Chris Standring/Blue Bolero

[AC Tones]

OK, gang. Back to the music!! Enough of the "What are we going to do without Smooth Jazz on terrestrial radio?" stuff, at least for a moment ;D. If you have not checked out Chris Standring's upcoming CD, Blue Bolero, I have been enjoying world premiere cuts being aired on Blake Aaron's Radio show on KSBR-FM. I am also fortunate enough to air Blake's syndicated program on my station, so I can't wait to share it with my listeners in the near future. Suffice it to say, these are the kind of chances artists need to be taking. The CD still has Chris's trademark sound, but the orchestral elements he injects in these cuts are INNOVATIVE and FRESH. I just heard a cut entitled "Please Mind The Gap" that had infectious vibe and is a SURE winner for radio play. None of this overdone, funked-up "popping bass," and far from some of the sleepy orchestral arrangements I have heard from others. Diversity, depth, and vibe--the trademarks of a classic in the making. Way to go, Chris!! Way to be true to yourself and your passion!

 

[cklw800]

Amen AC. I think what we've been seeing in recent releases is a realization by the artists that they don't have to conform any longer to the old radio consultancy standards to make music. With the death of this great music on terrestrial radio overall, the artists are going to take more chances and create the music they know they can make, now that the fans are listening to your station and elsewhere. I think the artists know that Internet radio can sell these CDs like the terrestrail days of old and they're gearing to the most passionate artists. I'm hearing this on the new Peter White, George Benson, Phillip Martin and so many more. Contemporary jazz CDs have become more and more enjoyable as of late. Thanks to you and others like Bill Harmonic, we're getting what we wish we could get while on the beach, in the car or grillling on the deck. (but that technology will be here). As online gets more portable artists are going to be going for it! Contemporary jazz is and has always been great music. It's just we depended on the radio format to deliver. No one is going to be able to buy a house or a car just by playing this stuff on the Internet, but a lot of ears will be pleased and my hope is that the artists who make this music are duly served with purchases. Internet radio has delivered what many had hoped radio would; Multiple, diverse cuts from a CD. I hope someday I can get you on my cell phone or some other portable device. Portability will be the key to the future of this music on Internet radio. Once you can take it with you wherever you go like the transistor radio, this music can soar to even newer heights.

 

[AC Tones]

Amen AC. I think what we've been seeing in recent releases is a realization by the artists that they don't have to conform any longer to the old radio consultancy standards to make music. With the death of this great music on terrestrial radio overall, the artists are going to take more chances and create the music they know they can make, now that the fans are listening to your station and elsewhere. I think the artists know that Internet radio can sell these CDs like the terrestrail days of old and they're gearing to the most passionate artists. I'm hearing this on the new Peter White, George Benson, Phillip Martin and so many more. Contemporary jazz CDs have become more and more enjoyable as of late. Thanks to you and others like Bill Harmonic, we're getting what we wish we could get while on the beach, in the car or grillling on the deck. (but that technology will be here). As online gets more portable artists are going to be going for it! Contemporary jazz is and has always been great music. It's just we depended on the radio format to deliver. No one is going to be able to buy a house or a car just by playing this stuff on the Internet, but a lot of ears will be pleased and my hope is that the artists who make this music are duly served with purchases. Internet radio has delivered what many had hoped radio would; Multiple, diverse cuts from a CD. I hope someday I can get you on my cell phone or some other portable device. Portability will be the key to the future of this music on Internet radio. Once you can take it with you wherever you go like the transistor radio, this music can soar to even newer heights.

Completely agree, brother! Thanks for the kind words. Chris was so candid and passionate on Blake's show tonight in speaking about what it meant for him to make this project and how the format had become stagnant, it was like the dawning of a new era for this genre. And to your point, I cannot recall a year in recent memory in which so much great "original" contemporary jazz music was cut. The artists have gotten the message, and now it is up to guys like Bill, myself, and other programmers to deliver it to the listeners. And the best thing is that you CAN get my and other stations on your mobile phone--my listeners have been sharing with me their experiences streaming the station on their IPhones, Smartphones, and Droids, and they absolutely love the portability of it. Gone are the days of being tied to a PC. And it is ONLY getting better for listeners. Developers are putting together custom apps for broadcasters for their mobile listeners, further enhancing their listening experience and making it interactive. It is TRULY amazing!

