chris wong in sync

On my way into the Commodore for the ¡Cubanismo! concert two weeks ago, someone stationed at the door handed me a brochure. The handout mentioned "a passion for excellence in Canadian radio" and a "commitment to music in this city". It also gave a web site address including two words that we may be hearing a lot in the coming months: "smooth jazz".

The brochure, from Telemedia Radio (West) Inc., was the first message to the public that I saw from one of the applicants for the 94.5 FM radio frequency in Vancouver. As it turns out, three days before the concert, the CRTC issued a "Notice of Public Hearing" that revealed the applicants and the formats they're proposing. Out of 11 vying for the coveted frequency, six propose a smooth jazz format.

What is smooth jazz? I wasn't exactly sure until I started reading about the music in Jazziz magazine and listening to it on the Internet. Based on that research, I can say that the term mainly refers to instrumental music that crosses over from jazz to pop or vice versa. Artists such as Kenny G, Boney James and the Rippingtons certainly fall in the category. But the moniker is nebulous enough that some would even consider certain tracks by a well-respected true jazz musician like Pat Metheny to be smooth jazz. Playlists for smooth jazz radio stations also include pop/soul à la Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

Since it emerged in the late '80s, smooth jazz radio has achieved significant success in the U.S. The format hasn't been a factor in Canada, but that's about to change. In May the CRTC announced approval of a "new adult contemporary/smooth jazz" FM station serving Hamilton and Burlington. The odds are that one of the smooth jazz applicants for the Vancouver frequency-CHUM Limited, Craig Broadcast Systems Inc., Jim Pattison Industries Ltd., Newcap Inc., Standard Radio Inc. and Telemedia-will receive approval.

According to Robert Kerr, executive director of Coastal Jazz & Blues Society, four applicants have asked his organization for advice and support. Kerr says he doesn't personally enjoy listening to smooth jazz, but Coastal generally supports the idea of introducing the radio format here, based on the belief that it will help develop a broader audience for jazz and jazz-related music.

On its web site at www.smoothjazzvancouver.com, Telemedia says 94.5 Smooth FM would play and promote local jazz musicians such as Brad Turner, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Peggy Lee and Dylan Cramer. The company also says it would directly provide a total of $1.4 million to Coastal's jazz festival over the course of a seven-year license, pump $700,000 into a "Jazz in Schools" initiative over the same period, and shell out in other ways.

Enough with the straight talk. These pledges of support are wonderful, but I'm wary of the sudden rush to launch a smooth jazz format in Vancouver. Checking out stations on the Net, like Smooth Jazz KKSF 103.7 from San Francisco, has been painful. I enjoyed listening to Sade as a guilty pleasure, but most of what I've heard is mind-numbing elevator muzak that has little to do with authentic jazz. Instead of expanding the audience for jazz that moves or enlightens, a local station that primarily plays soulless smooth jazz could have the opposite effect, and add to the ranks of Kenny G lovers. Scary.

It will be months before the CRTC decides about 94.5 FM, but an important date is coming up. The deadline for submitting written interventions-pro or con-about specific applications is Oct. 26. Go to www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/Hearings/2000/N2000-9.htm for information on how to intervene in writing and at the Nov. 20 public hearing. You can also view all the applications in the CRTC office (suite 530, 580 Hornby). Finally, Brian Nation has devoted an entire forum in vancouverjazz.com to no-holds-barred discussion of the smooth jazz question. The forum, which Telemedia's Dave Calder has contributed to, is well worth surfing to.

Current and former Vancouver jazz musicians/composers contributed to some films in the Vancouver International Film Festival. Bill Clark wrote the music for Dissonance, a quirky short directed, produced and co-written by Mitchell Kezin. It includes a scene, filmed in the Waldorf Hotel's Polynesian Room, featuring a group led by Hugh Fraser. As part of the Cadences program of shorts, Dissonance will screen Oct. 2 (9:40 p.m.) at Robson Square. (Fraser and his quartet will also play Oct. 6 and 7 at the Cellar.)

Crooner Michael Buble, who used to live here but now resides in Toronto, co-wrote and performed songs in Here's to Life. A big band consisting of top Vancouver players backed up Buble. Pat Caird composed the soundtrack for Arne Olsen's road movie, which screens Oct. 1 at the Ridge and Oct. 5 at Robson Square (7:00 p.m. both nights).

CBC Radio producer Neil Ritchie is teaching a course on jazz singers, Oct. 14 to Nov. 25 at SFU's School for the Contemporary Arts. For information, go to www.sfu.ca/cstudies/artsdowntown, or call 291-5212.

B.C.-born saxophonist Christine Jensen will perform Oct. 12 at Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre. Jensen has just released Collage, a strong debut recording of post-bop jazz. Jensen's sextet includes her sister Ingrid on trumpet and Brad Turner on acoustic and electric piano. Call 990-7810 for tickets.

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