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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Smooth jazz gets a boost from new group

I wrote a column about a month ago on how the demise of KYWL-FM (Wild 103.9) left Spokane hip-hop fans up the creek in regard to commercial radio.

Since then I’ve heard from several 7 readers with the same sentiment, many of whom don’t fit the stereotypical G-United 106 & Park-profile you might expect of a Wild listener (see letters column to the right).

Dolores Gonzales, whose 27-year-old son is a hip-hop, house and techno deejay, said 103.9 was her primary preset because it was the closest thing she could find to a smooth jazz radio station.

“All I listened to was 103.9 because I couldn’t stand the other stations,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales moved to Spokane from Los Angeles five years ago and has become so frustrated with Spokane radio that she teamed with a co-worker and smooth jazz drummer, Joe Lewis Jr., to found Smooth Jazz Society of the Inland Northwest.

Her group is on a mission to bring variety into the jazz mix through becoming a presence in the community and eventually attracting big-name smooth jazz artists.

And it starts with radio.

“That’s the only way to get some expose for it,” said Gonzales, president of the Smooth Jazz Society. “A lot of people have a negative opinion of smooth jazz. They think it’s music played in doctors’ offices and elevators. To me, it’s a marriage of R&B, hip-hop, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s music, but more jazzed up.”

Gonzales said the idea of adding smooth jazz – more contemporary sounding R&B and hip-hop-oriented jazz – was rejected by KEWU-FM (Jazz 89.5), the main supplier of jazz on Spokane radio that sticks to straight-ahead jazz peppered with blues, world music and groove.

“We’re not asking them to change their format but maybe add an hour of it to their programming, like they have the ballet hour, world hour and blues hour,” Gonzales said. “There has to be a home for people more into contemporary jazz.”

Hoping to build support and identify more local Latin and African-American smooth-jazz musicians, Gonzales, who is Mexican, has sought groups such as the Hispanic Business Professional Association and the African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American Business and Professional Association (AHANA).

“You go out and you see the same players in different combinations. I don’t see a level playing field in town,” Gonzales said. “I don’t see African- American and Hispanic players.”

Gonzales – who is the aunt of Matt Gonzales of local metal powerhouse Five Foot Thick – also has taken action by co-hosting the “Good Vibrations” smooth jazz show with Willie G. on Thin Air Radio (KYRS-FM 92.3) on Sunday’s from 9 p.m. to midnight.

So far the Smooth Jazz Society has attracted 10 core members and 40 additional members.

The group was encouraged when KAZZ-FM 107.1 recently returned to the air as The Oasis, a full smooth jazz station.

For the benefit of smooth jazz fans, here’s hoping The Oasis doesn’t do the Wild thing and turn into a mirage.

Join the Smooth Jazz Society for “A Smooth Valentines Weekend” tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Cajun Room (formerly Fat Tuesday’s), 1003 E. Trent Ave.

The event features live contemporary smooth jazz tonight with the Smooth Jazz Society vice president Lewis and his group from San Francisco, The Jazzcats, plus featured local smooth jazz musicians. Dress to impress (no jeans). Tickets are $15 per person and $25 per couple, available at 891-7860.

For more information, including how to get involved with the Smooth Jazz Society, contact Gonzales at 991-2772 or 1smoothjazzwoman@comcast.net.