by Jo Barnes | photo by Amanda Cribdon Photography –
Music can transport us to a moment in time. For one local jazz enthusiast, music not only transports him to the past, but through technology, he is giving others the chance to join him in that journey.
For a number of months now, Saanich resident John Watts has been offering a jazz podcast called “In a Mellow Tone” for Radio Sidney, and the music is drawn from his personal jazz collection which he has been gathering for over 60 years.
“I provide the source material for the program,” shares John. “The tracks are from my collection of about 2,000 albums. I have vinyls, CDs, reel to reel and cassette tapes.”
The podcast takes its name from a 1939 song by Duke Ellington. John is a long-time fan of this jazz icon and opens and closes the podcast each week with this piece. The show plays Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 9 to 10 p.m. Listeners can tune in to the livestream at www.radiosidney.ca/services.
Each segment runs for a two-week period, and all podcast material is then archived so the listener can play it at any time. Audiences have been positive about these broadcasts and responses have come from as far away as Tasmania.
The jazz genre has been a strong musical thread in John’s life.
“Since I first began to listen to jazz, I’ve been hooked, “says John. “I like the sound. It makes me feel upbeat.”
His interest in jazz started in the 1960s. John grew up in Britain, and he recalls the choices in music for listening were limited.
“I lived during post war Britain, and the BBC was the only game in town,” comments John. “There were two stations: the Home Service and the Light Programme. The Home Service had news and drama; the Light Programme had light music and comedy.”
John recalls the thrill of hearing the sounds of early rock and roll music which quickly gained popularity.
“On the American Forces network, picked up from Germany, I heard Buddy Holly for the first time,” he says. “There was Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley and Little Richard. The music had such life in it!”
But it was the rhythms and melodies resonating from the 1960s jazz clubs that ultimately captured John’s attention. It prompted him to begin collecting recordings and attend concerts, all of which further confirmed an enjoyment of the genre.
John has been enjoying creating his podcast selections. Initially he organized show presentations according to the artist name and then began to reflect on other themes.
“I have been doing shows presenting artists in alphabetical order. My first show for example was the letter A, with the second show, the letter B,” says John. “Then I began to choose different themes like piano jazz, jazz from New Orleans, or Big Band Jazz.”
With such an extensive collection, however, John has his challenges.
“The show is fun to do, but I have far too much to pick from,” he shares. “I am trying to choose what is fun and fills the time appropriately, but that can be challenging.”
Creating the podcast has given John a chance to add to his knowledge of jazz artists. Through research he discovers fascinating details about their musical abilities, personal background and music achievements.
“I have a piece by American jazz artist Roger Wolfe Kahn,” says John. “I didn’t know a lot about him and through research discovered that at age 16 he was self taught on 18 instruments!”
Now working on his 17th show, John is looking ahead and hoping to present new themes like guitar jazz, colours of jazz and women in jazz.
While the arrival of the pandemic brought limitations on public interaction, social and sporting events, and the need to stay closer to home, the radio podcast has been a welcome project for John.
“With this project on the go, I have found that being locked down hasn’t been anywhere as bad as it might have been,” says John.
The process of reviewing and researching material for the show has provided John with the opportunity to revisit his collection and appreciate the artist and artistry all over again.
“I am listening to music I haven’t heard in years,” shares John. “There are some pieces I didn’t know I had!”
His love of jazz has taken John on a lifelong journey of musical exploration and appreciation. For Radio Sidney listeners, they can hop aboard that musical train and share in John’s love and expertise in the world of jazz.
