Airwaves

by Brian Goslow

Musicians can spend months creating a polished work of art, but the greatest moments of creativity usually happen live. Worcester is lucky to have a number of programs on the radio and television that give performers and listeners alike the chance to experience something special, beginning with community broadcaster WCUW (91.3 FM), where local and touring acts know they can drop in and talk up area appearances. If they're so inclined, they pick up their instruments and do their thing. Last summer, the station brought back the spirit of Summer's World by sponsoring a series of ethnic concerts in local parks, broadcasting many of the shows live. The spirit of the underground continues to flourish Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to midnight with poetry (Nic Karcasinas and Dave Nader) and experimental sound imagery (Dave McKay) on Hullabaloo, acoustic performances and spoken word (Tina D'Elia) on Double Dare Ya, and full bands (Fearless Leaders) on the Litter Box. Thursday nights, longtime womyn's program Face the Music features the occasional surprise guest (Cris Williamson), while the Dave and Dave Show/Radio Free Wormtown (Canine, Maladdiction, Purrr, and N.E. Hostility) continues to be home to regional rockers.

The continued growth of the region's acoustic scene has been well documented on both New Traditions (weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m.) and In the Tradition (Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.). Many of the station's other programs also bring in guests on a regular basis, and we can only hope the station publicizes them in 1998.

WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE'S WSCW (currently on Christmas sabbatical) made its own contribution with Monday night's Groupie Hour and Jon's Local Hour (Sunday) -- not to leave out the other DJs who did their homework in promoting the local scene. On the television side, Static Fusion, currently airing Mondays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 p.m. on WCCA-13, continues to invade area gigs with a camcorder. Some of 1997's highlights included performances by Veronica Black Morpheus Nipple, Winterboy, and the Jay Tyer Trio.

JAZZ VOCALIST TONI BALLARD not only made a name for herself nationally this year with her debut CD, I'm Your Pal (Dolphin), but continued to bring live jazz into the homes of Worcester residents with Studio 3. Anyone who's ever taken a shot as a music promoter knows how hard it is to put on a single event -- this local showcase is now in its fourth year. The offering for the week of December 29 is the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, whose a cappella performance was captured at Mechanics Hall, as was a visit by vibraphonist Warren Chiasson. His duo performance with guitarist Joe Cohn, recorded in 1995, airs the week of January 5. Ed Saindon and Swing, who feature New England jazz legends Dick Johnson and Herb Pomeroy, are featured on the weeks of January 12 and 26. They were taped at this year's Jazz at Sunset series finale, performing tracks from their new CD, Swing on the Sunnyside (Challenge). Worcester's Tuxedo Classic Jazz Band bring Bourbon Street to Mechanics Hall the week of January 19.

Studio 3 can be seen Mondays at 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on WGMC-TV3. The local cable channel also airs Edge-TV, a weekly half-hour program filmed at the Palladium, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.

IF YOU TAKE THE TIME to record your music, take advantage of the outlets that exist to play it over the airwaves. Stations are licensed to serve the community, not turn its residents into sterilized mush. And while you're at it, send us a copy as well.