It came too late in the week to write about on the blog last week, but there was a new channel last week, so we're still sticking to our word of providing a new channel every week, for all you Internet radio watchdogs out there.
The new channel is called "Emerging Voices" and it's dedicated to music by the under-40 crowd, whether it be by unknown up-and-comers or superstars like Jason Moran and Esperanza Spalding [pictured].
There is a long tradition of the jazz elders making way for newcomers to shine, with most of the jazz legends making their recording debuts in their early twenties. Tony Williams joined Miles Davis' band when he was a mere 17 years old. With the rise of university jazz programs, there are more young jazz musicians dedicated to playing jazz than ever before. I'm one of 'em, and though I haven't recorded anything worth broadcasting on the channel, I hope to very soon, and I have personal relationships with plenty of the players you will hear.
As young folks come in all stripes, the stylistic variation on the channel is pretty wide - from Corey Wilkes' neo-soul-tinged jazz to Amir ElSaffar's Avant-Iraqi jazz. A recent listen produced some newer Roy Hargrove (just barely under 40; we'll have to take him off in October), a straight-ahead tune by Los Angeles-based drummer Devin Kelly, and a killing track from Chris Potter's 2001 disc, Gratitude.
Many lesser-known youngsters have also come up in recent listening sessions. The channel will no doubt be a great place for discovering new talent. If you're a jazz fan who finds him or herself wondering "is there any hope for the future of jazz?" then you'll want to listen to this channel. You'll find the answer is a resounding "Yes."
Go ahead and listen, and let me know how YOU like the channel, by commenting here, or via Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, or the ShoutBox on the AccuJazz homepage.
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