AL RYAN: BBC RADIO 3 JAZZ NOW
For all those jazz connoisseurs out there, there is a new jazz show in town available on BBC Radio 3, headed up by a new trio of highly talented presenters consisting of the MOBO awarding winning Soweto Kinch, the super glam jazz singer Emma Smith, and big band leader Al Ryan. For the non-jazz aficionados amongst us who may be thinking, so what?, don’t switch off just yet - this is your chance to (re)connect yourself with jazz again - however momentarily.
Once considered depraved and socially degrading jazz has since shifted back into the realms of musical pretentiousness that at times borders on incoherent, with its screeching trumpets and cacophony of pips and squeaks requiring a questionable level of instrumental expertise, but it does occasionally touch on the sublime.
Of the 3 presenters Al Ryan’s own musical knowledge and expertise is hard to match. He fell in love with music at a young age and especially jazz, which was perhaps even more unusual for a kid growing up in Ireland restricted to a diet of old musicals and the occasional glimpse of a jazz player on day time TV. But he showed enough desire to warrant his parents to buy him his very own trumpet and his passion has never faltered from starting up his own jazz band at school to furthering his musical education later in life and eventually led him to work on the radio and presenting.
He got his first work placement at Lyric FM which soon turned into 11 successful years gaining extensive experience broadcasting in Ireland where he became a long standing figure at events such as the Cork Jazz festival whilst also becoming a big band leader himself along the way too.
“I had a jazz orchestra called the Savoy Jazz Orchestra which was a 18 piece big band a good old fashioned big band, with 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, full rhythm section, a piano, bass, double bass, drums and guitar; that was another great passion to perform live.”
When circumstances prevailed he found himself on the ferry over to the UK and it wasn’t surprising then that he was quickly able to find himself working for the BBC and was recently given the call to work on Radio 3’s latest show ‘Jazz Now’, joining forces with Soweto and Emma to take a look at contemporary jazz every Monday night.
Jazz is synonymous with hard to pronounce and even harder to remember names with the likes of Cab Calloway, Thelonias Monk or Papa Jack Zaine from amongst the canon of the most revered jazz purveyors of which many you will have heard of and of course the show will be taking a look at the household artists but it’s the introduction and exposure of other lesser known artists that really makes the show stand out.
Introducing acts such as Bugge Wesseltoft who curiously combines traditional acoustic jazz with more experimental electronic music, the presenters are able to infuse their own passion for the music alongside the artist’s currently playing on today’s jazz scene, warmly sharing their encyclopaedic knowledge with audiences. The show also provides Master Classes where artists give their insights into their music that although occasionally technically minded is enjoyable for non-musicians too.
Showcasing a variety of jazz new and old brings jazz to new audiences and you only have to look into the work of Al’s fellow presenter Soweto to see what contemporary can mean as his repertoire of skills show he’s a talented musician, singer, poet and rapper as well as radio presenter too!
“Soweto is a wonderful musician he’s a great sax player, he’s an educator and MC. His knowledge is fantastic, he’s so passionate about his music and his instruments and he really knows what he’s talking about.”
The show brings together all the necessary ingredients for a music programme with live performances and interviews combined with coverage of all the happening jazz events around the country such as the Cheltenham Jazz festival or the inaugural young jazz artist of the year, continually pointing audiences in the right directions where they may want to find out more.
“There’s music in there for everybody, its contemporary jazz but done in a way to invite people in to listen to it. Also we’ll be looking back at classic recordings. So we’re tipping the nod to what’s coming out to buy and download and what’s also been reissued - some wonderful jazz that has been recorded in the 60s and 70s, cutting edge jazz that never saw the light of day.”
As the jazz legacy rolls on from its early pioneers like Counte Basie, Louie Armstrong to Billie Holiday and Miles Davis to more recent performers such as Amy Winehouse or Gregory Porter who highlight that the distinction between what is jazz and what is mainstream isn’t as obvious as you might expect and its these kinds of musicians who have broadened the appeal of jazz bringing it to more mainstream audiences and connecting people with it all around the world.
“If you hear an artist on our programme you can go to YouTube, you can go to iTunes or the BBC music app and type in these names and find the tracks that we’ve played and it’s a great starting point for people to go off and start to listen.”
Jazz musicians certainly aren’t in it for the money; as Al says you’ll never get rich being a musician, except perhaps for the fortunate few so it’s more a calling in life and a life sustenance. As for Al, between trying to organise his own big band, mastering his instrument and presenting it turns out presenting is by far the more rewarding.
“Presenting is just a joy, it’s one of those great secrets, find something that you like doing and then get paid for it. I just love radio, I just love presenting, there’s nothing quite like it. There’s a little flutter you get when the red light goes on, when you open your mic fader, its just a great little high you feel every time.”
Amongst his tips for presenters, besides never giving up, is the importance of learning your trade, to find a good role model and learn how to edit, produce and ‘drive a desk’ as he puts it. And listen, not just to others but to yourself too.
“Record yourself, especially in the early days and listen to what you’re doing, so be critical of yourself, record yourself reading something and read it back until you are comfortable with yourself that you’re not impersonating anybody and that you are being you. The essence of you, you’re bringing your own personality to air which is very important, to be yourself, you can’t be anybody else, that’s the most important thing.’
Julian Gaskell