Jazz in the Living Room

DJ Tom Christian spends hours researching, assembling his playlist before his Wednesday program at Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM

By Mike Costanza

 

Each Wednesday, Tom Christian steps up to the microphone at Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM to share his love of jazz with his listeners.

“I just talk like I’m in your living room playing music for you and telling you things that I found interesting,” said the host of “TJ’s Jazz Corner.”

Then for three hours, the 82-year-old volunteer DJ sends an eclectic mix of music and commentary out to his listeners. His program starts at noon.

His playlists include works by jazz greats like pianist Thomas “Fats” Waller and trumpeter Maynard Fergusen as well as pieces by contemporary artists.

“I played Veronica Swift covering Cream,” Christian said.

He particularly enjoys celebrating the birthdays of jazz greats on the air. To honor Waller, Christian dug through Jazz90.1’s substantial music library and his own collection of recorded music until he found the work he wanted.

“Fats Waller was one of the first jazz musicians to be recorded,” Christian said. “We had a cut for him from 1926 playing ‘St. Louis Blues’ on the pipe organ.”

For variety, he might also treat his listeners to a big band piece or works by musicians from genres other than jazz.

“Every now and then, I throw in a Willie Nelson, who defies classification,” the Perinton resident said. “Who doesn’t like Willie Nelson?”

Before each show, Christian spends about eight hours assembling his playlist, researching the songs on it and learning about the artists who performed them.

“I like to understand who I’m playing and what I’m playing and to impart that to the audience,” he said.

The Greece Central School District owns and operates Jazz90.1, which has two full-time employees, one part-timer and about 35 volunteers, 30 of whom are DJs. Broadcasting 24 hours a day from its studio in Greece Olympia School, the 15,000-watt station reaches as many as 25,000 listeners each week.

Christian grew up in Oswego listening to rock and rollers like Elvis and Bill Haley and the Comets and once thought of becoming a DJ, but his father talked him out of it. Instead, he spent 35 years with the Eastman Kodak company before retiring from a position in information technology in 2001.

While driving back from Canada in the 1990s, Christian accidentally tuned in to Jazz90.1 and began to develop an interest in jazz. He soon came to love that type of music and to support the station that had introduced him to it. When Jazz90.1 put out word that it was looking for volunteer DJs, he decided to put his name in and was accepted.

“He is incredibly passionate about the music and cares deeply about Jazz90.1,” said Rob Linton, the station’s manager. “We consider him a member of the family and always have. So bringing him on board to DJ was a natural fit.”

After undergoing training at the station, Christian did his first show on Aug. 27, 2018, when he subbed for a regular DJ. The first song he played was Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love.” Friends who listened to his broadcast heard how nervous he was.

“I was scared to death,” he said. “It’s just a new thing and you don’t want to have the FCC [the US Federal Communications Commission] close down your station for something you might say or do.”

He continued subbing for other DJs until June 1, 2022, when he began doing his own show.

Along with loving listening to and playing jazz, Christian also enjoys partaking of good food and wine.

“I really got interested in learning about wine when I first came to Rochester and took a night class at RIT lasting several weeks exploring the wines of different countries,” he said. “Best college course I ever had.”

Christian met Jeff Stabins in a local group that once gathered together to enjoy good food and wine and the two became friends. For many years, he’s gotten together about once a month with Stabins and his wife, Nancy, to enjoy good wine and food.

“We love to talk about enjoying the finer things of life,” said Stabins, who is 70 and lives with his wife in Webster. “Travel and art of all kinds are included.”

Christian’s love of jazz helped lead the Webster couple to become members of Jazz90.1.

“We listen to his show,” said 69-year-old Nancy. “We’ve had some of the [station’s] DJs over to dinner and it’s really opened my eyes to, frankly, just really amazing music.”

Christian said he looks forward to continuing to provide that music to his listeners each week.

“I enjoy performing and people who listen to me enjoy listening to me,” he said.