Bob Parlocha
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Parlocha is an American jazz
expert who, for many years, is best known as a radio host and programmer. He is also a professional saxophone
player.
in 1938, to a Filipino father and a half-black, half-Filipino mother. His mother was a fan of big band
music (especially Count Basie
and Duke Ellington
), and introduced him to jazz at an early age. He grew up listening to former KJAZ owner Pat Henry (broadcasting at that time on KROW
in San Francisco); and to Jerry Dean, who hosted a weekly KJAZ show from Vallejo. Contributing his voice as an announcer for road bands while still in his teens, Bob played tenor
and soprano saxophone
s, as well as flute
for his high school band. He graduated from Vallejo High School
in 1956.
Jazz remained a hobby for the next decade, while he worked as a psychiatric nurse
at UCSF. He later attributed many of the interpersonal skills he has needed in the music business to this experience. KJAZ owner Pat Henry's on-air invitation to prospective DJs led Parlocha to submit a tape, prompting Henry to hire him as a programmer for the station's Saturday evenings. This resulted in Parlocha's appointment as host of the "Dinner Jazz Show," in 1978.
As the show's ratings climbed, Parlocha's distinctive voice became familiar to jazz audiences throughout the Bay Area. A thoughtful programmer, articulate spokesman for jazz, and analyst of the music scene, his "master of ceremonies
" style enhanced many jazz concerts and fundraisers over the subsequent years. His credits include the Gil Evans
Orchestra's concert at the "Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival", the "Berkeley Jazz Festival", "Oakland Arts Explosion", "Jazz at the Palace", "Bay Area Jazz Awards", the "San Francisco International KJAZ Festival", and as KJAZ host on the SS Norway Jazz Cruises.
at KJAZ, auditioning new releases and determining which albums and cuts would air on the prominent jazz station. KJAZ was one of only a handful of jazz stations nationally reporting airplay to the prestigious "Radio and Records" publication, which influences programming at hundreds of smaller stations and, ultimately, record sales.
He also developed numerous specialty shows, including the "Black Masters" series, "Latin Jazz," "On The Scene" (spotlighting Bay Area musicians in live performance), and "What's New," reviewing album releases with a Bay Area panel of experts. Parlocha engineered the late Martha Young's "Live at Bajone's" album on the Carnelian label, and "Sufi Dancers" for pianist Steve Cohn
, both in 1982. He has also produced a number of albums; his first was in 1985 for singer Laurie Antonioli's "Soul Eyes" on Catero Records.
, WFMT
(through "JSN", its satellite radio
affiliate), agreed to syndicate the show Jazz with Bob Parlocha, which he records in Alameda, California
. The evening show was picked up by KUVO
(Denver), WRCJ-FM (Detroit) and several other public radio stations, including Kansas and Alabama
. The leading jazz station in the western United States, KKJZ
(Long Beach
), began airing his program in early 2007. The show is also carried by CJRT-FM
in Toronto
, Ontario
, as well as the de facto successor to KJAZ, KCSM (FM) of the College of San Mateo
in the Bay Area.
.
Parlocha also enjoys gourmet cooking
as a hobby. His "Cooking With Bob" column appeared in the bimonthly KJAZ newsletters, and he has performed numerous live remotes from Bay Area restaurants on "Dinner Jazz."
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
expert who, for many years, is best known as a radio host and programmer. He is also a professional saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player.
Local journey to success
Bob Parlocha was born in Vallejo, CaliforniaVallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
in 1938, to a Filipino father and a half-black, half-Filipino mother. His mother was a fan of big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music (especially Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
), and introduced him to jazz at an early age. He grew up listening to former KJAZ owner Pat Henry (broadcasting at that time on KROW
KROW
KWHO is a radio station licensed to serve Lovell, Wyoming, USA. The station is owned by White Park Broadcasting, Inc, a subsidiary of Oregon Trail Broadcasting.KWHO broadcasts a classic hits music format.-History:...
in San Francisco); and to Jerry Dean, who hosted a weekly KJAZ show from Vallejo. Contributing his voice as an announcer for road bands while still in his teens, Bob played tenor
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
and soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
s, as well as flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
for his high school band. He graduated from Vallejo High School
Vallejo High School
Vallejo High School is a high school located in Vallejo, California. It is part of the Vallejo City Unified School District. Vallejo High has been in the heart of Vallejo for more than 100 years. It is home to many athletic teams, and home to the Vallejo High School Proud Heritage Marching Band and...
in 1956.
