Big Band & Classic Jazz, Hosted by Thomas Durnin on KOOP 91.7

Shortly after I moved back to Austin in November of 1995, I discovered the community radio station, KOOP 91.7. More particularly, I found the radio show Big Band & Classic Jazz that was and is still broadcast today on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM CDT. This show has been hosted by Thomas Durnin since its beginning. Thomas often describes his radio program as “a weekly excursion into the roots of American Jazz.” I have learned a great deal about early jazz from a careful listening of Big Band & Classic Jazz.

Thomas Durnin provides valuable information about the history of early jazz, and provides little known data on the musicians playing on each of the cuts that he plays. It was my habit at that time to make cassette transcriptions of many of these jazz shows. I have retained these cassettes, and as an example of one fine broadcast, that dates from November 20th, 1999, Thomas featured the music of Hoagy Carmichael. You know Hoagy, he`s the piano player in “Casablanca.”

Thomas brings in many of his own rare records, and on this day, some ten years ago, we got to hear many rare recordings of Hoagy`s compositions, such as “Boneyard Shuffle,” “Washboard Blues,” “Riverboat Shuffle,” and “Rockin` Chair.” Mister Durnin explains much about the record labels and the early recording process as well. I am still trying to understand the waxing of records by using the acoustic recording and the early electric recordings using microphones? It might do me good to see some of these recording machines in a museum somewhere.

Fortunately, you can still listen to Thomas Durnin and his presentation of Big Band and Classic Jazz, since it is streamed on the internet now. In the meantime, I will have to continue to study some of my priceless transcriptions. Let`s see…that`s Duke Ellington and his Jungle Band doin` “Rockin` Chair” in 1929, isn`t it? What label is that again, Thomas?

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