MORNING RADIO SHOW KISS FM

Morning Grind Of all the cut-up, cranky, kitschy, killer, cantankerous, corny, cordial, caring, corporate and countless morning radio shows on the air, IT readers decided the Morning Grind on KISS- FM 99.7 is the best in Springfield. Featuring the ballsy and brash Bondsy in charge, with Brandi Booker as friendly, female foil and C-note being the large, straight and silly man, plus Sarah, the unsuspecting intern, they go the wacky and wild way from juicy personal stories to national news items or basically whatever blows up their collective skirt to create entertainment. You’ll see them all over town at various events in the KISS jeep working with the community to spread the good word. A quick look at You Tube videos from the DJ booth webcam shows insect eating, a guy-on-guy lap dance, the ghost pepper challenge and a 6 Mississippi kiss, all in the name of keeping you listening to the radio in the morning.

BEST JAZZ ARTIST

Jane Hartman No stranger to this category, Ms. Hartman should be given a lifetime achievement award as the absolute top personality in the Springfield jazz scene for all her years of good work making music that moves us. Her winning ways include a smooth, yet distinct, piano style, occasional sweet and sincere vocals and a set list of standards and surprises that keep folks coming back for more and continually voting her as Springfield’s finest jazz player. Currently Jane performs on occasion at Lime Street Café and with the Riverboat 5+1 while continuing her job as an associate professor of music at Lincoln Land Community College, where she teaches music theory classes and directs the LLCC Jazz Band as well as The Stolen Moments Band, a beginning jazz improvisational class. Thanks, Jane, for all the wonderful music.