Last updated on 2012.03.05
It's Friday night—let's hear some good news!
Last spring I was far from alone in lamenting the end of Uncle Jimmo's reign over the public airwaves. Our Legislature, apparently determined to extinguish arts and culture in all forms from our fair state, cut 16.6% from South Dakota Public Broadcasting's budget last year. Those drastic cuts forced SDPB to cancel Jazz Nightly with Jim Clark, who in ten years had established himself as a South Dakota media icon.
Since last June, jazz fans across the state have been reduced to listening to a canned satellite program from some undisclosed location. I've noticed that this program is riddled with little audio burps. It's not my radio—the digital glitches happen no matter what device I'm listening on. It's not SDPB's transmitter—the glitch never happens during World Café, Morning Edition, or any other program, just the evening jazz broadcast. I finally got around to writing to SDPB's tech dudes and asking whether they were working on a fix.
It turns out they are. They are bringing Uncle Jimmo back.
As I understand it, Uncle Jimmo will be back on the air to declare Mountain Time swingin' again on Monday, March 12. Local production, local voice, support for the local jazz scene... heck, hourly weather updates from a man who can stick his head out the door of the Al Neuhart Media Center and verify that baby, it really is cold outside.
Jim Clark back to jazz up our weeknights: you're darn right that will fix my reception problems! There's got to be a pledge week coming soon; it's time to add a tip for Uncle Jimmo to those membership checks.
Now Uncle Jimmo, I ask just one thing: don't open your triumphant return with a two-hour tribute to Kurt Elling. I love you, man... but the moment I hear Kurt start moaning, I will switch to a few minutes of retro-grunge on KBHU.
Update 2012.03.05 21:13 MST: SDPB serves up this welcome-back promo:
Uncle Jimmo is in the house!
It's about time they brought him back, one of the worst things SDPB did was cut him and the program.
I used to just love cool jazz Cory but to many night when Uncle Jimmo would get into one of his deep dark real bad tributes like the one you mentioned just kind a broke me of that. Ill pay my money so others can listen but now I like warm blues with rounded edges. I cant help it I have always leaned towards hot guitar licks and if the sound is just a little sexy well the Blindman just cant help himself. Now if SDPB had some of this stuff I would be right there in front of the box.http://grooveshark.com/s/Daydream/45lWn3?src=5
This is the best news I've heard all day. Summer evenings on the tractor or combine are much more pleasant listening to "Mountain Daylight Swinging Time" jazz.
I agree that canned crap from who knows where was dreadful.
Bill, you need a cold shower. But Chantel McGregor's guitar sounds great! Let's take back the seven o'clock hour and put on more those blues!
Summer evenings on the tractor with jazz... is there some way to put that on the South Dakota flag?
NIck's not the only farmer that was able to put in a couple more tractor rounds because of Uncle Jimmo. It was on in the pickup on the way home with a cold one too. Good stuff.
Maybe the next time Jim's wife runs for the legislature she'll run as Democrat. Just saying.
I love Uncle Jimmo!
SDPR should be congratulated on bringing Uncle Jimmo back.
Darn right, Ken! The relaunch last night had Uncle Jim in fine form, as if he'd never been gone. I love hearing the weather from Vermillion.