The jazz community lost a true icon with the passing of Jim Cullum in August. In light of Jim’s lifetime commitment to the performance, promotion, and perpetuation of classic traditional jazz, he, without question, deserves a special place in the annals of the music that was such an integral part of his life.
When one researches the background of a musician, the typical resume will include an extensive list of the places and bands with whom he/she has played. Not so with this longtime San Antonio resident whose entire career was dedicated to one band, one city and one style of music.
In speaking about his Riverwalk Jazz program that was on public radio for nearly a quarter century, he commented, “I was not looking for great fame and glory and riches. It has been more of a creative challenge. I realized that the series would enable more people to hear the music and my philosophy about it and to learn what’s valid and valuable about it. It has also documented my life’s work and my father’s before me. That’s the payback.”
“Broad-Minded Traditionalist"
But Cullum was no “moldy fig” stuck in the past. While he admitted to being a traditionalist, he took a broad-minded view of our jazz heritage. When asked to explain, he responded, “While we have many loose definitions of what jazz is, I try to look at the music we play with an open mind. It’s a matter of bre