 

[recto101]

OK, gang. Back to the music!! Enough of the "What are we going to do without Smooth Jazz on terrestrial radio?" stuff, at least for a moment ;D. If you have not checked out Chris Standring's upcoming CD, Blue Bolero, I have been enjoying world premiere cuts being aired on Blake Aaron's Radio show on KSBR-FM. I am also fortunate enough to air Blake's syndicated program on my station, so I can't wait to share it with my listeners in the near future. Suffice it to say, these are the kind of chances artists need to be taking. The CD still has Chris's trademark sound, but the orchestral elements he injects in these cuts are INNOVATIVE and FRESH. I just heard a cut entitled "Please Mind The Gap" that had infectious vibe and is a SURE winner for radio play. None of this overdone, funked-up "popping bass," and far from some of the sleepy orchestral arrangements I have heard from others. Diversity, depth, and vibe--the trademarks of a classic in the making. Way to go, Chris!! Way to be true to yourself and your passion!

I like to listen to this music do you have a youtube link to it. And also let all the AM/FM radio owners woo future talk hosts like Palin and Steele to their line up let big am and fm radio drop all type of music from their stations so they can hire as many political talk hosts as they want.

 

[AnotherCat]

One thing those of us who are trying to put some life into our radio and internet programming have to do - and a lot of us are - is dig deeper than the "single." Especially in light of the migration to "Smooth A/C". The "singles" are often the softest most unobtrusive track, or the cover, this is rarely the strongest track.

Obvious cases in point. "Bright" was to my ears the lest compelling and catcy song on Peter Whites CD. It was the softest though. I had picked four strong songs from Jaared's new CD for our feature album trax then the next day I get the single and it is none of them - it's a pleasant unnoticable ballad. Same with Karukas - several tasty trax on the cd and the single is some noodly piece of easy listening music.

There is actually not much to complain about as far as the quality of the contemporary instrumental albums that are being released these days. There is a lot to question about the track that the labels/promoters are trying to herd us toward. But we don't have to be herded...

 

[Nock]

Actually got into a lengthy discussion with one of the better promoters out there just yesterday about singles. He gave me some insight in why they pick certain tracks and how it is time to throw that whole theory out the window. I HATE singles and ask that they not be sent. Nothing better then getting a full cd, popping it into the player on the way to work and using my own labeling system on the cd jacket of what I like on a particular cd. I have also found that my particular mood has a lot to do with what I like and often give cd's more then one listen before I draw conclusions. And then there is nothing like finding a gem that everyone else is ignoring. Walter Beasley had one couple years back that never made it to radio. Playtime off his cd For Her. Also the Rick Braun and Richard Elliot project R&R had a track titled Q it up that is a big shame that the average listener may not have ever heard. Now to this promoters credit, he does take notes on what I am hitting on and am pretty sure he is doing the same with a few of the rest of us?

Nock

 

[AC Tones]

Given the creativity we are seeing in the studios these days (which is resulting in more "complete" efforts), combined with the format's decline on terrestrial radio, my hope is that the concept of "singles" slowly goes by the wayside. I too like to go deep right off the bat on new releases and try to expose my listeners to as much good music as I can from one CD. And like Cat and Nock have noted, invariably I find there are better cuts on the CD than the one that is being pushed by promoters. No worries for a CD like "Blue Bolero." Plenty of options for programmers on this one!

 

[majaman78]

The "singles" are often the softest most unobtrusive track, or the cover, this is rarely the strongest track.

Obvious cases in point. "Bright" was to my ears the lest compelling and catcy song on Peter Whites CD. It was the softest though.

Spot on.

When I first heard "Bright" I thought..."nice tune again by Peter, sounds a lot like his others..." :-\

Then I heard the drop dead gorgeous "Always, Forever" which just blew me away (terrestrial would never play it, thanks again for "the .wav" adding it otherwise it would still be another great tune I hadn't come across).

Hearing this tune brought me back to my fall of 1993 trip to CA when I first heard "Boulevard" off Peter's Promenade CD. It became the soundtrack to the entire trip as KKSF, KTWV and KIFM all played it. I wanted to move to CA just to hear those stations as Connecticut had nothing, and my beloved WCDJ in Boston had just left the airwaves.

There's something about hearing a great song during the fall season (at least up North, not so much here in Florida) which makes a lasting impression, at least for me. Now when I hear "Always, Forever" it will always remind me of my last days at my cottage in Cape Cod MA which I just sold :'(

 

[Nock]

Temptation and Mission 2 Mars are the 2 tracks I have been hitting off of Peter's latest.
Nock

 

[AnotherCat]

Playtime off his cd For Her. Also the Rick Braun and Richard Elliot project R&R had a track titled Q it up that is a big shame that the average listener may not have ever heard.

