I dm11P111 111111 mil 11 1.1 I IIIIIItl111 d IIIII IIIIII rm N49n:.1oW4;11 Tangerine Sets Expansion '69 HOLLYWOOD - Tangerine Records, Comments Joe Adams, "Tangerine's FOCus ON JAZZ subsidiary of Ray Charles' Record Pub- specialty is, fittingly, new talent, for MORT FEGA lishing Management International Tangerine's image is a 'go-ahead' (RPM) complex, has announced its young company, giving its artists the expansion plans for 1969, through Joe opportunity, through their own crea- Adams, vice-president and head of tivity and initiative, to grow along Because New York City is my turf, having worked before that in Cin- label and all other RPM companies. with it." 'loch of what I choose to write about cinnati and in the Bay area of San Tangerine diskery boasts a roster Mark Taylor is director of Tangerine itself with the goings on in Francisco at KJAZ, Pat Henry's all of ten recording artists to date. Records and Publishing. oncerns Chet "Poison" Ivey, Jimmy Lewis its biggest of cities. Occasionally jazz station. He was one of the first jockeys to work for KJAZ when it and The John Bishop Trio are Tan- 'uy affairs take me to other areas of with single R&B went on the air in the late mid -fifties. gerine artists product d pis ever-shrinking country, and when in release so far this year, with Ivey's uis happens I usually lend an atten- So, Herb has excellent credentials, "Shake A Poo Poo" having doubled on ve ear to what's happening on radio something that becomes crystal clear both R&B and top hundred charts and upon first exposure to his efforts. i that particular location, that being one's composer -singer Lewis' "If It Wasn't He be from 9:00 p.m. to Luck," recorded with Charles iv special devotion . . . the regional can heard For Bad of affairs on radio. This past midnight, Monday through Friday and on ABC, dittoing feat. '.ate The John Bishop Trio's first LP. I my out of town listening on Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to eek did "Bishop's Wail," will be distributed Phoenix, The Valley of the Sun, 8:00 p.m. on KOOL FM, at 94.5 mc. (and how those call letters for by ABC Records, as is all Tangerine 1d what I heard was very rewarding. about product, and is slated for February There are twenty six radio stations a jazz show?) . KOOL is a 100,000 marketing. "Wade in the Water" is RAY ANTHONY provided a focus of the greater Phoenix area, an un- waiter and beams all over the valley preview single pull from the Bishop attention at a recently held' press re- ;ually high number for a city of this in stereo. Herb's selections cover the album. ception for his latest Ranwood LP, ze, and, to my pleasant surprise, complete spectrum of jazz with the Rita Graham's "Vibrations" LP, "Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero." The al- is re- zany of these outlets play music for emphasis, if indeed there is an empha- easy listening collection, also bum, featuring Anthony's instrumental leased, and new product from new version of the Rene & Rene hit (which adult audience. I might have used sis, on the melodic. As an example of where his head is, one night while artists Brandi Alexander, Darrel An- has also been released as a Ranwood to "good music" identification, which drews Band, Dianne Brooks, Andy single by the trumpeter) was pre- listening to him I heard him play an the trade's way of categorizing mus - Butler, Patterson & Mitchell, Question among whom Chaloff recording of viewed for the attendees, that is essentially middle of the obscure Serge Mark (?) & the Mysterians, and Jimmy were Cash Box vice president Marty tad: but, to me, that's kind of snobb- "Body And Soul", something I know Robins figure in Tangerine's plans Ostrow (right) and editor-in -chief Iry h! I consider much of the music that and treasure as an absolute master- through March of this year. Lichtman. beamed to young listeners to be piece. It caused me to ask myself, Dutchman mod music, so I prefer my manner "Who else do you know who even Thiele's Flying identification. Strangely, of the knows about this side, let alone play Street Steps To Sets Sail w/1st Sessions wenty six stations, only one plays it on the radio for others to share?". NEW YORK - Under new Production in Herb John- zz on the air and it's about the It's not uncommon the Promo Appearances deals signed with four different labels, an who conducts that program. son scheme of things to hear him play Bob Thiele's new Flying Dutchman erb Johnson, that I wish to speak. unavailable things on his program. To Productions, which opened shop last month, has set sail with its first re- Mr. J. as Herb is affectionately a record promoter this might not sit well: to a jazz listener, however, cording sessions. sown by his listeners, is of that spec - so NEW YORK - Various promotional Three sets are being produced for it must be valued as a special exper- have been set out for the 1 breed who have a deep devotion to appearances ABC's Impulse line, to which Thiele is 'rpetuating the good sounds called ience. Occasionally he'll play some- Verve/Forecast group called "Street." of product. Having just completed an the exclusive supplier ce, or as Herb prefers to call it, thing which, if properly identified by appearance These albums are to be cut by Archie the first caller, will bring that caller at the Rush -up in Chicago, the group Nelson big band, odern American music. It has always and their Verve/Forecast album were Shepp, the Oliver en my experience that in every city the reward of a jazz LP. This he does and tenor man, Tom Scott. The latter plugged on the nationally syndicated LP