Following a “soft” launch in July, KGOU commits to full season of Backstage Jazz.
Hosted by resident jazz lover and independent producer Jeremy Gossett, Backstage Jazz is the culmination of Gossett’s three-year quest to create a radio program that showcases both regionally-admired and internationally recognized jazz artists. Gossett told the Oklahoma Gazettewhat he means by “Backstage”.
“We want to let the listener understand why the music is so important,” Gossett said. “The vision is to take people behind the music and into the lives of these great musicians. It was important for me to do it this way because nobody really knows about their life, their travels, their everyday life.”
The inaugural season of Backstage Jazz consists of twelve episodes which include conversations and music from contemporary jazz saxophone icon David Sanborn to resident pianist and crooner Justin Echols, with each artist sharing his or her unique story and perspective on the music.
http://youtu.be/9jD6NRqg3so
Friday, August 16 at 9 p.m. marks the official launch, or re-launch, of the program with episode one focusing on the recent opening of the exhibit “Jazz Through the Eyes of Herman Leonard” featuring conversations with Steve Smith, manager of the Herman Leonard Jazz Photography Collection and trumpeter Rodney Block.