Latin Jazz On The Airwaves - Artículo Breve

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 2001

LATIN JAZZ EXPRESSIONS

WWSP 90FM Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Saturdays from 6-9 AM Central Standard Time

Hosted by Nick Marrero

We first met radio DJ Nick Marrero in September of 1997 when, together with DJ Ernesto Laboy, they hosted the first Latin jazz radio program ever in Hampton, Virginia, the "Latin Jazz Flight" for WHOV FM 88.1. Presently, Marrero is in Central Wisconsin doing the same thing on radio, but unlike Virginia, where he enjoyed a strong Latino fan following, he wages a tougher battle for Latin music appreciation in Wisconsin. Regardless of the demographics, his new listening audience appreciates good music and this keeps Marrero spinning the best of the world of Latin jazz. Marrero's radio program "Latin Jazz Expressions" is the first of its kind in central Wisconsin. The program has been on the airwaves for almost a year, and enjoys a growing audience and constant enthusiasm for the type of music being aired. Nick Marrero has been doing radio now for over 10 years and it's never been for money, only for the love of the music. He quotes: "Wherever I go, the music of Latin jazz will always have a voice." Nick Marrero can also be heard on web radio station at www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/wwsp/90fm/ram. "El ritmo esta vivo en Wisconsin."

JAZZ LATINO

KCLU 102.3 FM Cal Lutheran's Radio Station, Oxnard, CA.

Thursdays 8 P.M. to midnight

Hosted by Raul Rico Jr.

Percussionist Raul Rico Jr. is a member of the popular Latin jazz ensemble The Estrada Brothers, based in Oxnard, California. When not playing music on his conga drums or other percussion instruments, Rico is busy on the turntables and CD players of his radio program "Jazz Latino" on WCLU 102.3 FM every Thursday night. Rico claims he contracted salsa fever around 1973, spending most of his money at that time on salsa records, especially those from New York bands. Raised in a family that always loved tropical dance music and dancing, Rico's passion for music kept on growing to the point where he became a music collector and finally a percussionist. In 1983, to balance his passion for music, he decided to try spinning records at KCSB radio in Santa Barbara. Soon thereafter he was given a time slot of his own and a program he called "Onda Latina." Every Sunday for over 10 years, Rico spun salsa music on the airwaves of Santa Barbara. In 1993, Rico decided to leave KCSB and joined KCLU 102.3 FM, closer to his home. Today he continues to host his Thursdays "Jazz Latino" program as well as his "Saturday Night Salsa" program on Saturdays from 8-10:30 p.m. He also continues to perform with the Estrada Brothers band and several other groups. Somehow he even finds time to write CD reviews for L.A. Jazz Scene magazine and Latin Beat Magazine from time to time.

LO MEJOR DEL JAZZ TROPICAL

WZNT-FM 93.7 Y 93.3 Area Sur, Puerto Rico

Hosted By Marcos Rodríguez

Programmed By Jaime F. Rodríguez

Jaime está vinculado al jazz desde el año 1987, año en que junto a Wito Morales produjo el programa radial "En Clave de Jazz", escuchado a través de Radio WORO-FM todos los sábados de 8 a 12 de la media noche. Durante 4 años estuvo a cargo del libreto, la selección y producción musical y animación.

En octubre de 1991, Jaime comenzó su nueva producción, "Lo Mejor del Jazz Tropical", los domingos de 8 a 10 de la noche, para la emisora Z-93 y este año cumple 10 años de estar en el aire. La voz oficial de Z-93, Estereotempo y Cosmos '94 -Marcos Rodríguez "El Cacique" de la Z- es quien realiza la animación del programa. En el mismo se estrenan constantemente las más recientes grabaciones dirigidas al género. De vez en cuando se entrevistan artistas de la talla de los que han pasado por el mismo, tales como: Eddie Palmieri, Danilo Pérez, Dave Valentín, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Ralph Irizarry, Néstor Torres, Giovanni Hidalgo, Humberto Ramírez, Jerry Medina y Cachete Maldonado entre otros.

En ocasiones se realizan especiales dirigidos a diferentes temas en particular. Ejemplo: "La Carrera Musical de Tito Puente en el Jazz Latino", "El Latin Jazz Alrededor del Mundo", "Las Obras Musicales de Eddie Palmieri Tocadas por Otros Intérpretes", "Grandes Pianistas en el Jazz Latino", "Los Mejores Percusionistas del Tambor Afro-Cubano en el Jazz Latino", y otros más. La música que Jaime adquiere es a través de los servicios que le brindan algunas compañías disqueras con discos de promoción; otras compradas a través del Internet y otras en intercambio con la tienda Casa de los Tapes. Lo Mejor del Jazz Tropical también se puede escuchar a través de www.zeta93.com