with Steve ere is usually one deejay who has with no special regularity, only when two of these, plus an show Up Beat, February 8. On the Allen and Oliver Nelson. titled "Soulful cted to fight the good fight, often the spontaneous feeling overtakes him. same day they were also featured on it be noted Brass a2," are to be waxed on the 4 Along these lines, should I his own material disadvantage, to the CBS -TV show Call Back. Coast. his is completely spon- On 22nd ep some semblance of jazz alive on that program Feb. the group will be one For the Impulse affiliated line, Blues - which is it should be, of the featured attractions at the e airwaves in his backyard. I sup - taneous, as way, Thiele has signed and will pro- World Of New se that I've met, if not all of the witness that spontaneity and improvisa- "Wonderful York," George (Harmonica) Smith. The being sponsored by Gimbel's Depart- duce dicated jazz deejays in the country, tion are denominators for true jazz. singer and mouth organ stylist, for- Listening to Herb Johnson one gets ment Store. The group's appearance merly with the Muddy Waters Band, least most of them, and they are will be tied -in with store advertising,_ made of the same stuff: they scuf- the feeling that he is a musician and will be cutting his first solo LP. store displays, window displays, store also in Cali- to that his instrument is the turntable! Ranwood International, keep sufficient commercial billing circular distribution and radio spots. Thiele to pro- Speaking to Herb's wife, Ann, I fornia, has contracted the program; they encourage local During their performance at Gimbel's, duce a middle of the road pop set ib owners to present jazz attrac- learned that she too is a devoted jazz the Sixth Floor auditorium will be titled "Top of the Mountain." Another ' ns; often they present attractions fan. Oh it wasn't always thus, she decorated with blowups of the "Street" Coast -based label, Pulsar Records, miselves; told me, but when she recognized that album and photo enlargements of the by Mercury) they're willing to work on group itself. (nationally distributed taller stations, usually FM outlets, jazz was always going to be Herb's has set two production deals with decided that she better Rick Shorter, manager of the group. Thiele. First of these is for sessions less money, just for the pleasure thing she and Sol Handwerger, Publicity Direc- bringing kind of music to learn as much about it as she with folk singer -songwriter, Jeremy their tor for MGM/Verve Records, are hand- Raikes, while the second is for pro- Ise could . . . and, from having met her who hunger for it; and they're ling the Gimbel's tie-in. yet with her, I can attest to duction of a bubblegum group, as ially very deeply involved with the and talked unnamed. !sic and the men who make it. In the fact that she has learned her word, these guys might best be des - lessons well. Mrs. J is pretty hip, too. bed as ardent fans . . . fellows who k forward to going to work each Station support needed because this is really not work, play. In all of these respects Herb I'm hopeful that the people in au- inson qualifies! He is the personi- will give Herb John- ºtion thority at KOOL of jazz in Phoenix. in his Ir. son every assist promoting J is an affable, soft spoken man show. With the influx of people coming ). I'm certain, often ends up with into Phoenix (something like 5,000 a short end of the stick. I would that among him month) it's safe to assume in the neighborhood of fifty, that number will be a fair percentage ch means that he has roots in jazz well of listeners who will be seeking out as being contemporary. He can be heard an uncanny' the kind of music that knowledge of record- most nightly only on "Mr. J's Day". s and when on he plays something From my own radio experience I air his listeners are never left ging, know that station managers usually wondering who played what, leave jazz disc jockeys to their own if the album was recorded live, it to getting spon- ire and devices when comes when it was done. He pos - sors for their programs. Consequently. ;es that magic quality of making listeners when they're not broadcasting most feel involved, a kind of to recruit u and jazz deejays are out trying me" thing. As knowledg- so that there is adequate e le and as sponsors articulate as he is, one on the show to make it worth Ed never billing get the feeling, while the station's while to keep it on the I 'ring to him, that Herb is pedantic ° that air. If Herb's show were to be discon- he is talking down to his for lack of commercial spon- ° 1ence. tinued His is a community approach, a tragedy, some- Jazz sorship it would be fi community, and to jazz lovers ill afford. nd around thing Phoenicians could Phoenix "Mr. J's Day", few words I've written here this is show What COME BLOW YOUR HORN Jonah Jones opened at the London House in is called, must be an oasis. a token repayment for a - day are but Chicago in a date that kicked off his new Motown LPG "Along Comes Jonah." listening that I enjoyed Veteran jazz deejay week of good The show and album were date -keyed in an effort which climaxed Jan. 30 while in Phoenix. at an opening night party for more than 70 guests, among them Motown's hhnson has been playing his music BRAVO, Herb Johnson, and may you national promotion director Gordon Prince (left) with Jones and WVON's he air in Phoenix for eleven years, enjoy many more Mr. J's Days! E. Rodney Jones who heads NATRA, and All -State Distrib's Cy Gold (right).

t Box - February 15, 1969 43

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