Chad White, or "Mr. White", is a Monday night disc jockey on Theradio station WUMR U92. White's program runs from 9 p.m. tomidnight on the student-run jazz format station.
For the first two hours of the program, White plays tracks byartists he says don't get enough exposure. Many of the artists heplays have roots in Memphis and at The U of M -- artists like KellyHurt, Billy Gibson, Mulgrew Miller and Phineas Newborn Jr.
"I try to put a lot of Memphis-influenced music on in my time,"he said.
The last hour of the show is what he calls "Night Class" and isreserved for new jazz artists who get virtually no exposure inMemphis.
"For one hour I get to be a teacher," he said.
In this hour, White plays what he refers to as Nu-jazz alsocalled electro-jazz. The name refers to styles starting in the late'90s that mix jazz instrumentation and electronic music with aheavier use of electronics than acid jazz. The style is a looseumbrella that incorporates live instrumentation and house beatssimilar to some funk and soul, although many artists combine stylesto such an extent that it's hard to distinguish.
Most of the listeners pay special attention in the top hour forthe newer music. U.S. disc jockeys use play lists, yet globally,DJs are respected for the diversity they provide, White said.
"Most of the music I play is imported or Amercian made thatsells more overseas than in America," he said.
White said most American formats don't support new music andindependent labels. In order for music evolution to take place, DJsneed to offer the new music to listeners. He cited Elvis as anexample. "If someone didn't take a chance and play him on theradio, where would we be now?"
Overseas, radio stations are anxious to play the most currentmusic they can find. White said he doesn't believe the music heplays will ever be incorporated into American formats, but that'snot his goal.
"I just want to be known as a representative of qualitymusic,"
Examples of the varied international artists being played areJazzanova from Germany, Kyoto Jazz Massive from Japan, Nicola Contefrom Italy and Rithma from Los Angeles.
White said many of his listeners who phone in have just moved toMemphis from a different market.
"They call and say, 'Thank you for playing that,'" he said.
U of M senior, Strasa Plecas is a student from Croatia who'sbeen listening since White started the program. She says localradio is boring and was tired of hearing the same things on everystation. She said radio is "vital for a city" and considers White'sprogram crisp and entertaining.
"His blend of new releases from several subgenres of music thatare all ultimately jazz, are just what I need to begin my weekwith," she said. "I wish the show could expand."
Graduate student Heath Massey tunes in to the program as well.He describes the final hour as " a bit soulful, a bit funky, a bitdeep and always cutting-edge." He said White brings sound from therest of the world to Memphis.
"Listening to WUMR Monday night is how I find out what's new andhot," he said.
White has been a disc jockey in the adult dance community forthree years. He normally plays house music. He's played at Melange,Automatic Slim's, Senses and the Cooper Young Festival. Last year,he toured Oregon and plans to return this summer. He said he alsohopes to travel to London to play. He has four releases on theGerman label Slop Shop Records.
"I'm grateful they gave me my hour," White said. "I do the showbecause I feel it's my duty to expose Memphis to undiscovered andunder-appreciated talent."
