Jazz Monthly.com Interview with Stephanie Levine

"Jazz Monthly Feature Interview" Stephanie Levine

Jazz Monthly: You know, there’s an expression that says: “When you’re hot… you’re hot.” Well, radio station KKJZ, KJazz is hot, "sizzling" hot... by anyone’s judgment. Broadcasting from California State University at Long beach, KJazz is the station that everyone wants to listen to and rightly and deservedly so. For the summer of 2008, KJazz had been ranked by the prestigious Arbitron media research firm as having the most listeners of any public jazz radio station in the United States. For the summer of 2008 Arbitron Book, ratings also showed that KJazz had the fifth highest number of listeners of any public radio station of any kind in the country.

We here at Jazzmonthly.com are so honored to have as our very special guest, Stephanie Levine, station manager and general counsel for KKJZ 88.1 FM... KJazz. Welcome to Jazz Monthly.com Stephanie.

SL: Thank You, Joe

Jazz Monthly: You're welcome.

I just mentioned those tremendous ranking and ratings by Arbitron and I guess if you and your staff were to going to be modest, you might credit your ratings by the increased popularity and resurgence of Jazz in general; but we know that it has to do with how you and your staff present the Jazz. Right?

SL: We definitely feel it is due to having such a wonderful staff and the approach that we take to the music. We do our best to offer the best of “Straight-ahead Jazz,” “Latin Jazz” and “Blues” programming and that’s something we always strive to achieve. Based on the response from the audience and the Aribtron ratings, it appears that we are reaching that goal.

Jazz Monthly: Yeah, you sure are. You must be so happy and gratified. I guess that’s the word, gratified, with those ratings, Stephanie. It's just knowing that people really love what KJazz does - not only in Southern California but also for listeners all over the world. Right?

SL: Well, we are very grateful for the response we have gotten from not only listeners in Southern California but, yes indeed from all over the world. We are streaming on-line 24/7 at “jazzandblues.org.” It is interesting because some people come from cities where they are fortunate to have another jazz service, and yet they listen to us as well, and they send money to support us. That says something about what we are doing with the programming. Unfortunately, what we also note is many people who listen to us on-line are listening to us because they don’t have a jazz service in their local community That really just highlights how important it is that we really appreciate and support KJAZZ in a way that the listeners and the members have been doing for so long. We are actually celebrating 30 years at the end of this year. It will be 30 years that KJAZZ has been full time as a “Jazz and Blues” station. That’s really remarkable, especially because there are only five full time ”Straight -ahead” Jazz radio stations in this country.

Jazz Monthly: Stephanie, you mentioned that many of your listeners actually have another Jazz station in their local community, and yet they are listening to KJazz on the computer. What a compliment!

SL: It is definitely a compliment. We appreciate it and it is not to say that there are not some wonderful stations doing some incredible work; but we are very proud of what we have done at KJazz. The audience is certainly supporting us and showing us that we are doing it the right way.

Jazz Monthly: You sure are. You know Stephanie, I could tell you that in my own case, I have been listening to KJazz. My computer has almost become my "radio!"

SL: Oh, that’s a great thing!

Jazz Monthly: Yeah. I have been listen to KJazz on my own computer, and one thing that immediately struck me is how well you “balance.” I don’t know if I’m using the right word but I guess “balance” is a good word here. You “balance” the local with the syndicated or national programs. Am I saying that correctly?

SL: I think that is correct. We really care about presenting the best music out there. The best “Straight-ahead Jazz”, “Latin Jazz,” and “Blues.” Something we find very important is striking the balance between that “Classic jazz” that really is the foundation. The same thing for “Blues.” We also make sure that we are supporting and finding new ways to appreciate all the wonderful new musicians who are out here - not only local musicians in LA and Long Beach, but all of the new musicians who are coming out from all over the world who really need a station like KJazz to support them and their music. So, we try to check that “balance.” It’s constantly a challenge, so every hour we strive to present the “classics” and the “new” while supporting the local artist in the process.

Jazz Monthly: Yeah... that word “balance,” right? You know Stephanie, I have been listening to KJazz for weeks now and I think that KJazz has an intimate sound that is, of course local, but also appeals to someone like me – who might be listening a few thousand miles away on their computer. I still feel connected to your station even though I am thousand of miles away.

SL: That is a great thing to hear. I think that is also evident by the other people who do listen from not only around the country but all over the world.

We have people who contact us and make donations during our pledge drive. They make donations throughout the year from Europe, Australia, Asia, and Latin America. So I hope it does mean that we are not just accessible for people who are lucky enough to have a local station, but that it makes sense and it's enjoyable for some like yourself who’s listening on the East Coast.

