JazzpelRadio is more than just an Internet radio station. It represents a community of jazz and gospel artists who have chosen to promote themselves as a group, rather than just individually. Whereas a single artist is limited by their own resources, a community concept creates new promotional opportunities for participating artists. Cross-linking, gig-sharing, CD sampler projects, and regional concert tours are all part of the vision that drives the JazzpelRadio project.
The founder of JazzpelRadio is entrepreneur, web developer and avid jazzpel listener Duke Landry. "The attitude of the music industry toward jazzpel music is that there's no worthwhile market for it," He says. "In an industry where anything less than a million units sold is considered a failure, jazzpel artists can't compete. Ask any jazzpel artist trying to make a living from his or her artistry and they will tell you - it's nearly impossible to 'break out' beyond doing the local gig."
"The thing about jazz and gospel is, almost everyone appreciates it, regardless of age or culture. Everyone loves a good melody and inspirational lyrics, and no genre invokes quite as much emotion as jazzpel does when performed with skill and grace. Unfortunately, as it stands now, there's no easy way to explore the wide variety of jazzpel artistry the world has to offer."
That's where Duke's vision for the JazzpelRadio project comes in.
"I've always believed there's a much larger market for jazzpel music if someone would just take the initiative and create a means by which jazzpel artists can be discovered and appreciated. I decided that person might as well be me."
JazzpelRadio was launched on October 15th, 2006. Duke began by inviting a few of his jazzpel friends, and then began actively seeking out new artists for the JazzpelRadio community.
Some of the artists you may hear on JAZZPELRADIO.COM include:
Tracy Hamlin
P.J. Spraggins
Maria Howell
Kelley O'Neal
Benjie Porecki
Althea Rene