Jazz remained a hobby for the next decade, while he worked as a psychiatric nurse
Psychiatric Nursing
Psychiatric Nursing is a 1958 documentary film directed by Lee R. Bobker. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
at UCSF. He later attributed many of the interpersonal skills he has needed in the music business to this experience. KJAZ owner Pat Henry's on-air invitation to prospective DJs led Parlocha to submit a tape, prompting Henry to hire him as a programmer for the station's Saturday evenings. This resulted in Parlocha's appointment as host of the "Dinner Jazz Show," in 1978.
As the show's ratings climbed, Parlocha's distinctive voice became familiar to jazz audiences throughout the Bay Area. A thoughtful programmer, articulate spokesman for jazz, and analyst of the music scene, his "master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
" style enhanced many jazz concerts and fundraisers over the subsequent years. His credits include the Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
Orchestra's concert at the "Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival", the "Berkeley Jazz Festival", "Oakland Arts Explosion", "Jazz at the Palace", "Bay Area Jazz Awards", the "San Francisco International KJAZ Festival", and as KJAZ host on the SS Norway Jazz Cruises.
Music director and producer
He eventually became music directorMusic director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
at KJAZ, auditioning new releases and determining which albums and cuts would air on the prominent jazz station. KJAZ was one of only a handful of jazz stations nationally reporting airplay to the prestigious "Radio and Records" publication, which influences programming at hundreds of smaller stations and, ultimately, record sales.
He also developed numerous specialty shows, including the "Black Masters" series, "Latin Jazz," "On The Scene" (spotlighting Bay Area musicians in live performance), and "What's New," reviewing album releases with a Bay Area panel of experts. Parlocha engineered the late Martha Young's "Live at Bajone's" album on the Carnelian label, and "Sufi Dancers" for pianist Steve Cohn
Steve Cohn
Steve Cohn is a lawyer and a Democratic District Leader in Brooklyn, New York. He is Democratic Committeeman in Brooklyn's 50th Assembly District...
, both in 1982. He has also produced a number of albums; his first was in 1985 for singer Laurie Antonioli's "Soul Eyes" on Catero Records.
Syndication
A decline in jazz radio audiences led KJAZ owner Ron Cowan to sell the ailing station in 1994. A leading fine arts station in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, WFMT
WFMT
WFMT is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of fine arts, classical music programming, and shows exploring such genres as folk and jazz). The station is managed by Window To The World Communications, Inc., owner of WTTW, one of Chicago's two Public Broadcasting Service ...
(through "JSN", its satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
affiliate), agreed to syndicate the show Jazz with Bob Parlocha, which he records in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. The evening show was picked up by KUVO
KUVO
KUVO is a radio station broadcasting a public radio format. Licensed to Denver, Colorado, the station is currently owned and operated by Denver Educational Broadcasting, Inc...
(Denver), WRCJ-FM (Detroit) and several other public radio stations, including Kansas and Alabama
Alabama Public Radio
Also, the WQPR signal has a translator that covers the Huntsville-Decatur market on 100.7 FM.-Weekday hosts:*Maggie Martin--Morning Edition*David Duff and Bob Woodman--daytime classical music...
. The leading jazz station in the western United States, KKJZ
KKJZ
KKJZ is a non-commercial public radio station in Southern California broadcasting from the Long Beach State campus. The station is one of several public radio stations in Southern California presenting jazz and blues....
(Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
), began airing his program in early 2007. The show is also carried by CJRT-FM
CJRT-FM
CJRT-FM is a Canadian public radio station, which broadcasts at 91.1 on the FM dial in Toronto, Ontario. CJRT currently operates as JAZZ.FM91.The station transmits at a strength of 40,000 watts; as its transmitter facilities are at the CN Tower...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, as well as the de facto successor to KJAZ, KCSM (FM) of the College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
in the Bay Area.
Other activities
He has participated in the Jazz Journalist Association Awards and donates his time to jazz causes, especially those in support of Bay Area musicians. He still performs as a saxophonist, appearing with the Bob Enos Big Band at the 2008 San Jose Jazz FestivalSan Jose Jazz Festival
The San José Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival organized by the San Jose Jazz Society and held in downtown San Jose, California, USA. The festival was established in 1990, and is mainly outdoors....
.
Parlocha also enjoys gourmet cooking
Haute cuisine
Haute cuisine or grande cuisine was characterised by French cuisine in elaborate preparations and presentations served in small and numerous courses that were produced by large and hierarchical staffs at the grand restaurants and hotels of Europe.The 17th century chef and writer La Varenne...
as a hobby. His "Cooking With Bob" column appeared in the bimonthly KJAZ newsletters, and he has performed numerous live remotes from Bay Area restaurants on "Dinner Jazz."