WVXU to Air "A Tribute to Oscar Treadwell"
Sunday, May 7 at 7 pm

Lee Hay hosted a two-hour special tribute for Oscar Treadwell which was broadcast in May, 2006. You can listen to that broadcast below:.

Oscar Treadwell, fondly known as OT, died in early April at the age of 79. He had come out of retirement to host Jazz with OT on the new WVXU. His long radio career had taken him from Reading, PA to Philadelphia, a brief stop in New York, and then to Cincinnati with stints at WNOP, WGUC, WVXU, WAVE, and then back to WVXU in August of 2005.

This two-hour special will feature a mix of jazz, roundtable comments, OT’s poetry readings, memories and tributes by his friends and colleagues, and some classic OT-ism’s (his thoughts and views on jazz).

Early in OT’s career, he used to assemble a roundtable of musicians to talk about jazz. For this tribute, host and producer Lee Hay assembled a distinguished roundtable that included Cliff Radel of the Enquirer; Phil DeGreg, jazz pianist and Professor of Jazz Studies at CCM; Jim Anderson, co-founder and co-leader of Cohesion Jazz Ensemble; Bob Nave, local musician and former WNOP and WVXU jazz producer; and Robin Carey-Allgeyer, former WNOP and WVXU jazz producer. These friends and colleagues of OT’s discuss his poetry, voice, radio career, legacy, his great support of the jazz community, and his influence on generations of jazz disc jockeys.

Some other guests who pay tribute to Oscar Treadwell include Kathy Wade (jazz vocalist); George Cunningham and Brian Lovely of the Faux Frenchmen; Larry Nager (long-time music writer and musician); Ann Santen (former WGUC general manager); Steve Schmidt (musician); Mark Perzel (WGUC host); John Sutton (Jazz Connection); Jim Bennett (Jazz Producer, KPFA); Jerry Judge (poet); Dr. Saad Ghosn (SOS Art); Jim Tarbell (Vice-Mayor, City of Cincinnati); Katie Laur (musician, poet); John Leon (jazz sculptor); Lynn Seaton (Professor at University of North Texas and musician): Ron Esposito (musician and former WVXU producer);Tony Jackson (former WVXU jazz producer); and David Delegator (former WVXU/WWOZ jazz producer).

No tribute to OT would be complete without music. Featured will be the three jazz tunes written for Oscar by Wardell Gray, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. Because of OT’s love and support of local jazz, performances from Phil DeGreg, Steve Schmidt, Blue Wisp Big Band, Fred Hersch, Cohesion Jazz Ensemble and others will be heard. And, some of OT’s favorite players will also be featured including Art Ensemble of Chicago, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Ornette Coleman.

Jazz with OT will continue to be heard on 91.7 WVXU with the blessings of Oscar’s family. Currently, the eight months of programs he recorded for the new WVXU are being reaired. Efforts are now being made to remix and remaster some of the nearly 6,500 tapes he donated to the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County of his original WGUC show so that he remains a part of the WVXU lineup for years to come.

The law firm of Strauss & Troy supported this special event which was produced by Blues and Around Cincinnati host, Lee Hay.