I think we do that because the DJ's know so much about the music, and we are so heavily involved in the music community. We travel and the DJ’s travel. They pick up music all over the place and bring it back and play it for the audience. So, hopefully it stays relevant to anyone that enjoys the music.

Jazz Monthly: Yes, it sure is. You are also very "dimensional." KJazz is a very dimensional station in your Jazz "sphere” so to speak. The “sphere” of it, from the “Main Stream Jazz,” to “Blues,” to “Latin Jazz”… it’s really like a musical “smorgasbord” or "buffet"of great jazz music, right?

SL: Well that’s how we look at it. Certainly that’s the approach that we take. We really do our best to try to make as many people happy as possible who really enjoy this music. That’s a challenge. You can’t make everyone happy all the time, but you do your best to try and reach out to an audience who loves this music as much as possible.

Part of our goal with KJazz is to reach out to new audiences: Younger people, older people… anyone… from all sorts of different backgrounds. Jazz really is the bedrock of this country. It’s the true “American art form” when you talk about this music. It’s something very important that we should be very proud of – not something we just talk about in history classes. To keep it “still relevant”… is to reach out to a newer audience and keep it going with the younger generation. We try very hard to do that.

Jazz Monthly: Well you succeed, as is indicated by the Arbitron ratings, and just your overall appeal by people like me who love the station. You mentioned younger listeners or a younger audience; I think that KJazz also shows a tremendous regard to even your students on campus, to expose them and the younger people. We all know the best way sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes the best way to get people to come to Jazz is, (the younger people) to kind of come in through the “back door” so to speak. Blues artists like John Mayer for example... or Dave Mathews are a little bit blues influenced.

SL: David Cullum is a wonderful example of a younger artist who is really influenced by Jazz and covers a lot of standards.

Jazz Monthly: Yes. So you see what I am saying about almost coming in through the “back door,” but the bigger picture is they are starting to really appreciate Jazz and Blues too right?

SL: I think so. It’s interesting because when you look at their careers… like someone like John Mayer… they have a lot of influence. There’s no question that John Mayer has been influenced by "Blues," but if you’re a younger John Mayer fan and you don’t have the background in “Blues,” you might not know that he was influenced by "Blues." So I think it is very important to have musicians like John Mayer and have stations like KJazz really reaching out to those fans of John Mayer and know we all love John Mayer; he is great artist... this is kind of his background… this is how he makes the music you appreciate now. Hopefully, checking out some of John’s influences will open up the door to them. John has played with many great blues artists. I don’t know how well his audience is aware of that.

Jazz Monthly: Great Point. In a way this is like a music lesson for the younger people too isn’t it?

SL: It is. It really is a music lesson. I think the challenge for everyone in the arena of Jazz and Blues is to figure out how to effectively reach out to a larger audience, and especially the younger audience. How do you do that without sounding like you’re preaching at them, or talking about something that you know was their parent’s generation? Regardless, you have to make it seem accessible.

That’s something that we all strive to do, and I know everyone really in the Jazz community does this well. They really strive to make it accessible. It’s very important that everyone knows that, “You don’t have to be well versed in the history of Jazz” to be able to appreciate it. We have some listeners who are casual listeners – although, fortunately most listeners are very avid and listen pretty much all the time. We found that with KJazz. But we want everyone to feel welcome. What one person likes… another person may not like… but that’s OK. It’s just about keeping the music going and appreciating it. There is so much amazing Jazz out there – the same with Blues. That’s something we’re really trying to get across.

Jazz Monthly: That’s a great point Stephanie, because as I mentioned earlier… half kiddingly… but I meant it when I said that my computer has become my radio in listening to KJazz streaming. I happend to tune into Bubba Jackson’s show and there was a song playing… it might have been Bill Evans. The track was a piano tune and my wife said, ”Wow this is nice honey!" Now my wife really doesn’t know Jazz or particularly like Jazz but she noticed when something was good. Am I saying that right?

SL: I think that’s absolutely right. I think sometimes people don’t necessarily realize that what they’re hearing is really influenced by Jazz, or may actually be Jazz. Sometimes people that don’t necessarily feel that they’re fans of it or have a notion of what Jazz means. I think that if they happen to actually be able to hear it in a way that is casual… so that someone like your wife, who may think she doesn’t actually enjoy it, is able to be exposed and figure out, “You know there is some Jazz that I actually really like." Just by getting her “in” just a little bit she may actually wind up picking up some more on her own, and chooses to seek out more. Of course, when I say Jazz I also mean Latin Jazz as well. We support a lot of community events, and one of the reasons for doing that is not just for the people who appreciate the music already, but we hope that it will pull in other people who didn’t know that they necessarily liked the music.

