The jazz form has evolved through the past 100+ years, and WVBR's resident jazz expert, John Beach, will take you through it all Sunday afternoons from 3:00-6:00PM

Send me any requests for particular jazz selections or jazz performers to feature to: wvbrjazz@yahoo.com, and I'll get them on the turntable for you during the show on Sunday afternoon!

John Beach has been host of "Miles Ahead" since February 2003. His love of jazz began on December 8, 1957 when the CBS television series called "The Seven Lively Arts", aired a segment called "The Sound of Jazz."

It was a jazz jam session, televised live, featuring Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Lester Young along with Red Allen, Rex Stewart, Vic Dickenson, Roy Eldridge, Pee Wee Russell, Milt Hinton, Jo Jones, Doc Cheatham, Mal Waldron, Count Basie and others.

At the age of ten he fell in love with this wonderful American art form and was hooked!

John Beach's "Miles Ahead" is the premier jazz program in Ithaca and would deserve similar status were it aired in any other city in the U.S. The show not only keeps alive the flame of America's classical music, it adds greatly to a listener's appreciation and knowledge of the music. Every show reveals the time, thought and love put into the program. Whether John is discussing and playing a song Duke Ellington recorded in 1928, a Billie Holiday tune from a Carnegie Hall concert, Stan Getz's performance (with Kenny Barron) in Copenhagen right before his death, or the work of a contemporary musician, John enhances listeners' jazz experience and
understanding. Ithaca is fortunate to have three hours of "Miles Ahead" and Sundays in Ithaca are richer because of it!

Gerald Coles
Ithaca, NY

Tuning into WVBR's "Miles Ahead" jazz show each week has been an inspiration to me. Your eclectic selection of so many of the finest old and new jazz artists from America and the world, has always fired up musical ideas in this aging Ithaca musician.

I've had the privilege of making my living as a musician in this very special community. What makes this community so special are guys like you, your dedication to the art of Jazz, the sensitive WVBR managers and advertisers who value this special heritage of America's unique invention in art and contribution to the world, "Jazz". That you recognize that this music deserves exposure to your excellent audiences here in Ithaca and beyond via the net is so important.

It has been no picnic trying to survive all these years as a musician in this little city, special as it is, but every time I have asked for help in promoting a special concert WVBR has always been there for us.

Johnny Russo
Ithaca musician