Brilliant minds think alike I play both of these.

Here's the thing...I understand the promoter's outdated rational for the focus on a "single" but its outdated. Now the companies that monitor for playlist tracking/charts can track more than one song from the CD so there goes the necessity of herding stations behind one song because only one song can be monitored. People can go online and buy any song from a given album - there is no physical product called a "single" anymore, it's not like "record stores' carry "singles" that get tracked for sales when people buy them. So that's irrelevant.
And the biggest one is that when the "single" is the most BA friendly song - the slowest most unobtrusive one or the cover - the artist is misrepresented. It makes listeners think everything he/she does is slow and boring.

"Always Forever", Ramons Revenge, and Mission 2 Mars are my PW faves,
I got Jaareds new one and jumped on 3 trax : Manhattan Nights, If You Know What I Mean and One More Time. Got the "Single" and it's some slow boring song. With Andrew Neu the went with that tired cover ("Next Time I Fall") when there are some solid originals there - South By SouthWest and the softer but catchy "Wanderlust" Same with Karukas - I'm on "Wildwood" with "Napa" occasionally and they put out the bland, riffy lite "Manhattan" and the new one is even "Lite-er"

We need to go back to "Emphasis tracks" where there are two or three focus trax and the labels/artists/managers/whoever are getting input from more people than just BA on which tracks to use. Younger targeting brunch shows and a lot of internet programmers need something a little less MOR/elderly..it makes no sense to say "stick to the single" when if the single is all there is some of us just arn't going to play it at all which gives the Cd/artist no exposure on that venue

 

[Nock]

I got into a friendly debate with a relatively new artist - Terry Lee (Not correct spelling) Very cool single he has out. I spoke with him on FB and wrote the following:

Terje my only request would be to not strap us with singles. Let us programmers dig in and find that certain vibe that fits the right moment in the show. Singles is how the format got into this mess and we (what is left) is trying to salvage it. I can give you a million examples of cd's I would not play the single yet finally received the full cd and can not get off of a track. In fact Euge Grooves latest is a perfect example. I will not play the single yet a track Babylon has been played every week for the last 5 - 6 months. Just my 2 cents?

Had a few exchanges prior to sending this however Terje did not respond to this. Has BA brainwashed everyone to believe in singles. 3 weeks of a single and I am ready to move on to another track on the cd.

Nock

 

[AnotherCat]

There is one big-name CJ label that used to purposefully not send the CD in advance to their radio mailing list because they didnt want programmers digging around and finding their own songs. Sorry..I can go to iTunes if U won't send it to me (rolleyes)

 

[AC Tones]

There is one big-name CJ label that used to purposefully not send the CD in advance to their radio mailing list because they didnt want programmers digging around and finding their own songs. Sorry..I can go to iTunes if U won't send it to me (rolleyes)

: Amazing. Everyone wins when we go deep on CDs, particularly in this day and age with a la carte digital downloads. We expand our playlists, while at the same time, expose our listeners to great tunes that otherwise would not be played. And it is good for the artists as well in that more of their music gets spins and there it is less likely singles (which may well have been "great" upon their release) have been spun beyond submission and fall victim to the law of diminishing returns. I have ALWAYS been a huge fan of a la carte digital downloads. They challenge artists and labels to produce more complete efforts, which is ultimately great for consumers!!

 

[cklw800]

Great discussion on singles, ladies and gents! I like the idea of multiple "focus tracks", too. Jaared is a great example. "Piccadilly Circus" I believe was the "single" I heard on some stations. I took a chance on buying the CD because I knew his name from some Oli Silk music and liked it. I found "Crosswalk" and "Cruisin' The Strip" my favorite head-bobbers from his CD, also "Thats' Alright" which was mentioned here. "Good Day" is my favorite from Peter White's new one. "PB & J" works for me from Jessy J almost all of Euge Groove except for "Sunday Morning". His "As You Like It" kicks just fine. "Sunday" is OK but doesn't move me like the rest of the CD. That's been the case with almost every recent release with notable exceptions like Pieces Of A Dream's "Vision Accomplished", "Always Remember" by Brian Culbertson and even Najee's earlier release "Rising Sun" when "Come What May" was the single...but it was edited! That's what killed me with some of this. When they DID release a great sounding single, the best parts were edited out or an alternate version was recorded when it hit radio. I swear, if I hadn't taken chances with some of these releases, I'd think what songs were represented on radio was all there was to these artists. Both AC's here are on the mark (AC and the other AC--"Another Cat").