Jazz Monthly: Very good Stephanie, that was perfectly put. You know, you mentioned some Jazz events – Jazz and Blues and Latin Jazz events. Let’s talk about some of the fabulous events that KJazz is sponsoring and presenting. We’ll talk about the Long Beach Blues Festival in a minute, but I think that one of the other outings that you’re proud of at KJazz is the HNH right?

SL: That’s right. The Hollywood and Highland Series. That’s an incredible series. It’s starting on June 2nd and it goes for thirteen weeks. This is now our sixth year, and it just keeps growing and getting better and better. We are very fortunate

because we have so much great music here and so many wonderful musicians. We have had some people from even outside the country come here to perform. It’s really incredible. The Artists are there at the series every week performing for two hours, and it’s just such a tremendous way to get everyone to spend an evening. We all look forward to it. I get to meet so many great people out there. There is a real community feel to it, and the cool thing about it is, it’s at the Hollywood and Highland Center. It’s really a great facility. It’s outdoors, so it’s a great way to enjoy the summer evenings that we’re about to find upon us. I think that what happens too is that a lot of people are in the area visiting the Hollywood Boulevard… and Hollywood and Highland is there and people hear the music, so they stop and see the performances. They wind up staying and coming back again because they had such a good time... that they happened upon it.

Jazz Monthly: And this is the sixth annual outing Stephanie?

SL: This is the sixth annual and again it starts June 2nd. We have just a great line up. It’s starting with Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars. That group really came out of KJazz. Jose is our music director and our host for Jazz on the Latin Side. He formed the group a number of years ago and it really spawned out of the show with what he was doing at the radio station. Which really just speaks to how great and how important it is to support a station like KJazz.

Jazz Monthly: You know being the romantic that I am, I love the way it’s billed. You know it’s described as “Wine, Jazz, and Moonlight.” I mean it can’t get any better…

SL: It really is. It’s fantastic! There are food and cheese parings that are available every week for a small donation towards a benefits project, Angel Food – which has been associated, I believe every year, but certainly the last three years since our company has been involved with KJazz. They’re a great organization and we are really proud to work with them.

Then we get different sponsors. Hollywood and Highland have different sponsors who are also associated with the event.

I’d like to tell you about some of the other events that will be going on this summer. We’re really delighted to work with L.A. Phil on the Hollywood Bowl season. There are also wonderful performances at Grand Performances downtown, so we are downtown throughout the summer. Then at Lacma, we’re really excited. It actually started in April but we have every Friday night, “The free Jazz series at Lacma in the courtyard,” and that’s Friday night – and goes all the way through until November.

Then on Saturday nights, in about a month, we are going to be starting Latin Sounds – which is a free series on Saturday nights at Lacma. That’s just a great, great, event! There’s just a ton of events going on and we try to keep people updated. In e-mail blogs, on the web site, and on the air, there will be a lot more to announce as well.

Jazz Monthly: Sure and of course your web site is www.Jazzandblues.org.

SL: That is correct

Jazz Monthly: And as I said before, make your computer be your radio. Listen to KJazz.

Stephanie let’s talk a little bit about the Long beach Blues Festival.

SL: This will be our 30th year – just like the anniversary of the radio station. It is a fantastic Blues Festival. It is one of the biggest on the West Coast. It is something that people have been coming to since the very beginning. Everyone looks forward to it. it’s an event you just know that right after labor day weekend is over, your planning for the next one the following year. It’s Labor Day weekend this year as it is every year. That’s September 5th and 6th. We have moved the location last year to the Rainbow Lagoon in downtown Long Beach. It’s just an incredible location. You’ve got the water next to you and your on a grassy area. We are there into the late evening, which means we get to watch the sun set. Absolutely beautiful! Couldn’t pick a better setting.

We have just a fantastic line up. We have our full line up now for the Blues Festival up on the main stage who is what we are really excited about. We’ve got Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Funky Meters and Johnny Winter, Bettye Lavette, Homemade Jamz Blues Band and Hill Country Review on Saturday. On Sunday we have Bobby Womack, Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Sonny Landreth, Diunna Greenleaf and the Andy Walo Trio. It’s just going to be fantastic. We still have our second stage, which is right next-door, and it allows people to have nonstop great Blues music all day long. It’s just a party! People plan on this event. They are excited about it. We have people who have signed up since Labor Day weekend last year, planning on coming back this year. So, we can’t wait for it. Great food, drinks, the vendor village… a lot of fun!

