IN THE STUDIO WITH BRAD WILLIAMS
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. When/how did you discover jazz? Discovered jazz by listening to my sister Joyce playing records and listening to jazz on KBCA. All the cool kids at her school listened to jazz. How did you get into radio? Do you have any exciting radio memories? After graduating from KIIS Broadcasting Workshop in 1979, I accepted a position as a newscaster at KOBO in Yuba City, CA. I eventually became the evening air personality and public service director. I later got to work at KKGO (formerly KBCA) with Chuck Niles, Jim Gosa and Sam Fields who were not only great personalities on air but were very nice cats to work with. On my first day there, I had to meet Chuck at the Playboy Mansion to assist him with interviews for that year's festival. Chuck acted like he'd known me for 20 years! Who is your all-time favorite jazz artist and why? Oliver Nelson. He was a master arranger who created colors with music and worked with so many of the great artists of his time. A true genius. Who are your favorite new artists on the scene and why? Vocalist Gregory Porter is pretty special. There's Kamasi Washington, a sax man from L.A. who I see in Gerald Wilson's band, and Tia Fuller, another reed player I like. They have all been around for a few years but their collective stock is rising due to their energy, originality and talent. If you were trying to interest a young person in jazz, which five cds would you recommend and why? I would ask a young person or anyone for that matter what kinds of music they like. If they like gospel music I'd suggest Les McCann or Cyrus Chestnut because they have that soulful feel in their playing. My first exposure to jazz was Jimmy Smith's "Bashin". It showcases Jimmy's masterful Hammond B3 playing in the organ trio format as well as with a killer big band conducted and arranged by Oliver Nelson. Miles Davis' "Miles Ahead" or "Kind of Blue" would probably be required listening. Dee Dee Bridgewater covers the Horace Silver song book on "Love and Peace". |
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