"There's a musical void of sophisticated and hip jazz programming on the radio locally. I look forward to bringing it back to all those that love the jazz genre along with the many colors and textures it has to offer. We'll rarely stray from the Great American Songbook but when we do, then it's the beautiful melodies that will keep your musical taste buds satisfied." says Stu Grant.
Jazz Impressions airs Saturdays
from 6:00 to 10:00p.m. on WXEL 90.7FM
Jazz DJ keeps flame alive in WXEL showWritten by Bill Meredith | 29 July 2009
Palm Beach ArtsPaper
For someone who isn't a professional musician, jazz deejay Stu Grant sure sounds like he's crafting a restaurant gig set list -- rather than a radio playlist -- for his Jazz Impressions show on WXEL 90.7 FM.
"I look at the first hour of the show as the dinner hour, and keep it lighter," he says of the weekly Saturday evening broadcast. "As the evening goes along, we get more adventurous."
For listeners, that can mean early Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra and Elaine Elias leading to Chet Baker, Billie Holiday and Diana Krall, then John Coltrane, Chick Corea and Miles Davis. Read more...
Stu Grant
Originally from Brooklyn New York, jazz radio personality Stu Grant, going on 38 years programming jazz on the radio in South Florida, was always intrigued with music from rock to pop to jazz. To no surprise he heard lots of music on the home front on both AM and FM radio or his phonograph player in the living room. From Sinatra to Basie, from Diz to Parker, from Sarah to Ella jazz was always in the air.
Says Grant, “I was always drawn to jazz in particular and it played a very big part of my lifestyle”. To no surprise his dad, nationally known disc jockey, jazz promoter, record producer and master of ceremony, Alan Grant certainly had a lot to do with it. “My dad, Alan Grant, worked his way up the ladder to success in jazz radio, starting in Babylon, Long Island and ending up at WABC in New York. He presented jazz on radio during the 60’s, including live radio broadcasts from New York’s finest jazz rooms like The Half Note Jazz Club on the Hudson and spring, when artists like John Coltrane, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery and Horace Silver were gaining reputations for themselves performing at such clubs like The Half Note, The Village Vanguard or Birdland.”
Don’t think for one minute that Stu would miss accompanying his dad to those unforgettable jazz performances to enjoy the evolution of jazz as often as he could. Says Grant, “the overall impression of viewing those performances live in the smoke filled jazz rooms as a youngster has been everlasting, and as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed turning music lovers on to the very best jazz I could get my hands on. That thrill has been with me from the beginning and it will never change.
“It was back in 1971 that I had the first opportunity to host my very first jazz radio show on Miami Beach at radio station WBUS-FM hosting the overnight show… I’ve never looked back and I’ve enjoyed presenting Jazz Specialty Radio Shows ever since around the FM dial throughout South Florida area. I’ve been on a crusade to keep the music alive and respected.”
Interviewing artists from David Sanborn, Chuck Mangione, Nancy Wilson, Arturo Sandoval and Chick Corea has always come easy to me along with hosting and promoting numerous jazz venues throughout the South Florida area. In 2007, I was very proud to be the master of ceremonies at Arturo Sandoval’s Jazz Club on Miami Beach introducing national and local jazz talent.
Other interests include Stu Grant’s mobile DJ Service for over 25 years, hosting weddings, high school reunions, anniversaries and more. Says Grant, “provide me with a setting and I’ll compliment that setting with a wonderful combination of music. I’ve always felt it was my calling and I’ve enjoyed the challenge.”
“Glib, articulate, spontaneous, knowledgeable, personable, humorous, passionate and dedicated are words that I’ve heard about myself throughout my 38 year radio career, and I look forward to new possibilities around the corner.”
For more information about Jazz Impressions,
please contact us here.
