WKCR.org can be accessed at:
https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/
Go to upper right corner and click "Listen Now"

Also note: WKCR is currently airing the Rudy Van Gelder Memorial Broadcast.

The Lester Young and Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration

Aug. 27, 28,&29

WKCR.org will present continuous, commercial-free radio, celebrating the birth anniversaries of Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Beginning August 27th, the genius of Pres and Bird will be displayed through Jazz rarities, interviews, expert commentary and, of course, their glorious music. Phil Schaap, Jazz historian and…

Happy Birthday to the incomparable, Pittsburgh Jazz Great Roy Eldridge! January 30, 1911.

Happy Birthday Pittsburgh Jazz Great

Kenny Clarke - January 9, 1914

Happy Birthday to Pittsburgh Jazz legend, Earl Hines!!!!

We're celebrating the exceptional Billy Strayhorn, here in the NY Metro area. Check the current WSJ article on "Musicians Take the A-Train".

http://www.wsj.com/articles/musicians-take-over-the-a-train-1448851140

Billy Strayhorn Lives!

Thelonious Monk, 10/10 and Art Blakey, 10/11

WKCR.org continues its 74 year history of providing listeners with the glories of Jazz music. Saturday, 10/10, the station will celebrate Thelonious Monk, in a continuous, all-day tribute to the man and his music! WKCR began broadcasting JAZZ, 74 years ago, featuring Roy Eldridge on Gene Krupa's rendition of "Swing Is Here". The station's commitment to JAZZ stems from a massive archive…

An incredibly interesting, 14 part interview with Howard McGhee discussing and reminiscing about Fats Navarro has just been posted (6/14/2015). The interview(s) was conducted in 1977-78.  What a remarkable piece of jazz information and history!

http://philschaapjazz.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=radio

Louis Armstrong was born August 4, 1901. At the onset of his upcoming 114th birth anniversary, reflection on his magnitude and impact on jazz can't be overemphasized.

Louis left New Orleans after his mentor, Joe "King" Oliver, had summoned him north. Oliver's band, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, had established itself on the south side of Chicago. This band, along with Louis' role as second cornet, is the historic example displaying all elements of what jazz was and what jazz was to…

A week long memorial broadcast is currently being aired on the life and music of Ornette Coleman.

Aside from Ornette's music, there will be additional insight into his musical legacy through presentations by Phil Schaap, jazz historian and educator.  Listed below is his schedule.  The presentations provide an educational narrative which allow for a deeper understanding and appreciation of Ornette's music. Schaap's presentations are of interest to both those uninitiated with Ornette's…

The Ultimate Jazz Fans: Jack Towers and Dick Burris

Jack Towers and Dick Burris had been thinking about the logistics of their plan for a year and as the details crystalized, their novel idea neared reality.  On November 7^th, 1940 the two young men would define…

April 7th marks the centennial celebration of the incomparable Billie Holiday. Her genius remains the foundation for jazz vocalists and her legacy reigns supreme.

The Swing Song Tradition 

By the early 1930's, the Jazz Age was coming to an end. The 2/4, oomp-pah rhythm of the 1920's was giving way to the smoother, more elastic rhythm of the Swing Era. Benny Goodman officially got the ball rolling at the Palomar; but the Jazz Age Orchestra had left a…

Roy Eldridge indicated "Cuban" Bennett (from McDonald PA and Benny Carter's cousin) was an incredible trumpet player. Anyone who catches Roy's ear must have something to say and I wonder if anyone on the Pgh. Jazz Network ever heard him play (as he died in 1965) or has any extensive biographical data?

Last night, (February, 14th) Fred Staton celebrated his 100th birthday!  WOW!  Not only was Fred present at Local 802 to enjoy the celebration, he PLAYED! Happy 100th Birthday Fred Staton! 

Happy Birthday Roy Eldridge! January 30th marks Roy Eldridge's 104th birthday. Roy's music will be heard ALL DAY, Friday 1/30 on WKCR.org

Roy's "Lost" Hurricane Sandy Recordings Addendum: You may recall my previous post (10/8/2014), regarding the loss of Roy Eldridge's vast jazz memorabilia and recording collection; the contents of his basement, being thrown into a dumpster, discovered and retrieved, only to become water damaged from the wrath of Hurricane Sandy. Phil…

October 10th marks the 97th birthday of Thelonius Monk. His music will be heard in an all-day marathon broadcast on WKCR.org  (WKCR 89.9 FM New York)

WKCR is not an ordinary radio station. On October 10, 1941, KCR began its initial broadcast playing Gene Krupa's, "Swing is Here" featuring Roy Eldridge, Chu Berry, Benny Goodman, Jess Stacy, Allan Reuss, Israel Crosby & Gene Krupa.  During KCR's first year, Monk was broadcast, through a remote pickup,  "live" from Minton's…