowing the voracious financial state of radio - I wouldn’t be at all surprised! Only the headline was a slight downer for me - ‘Jazz station wins record audience by scrapping DJs’! Oh well - I always thought radio presentation was ‘fast food art’ - though I’d exclude from that such classic voices as Peter Clayton and (of course) our beloved Humph who introduced many many generations to the music we love.

Best wishes to you and all my friends out there,

Digby

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