Jazz Monthly: You know Stephanie I have friends, some colleagues and Jazz musicians, and friends who live in Seattle and they make the trip. They made the trip last year and they’re going again this year. That’s how much they loved it.

SL: Well I am really happy to hear that. It really is such a fun event. It’s family oriented; you can bring your kids. We let kids who are under 12 get in for free. You see a lot of families there together and you see people who have become family to each other because they have friends who have been coming for so long. It’s like a big reunion every year and that’s really neat to see.

Jazz Monthly: How can you get tickets?

SL: We are going to have an early bird special on tickets. Tickets will go on sale May 28th through Ticket Master. They will also be available locally through a wonderful store in Long Beach called World of Strings. Then, as far as the VIP packages, they really are just incredible. They do so much to support the radio station. Those are available through our web site: www.JazzandBlues.org. They are also available by calling 310-478-5061. We will also be talking about it, of course, during our upcoming pledge drive. We will be offering some “specials” to go along with it, but I highly recommend getting a VIP package. There’s a Level for everyone. It really depends on what your comfort zone is… as far as what you can spend on it… but a lot of money goes back to the station, and it's really crucial that we keep this festival going and we keep the station going by supporting the blues festival – with the VIP packages.

Jazz Monthly: You mentioned it’s at the Rainbow Lagoon, as it was last year. My friends have told me that it was right on campus. Right on the athletic field and even THAT was a success. That it was well received. I hear that at the Rainbow Lagoon the setting is just magnificent.

SL: It really was a wonderful setting at the campus. There is no question. It had been there for I think 27 out of the 28 prior years. One year it had been moved off. Again, this was before our company was actually involved with the station. That’s my understanding. We reached that decision with Cal State Long Beach. Cal State Long Beach, the foundation, is actually the license holder of KJazz. We have a wonderful relationship and work very closely with them as the licensee. We made a joint decision that it was time to move to a different location to take advantage of certain things – which the downtown Long Beach area is just so wonderful as well. You’ve got that beautiful setting that you can’t beat. It’s cooler because it’s right on the water, and especially because it’s Labor Day weekend… that has historically on campus been a hot weekend. So, we are really excited to have the cooler temperatures when we’re able to go into the evening without bothering neighbors. You have the sunset… it’s really remarkable.

Jazz Monthly: I can hear the excitement in your voice you know?

SL: I’m excited! I look forward to it every year.

Jazz Monthly: You know Stephanie you mentioned a few of them and we can’t mention all of the artists. It’s an incredible line up…

SL: It is an incredible line up. I ran through everything just cause I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see each and every one of these artists.

Jazz Monthly: I know you are. When you mentioned Kenny Wayne Sheppard, this guy is a guitar-playing dynamo from Louisiana. I saw him on the Tonight Show a couple of years ago. What energy Huh?

SL: He has fantastic energy. He is just such a great artist and really has a very special connection with the station and our listeners. I am telling you, any time we send people to go see him or to check out his new CD or DVD – he’s had out now for I believe about a year – people just go nuts… they love it! Everyone loves him. We all do. So we are very, very grateful to have him involved.

Jazz Monthly: His idol actually was Muddy Waters when he was growing up. You mentioned Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Bobby Womack and...

SL: Mavis Staples, Johnny Winter, and Bettye Lavette… it just goes on and on. Blind Boys of Alabama received a Grammy this past year. A Lifetime Achievement Award I believe was the category. They’re Legends. We are very lucky because we have such great talent every year. This is no exception. Sometimes I think people may not even be familiar… they may know a name, but they may not have checked out some of these artist before. This is such a great way to see all this wonderful music in a beautiful setting. People are always surprised. We always add in artists that kind of “push the envelope” a little bit, and we offer the new artists as well… the rising stars! Every time, people are blown away. I always hear it after the fact. That is the most rewarding thing to have people out there enjoying themselves.

Jazz Monthly: You mentioned Mavis Staples from the legendary Staple Singers. What a dynamic vocalist. You talk about vocal chops; she is still incredible. You know her dad; they called him “Pops” “Pops Staples”. He was a very good friend of Martin Luther King.

SL: No, I did not know that. So there you go, a very important family.

Jazz Monthly: So, what a line up you have. Just incredible.

Let’s talk a little about your hosts and hostesses, DJ’s at KJazz. The one thing that I noticed about all of them is they all seem to have a “down to earth” quality and yet they seem to, I mean they are local for sure because they’re emanating out of the Southern California area, but there is a sophistication and heart. You know what I’m saying?