 

[Nock]

The absolute worst butchering of a track to get to a single had to be Pete Belasco's Deeper. They put it out as a edited single before the cd. When the cd arrived, we started playing the full cd version which had a killer sax solo in the middle that they omitted in the single. Totally butchered it and actually talked to Pete about it. He was not happy.

Nock

 

[AnotherCat]

There is this mandatory under 4 minute rule for singles. In some cases where it's a popular artist or popular song that errr..inhales..I will play the single but as mentioned above sometimes it's just whack out the guitar solo and any sax that isn't soprano. Yikes. More not-single faves:

Jessy J- "Mr. Prince,"
Rick Braun - "She's The One"
Antoine-Brown " French Connection"

I do tend to focus on one track, sometimes two, just because of time and familiarity considerations but the single that is released for the 45-64 focused Smooth A/C may be inappropriate for the 35-54 focused specialty show on an A/C. Playing a rote-note for note cover of a song their parents were into just doesnt cut it.
a- when so many songs sound alike the familiarity factor can encompass a group of songs that sound very similar (if I had selector I would packet) b- there is more conscious listening on specialty shows. If something is playing in the background in your office all day you don't notice repetition but if you actually seek out a specific show you are more attentive and will notice over-repetition. Not to go "all over the road" because of that but it is something to consider.

 

[AC Tones]

There is this mandatory under 4 minute rule for singles. In some cases where it's a popular artist or popular song that errr..inhales..I will play the single but as mentioned above sometimes it's just whack out the guitar solo and any sax that isn't soprano. Yikes. More not-single faves:

Jessy J- "Mr. Prince,"
Rick Braun - "She's The One"
Antoine-Brown " French Connection"

I do tend to focus on one track, sometimes two, just because of time and familiarity considerations but the single that is released for the 45-64 focused Smooth A/C may be inappropriate for the 35-54 focused specialty show on an A/C. Playing a rote-note for note cover of a song their parents were into just doesnt cut it.
a- when so many songs sound alike the familiarity factor can encompass a group of songs that sound very similar (if I had selector I would packet) b- there is more conscious listening on specialty shows. If something is playing in the background in your office all day you don't notice repetition but if you actually seek out a specific show you are more attentive and will notice over-repetition. Not to go "all over the road" because of that but it is something to consider.

Spinning those 3 you mentioned, Cat. Great cuts! BTW, as long as we are talking about grudgingly spinning singles because of name recognition, it seems like it has taken an ETERNITY for the new Sade CD to be released. "Soldier Of Love," despite it topping the charts, has NEVER been a huge hit with my listeners (in fact, I have gotten flamed for spinning it as long as I have), and I don't mind telling you guys that once that CD is released, I will be QUICKLY looking for a viable replacement with some vibe.

 

[Nock]

If I am not mistaking, thought I saw something that accompanied the single that release date was some time in March? I remember it being a long way off when I received it.

Nock (and if it matters, I am not spinning the new Sade single)

 

[AC Tones]

I don't blame you, Nock. If I had only two precious hours each week to put together a quality show, I wouldn't be spinning it either. I recall the scheduled release date being February 8. ??? I hope it is not March, because I don't think I can hold off that long.

 

[majaman78]

There is this mandatory under 4 minute rule for singles. In some cases where it's a popular artist or popular song that errr..inhales..I will play the single but as mentioned above sometimes it's just whack out the guitar solo and any sax that isn't soprano. Yikes. More not-single faves:

Jessy J- "Mr. Prince,"
Rick Braun - "She's The One"
Antoine-Brown " French Connection"

I do tend to focus on one track, sometimes two, just because of time and familiarity considerations but the single that is released for the 45-64 focused Smooth A/C may be inappropriate for the 35-54 focused specialty show on an A/C. Playing a rote-note for note cover of a song their parents were into just doesnt cut it.
a- when so many songs sound alike the familiarity factor can encompass a group of songs that sound very similar (if I had selector I would packet) b- there is more conscious listening on specialty shows. If something is playing in the background in your office all day you don't notice repetition but if you actually seek out a specific show you are more attentive and will notice over-repetition. Not to go "all over the road" because of that but it is something to consider.

it seems like it has taken an ETERNITY for the new Sade CD to be released. "Soldier Of Love," despite it topping the charts, has NEVER been a huge hit with my listeners (in fact, I have gotten flamed for spinning it as long as I have), and I don't mind telling you guys that once that CD is released, I will be QUICKLY looking for a viable replacement with some vibe.

The Sade cut "Soldier Of Love" is, in one simple word, dreadful.