GIVEN A RECORD COMPANY AND LAUNCHING A NEW RADIO STATION, WVIA PRESERVES JAZZ HISTORY
(2012-02-03)
PITTSTON, PA (wvia) – Through the past year WVIA has learned how to operate and manage a jazz record company. Chiaroscuro Records was donated to the station by long-time WVIA Trustee, regional businessman and philanthropist Andrew Sordoni for the purposes of preservation, education and entertainment. Some of the world’s most venerated mainstream jazz artists, including half of all those in the American Jazz Hall of Fame, have recorded for Chiaroscuro Records.
Sordoni explains how and why he became part of Chiaroscuro in a special WVIA State of Pennsylvania television interview. Joining him around WVIA’s Steinway are record company founder Hank O’Neal, chief engineer Jon Bates and internationally renowned pianist and composer Junior Mance. Mance captivates the theater audience with several spontaneous solos on original jazz classics.
Once the station had set up its record company in the public media center near Pittston, staff began to imagine ways only WVIA could grow the business. Legal advisors cleared the way for creation of a new digital radio frequency devoted solely to the Chiaroscuro library, and all involved quickly realized the fan base for mainstream jazz, while modest in size, is international in scope. Research of other worldwide web music services led WVIA to realize how discriminating listeners around the world might be attracted to the format and purchase or download an album.
The TV show guests explain why this music, recorded by very remarkable artists over a half-century by Chiaroscuro, has been often underappreciated. Yet the founders labored on believing that someday future generations will appreciate the unique and imaginative interpretations unlikely to be captured again.
The interview and performance air on State of Pennsylvania, Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. on WVIA-TV.
To hear WVIA’s Chiaroscuro Channel anywhere in the world go to wvia.org and click on the banner.
This program will also be available on demand within 24 hours of its live broadcast at https://wviaondemand.org/contusmore/?playid=1.
