Jazz Loft Radio Series on WNYC

This morning, I just finished listening to the first in a radio series on WNYC here in New York about the Jazz Loft. Here is how WNYC describes it:

In 1957, photographer W. Eugene Smith moved into a loft at 821 Sixth Avenue. It became a hangout for artists, writers and especially jazz musicians, who rehearsed and jammed there. By the time Smith left the loft more than a decade later he had documented the activity there through 40,000 photos and roughly 4,000 hours of audio tape.

It was a intimation of what it must have be like to be a jazz musician in New York in the 50's and 60's. It was fascinating to hear how easily all of the greats (Monk, Parker, Bill Evans, Zoot Sims, etc.) all freely interacted and jammed together (intermixing outside the loft, jazz clubs excepted) probably not so easy. I loved the reminisces from various musicians including how some called the building "funky", which meant smelly and dirty, not hip and cool, how they often had to hide the mattresses so the cops wouldn't know people were living there, and of course, I loved hearing Steve Reich, who was taking lessons from pianist Hall Overton, talk about climbing the grossly leaning stairs to get to those lessons. 

I look forward to listening to the rest of the series. Below is the schedule and if you have a chance check it out on WNYC online or over the air.

THE JAZZ LOFT PROJECT RADIO SERIES
Broadcast Schedule for The Jazz Loft Project Radio Series

Monday Nov 16
Episode 1 “Introduction” runs in Morning Edition

Tuesday Nov 17
Episode 2 “Images of the Loft” (Eugene Smith) runs short in Morning Edition
Full piece runs in All Things Considered 

Wednesday Nov 18 
Episode 3 “The Tapes” runs short in Morning Edition
Full piece runs in All Things Considered 

Thursday Nov 19
Episode 4 “Hall Overton” runs in Soundcheck 

Friday Nov 20
Episode 5 “Before the Loft” runs in All Things Considered 

Saturday Nov 21
Episode 6 “Ron Free” runs in Jonathan Schwartz (scheduled to run at 2 PM)

Sunday Nov 22 
Episode 7 “Flower District” runs in Weekend Edition 

Monday Nov 23
Episode 8 “Monk Town Hall Concert” runs short in Morning Edition
with full piece running in All Things Considered 

Tuesday Nov 24 
Episode 9 “More Tapes” runs in Soundcheck 

Wednesday Nov 25
Episode 10 “Times Change” final episode runs short in Morning Edition
full piece runs in All Things Considered 

Thursday Nov 26, Thanksgiving Day
1-hour special featuring “Jazz Loft Jam Sessions” runs on FM at 3PM and 9PM

Saturday Nov 28
1-hour special featuring “Jazz Loft Jam Sessions” runs on AM at 2PM

Sunday Nov 29
1-hour special featuring “Jazz Loft Jam Sessions” runs on AM at 8PM

POSTED BY NUMINOUS AT 8:14 AM