SL: That’s absolutely correct. We are very lucky, because they are true talents. It’s pretty remarkable to have the knowledge that they all have, and by listening you can hear they all have they’re different influences. They have they’re favorite artists, but they are also very knowledgeable. They love the music, yet at the same time… even though there is that sophistication and knowledge to back up their tastes in the music… they’re very accessible. They love the music and they love the audience. They feel a real commitment to the community. We all do for what we’re doing. They all joke, “ You’re not doing this if you’re out to make a lot of money. You don’t become a Jazz DJ”.

Jazz Monthly: (Laughing)

SL: It doesn’t wok that way. Even with Jazz musicians. Anyone involved in Jazz and Blues – and especially public radio – you’re not doing this to make a lot of money… you’re doing this because you love it. The audience gets that. We send our DJ’s out to all these great community events. They will be out at the Hollywood and Highland all summer hosting… and they are out at Lakma…or they’re out at Grand Performances… or at the Phil. The list goes on and on. People turn out, sometimes, just to see the DJ’s. If they know that one of the DJ’s will be there, they’re going to show up. That’s real dedication. They have a “following” because they are so approachable, at the same time being knowledgeable.

Jazz Monthly: One of the events that you have is the Sunday Jazz Brunch right? With Bubba Jackson?

SL: That’s correct. Bubba and LaRoy Jones are the hosts. They trade off, and that has been every other weekend. It is a wonderful brunch and we just started this partnership recently. Monterey Hills, the fabulous steak restaurant just started this brunch. The food is fantastic. We’ve got Music in the Moment right now performing. It’s a very upscale brunch, but you get a lot for the whole experience… and then, of course, having Bubba or LaRoy there is a lot of fun. They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We are excited to be able to do this and get our listeners out there.

Jazz Monthly: It’s the Champagne and Jazz brunch at Monterey Hill.

SL: That is correct.

Jazz Monthly: Stephanie most of KJazz’s funding comes from KJazz’s membership?

SL: That’s correct. Really almost 90% I believe comes from fundraising and individual donors. There are some corporate donors, and we are grateful to them as well, but it really comes down to the individual listeners who have become members and who keep their memberships going. We have three pledge drives every year. We really, really need the money to operate the station. It’s been so difficult really… with this economy… with what we are all facing. We are really in it together. But one of the first things to get cut is support for public radio. As it is, Jazz radio is so hard to keep going, so we keep our budget very lean. We are very responsible for how we spend money, but we still have a budget that we need to meet. That’s why we look to these pledge drives and these efforts throughout the year to encourage people to continue donating… If they haven’t become a member to become one and certainly to keep renewing. It certainly is so crucial.

Jazz Monthly: That’s a great point, because people outside of the Southern California are, people who are listening from streaming. We also urge them to donate too, and also become a member.

SL: Absolutely! Because even to stream, costs us a lot of money. Whether you are here in the Southern California area to listen on the radio or online on the web, there is a cost to stream, a cost for the server and bandwidth plus royalties. There is so much that goes into it and I think that people don’t necessarily make that connection unless we tell them about it. This is why we need to get on the web and get on the air and tell people, “We really need your support and this is why.”

Jazz Monthly: Before we go, and again, we urge everybody to become a member and donate to KJazz. Keep this great, great, great service happening because they do so much, not only for the community but world wide in spreading Jazz and Blues and just darn good music. I don’t even like to put a label on it. It’s just great music.

SL: Well I agree and I know that our entire staff and all of our listeners agree. It’s fantastic music and for most of us we don’t know what we would do without it. That’s really something important to remember. To keep the station going and to keep the music going because we never want to have that situation where we are relying on the ability to turn on the dial and turn on the computer and start streaming, and it’s not there. Unfortunately, a lot of radio stations around the country that did offer Jazz are not financially able to do so. That’s why we say we have to keep it here in good times and bad time.

Jazz Monthly: Keep doing what you’re doing. KJazz is so much more than a great local Jazz and Blues station serving your area and Southern California. Not to get too lofty here, but I think that KJazz is a "beacon" or an "ambassador" of Jazz and Blues for many people, not just only across America but across the world.

SL: We certainly appreciate that. We are certainly doing our best and we are going to continue doing our best. Hopefully looking forward to celebrating another thirty years.

Jazz Monthly: Thank you Stephanie. Your KJazz makes a lot of people happy, not only in your local area but also really across America. Thank you so much for your wonderful service and everything that you provide on KJazz.

SL: Thank you Joe. I really appreciate it.

Jazz Monthly: You’re Welcome.