WKCR 89.9FM NY

WKCR is elated to announce two very special birthday broadcasts, spanning a combined 3 days: Lester Young, known also as “Prez,” and Charlie “Bird” Parker. We celebrate each of these saxophone giants with a 24-hour birthday broadcast: Prez on August 27 and Bird on August 29. We bridge the two legends’ birthdays on August 28 by playing Prez until noon, then switching to Bird.

At the onset of World War I, approximately 380,000 African American soldiers joined the war effort with 200,000 of them deployed to Europe. Many spent time in France where they gained exposure to an accepting, celebratory, and seemingly colorblind attitude toward Black people–an incredible upgrade from the Jim Crow laws of their homeland. The French gained their own exposure to the exciting sounds of jazz music brought over by the 369th Infantry Regiment, better known as “The Harlem Hellfighters” and their band led by James Reese Europe.

Sid Gribetz presents organist Charles Earland July 27 from 2-7 PM on “Sunday Profiles”.

Charles Earland is one of the primary “Hammond Heroes” of the original generation of soulful jazz organists on the B-3.

Earland swings brightly with his easy-going, syncopated, dance able rhythms on great pop tunes, but that sets things up for his hard-driving intensity on searing, adventuresome numbers. His dynamic power earned his nickname “The Mighty Burner”.

WKCR is very excited to present the second installment of our annual birthday broadcast for cornet, trumpet, and vocal jazz legend Louis Armstrong. Satchmo is the only figure at WKCR with the distinct honor of two birthday broadcasts every year: one on July 4 (which he cited as his birthday in his autobiography Swing That Music) and one on August 4 (which records suggest was his true birthday).

New York, NY — July 7, 2025 — WKCR 89.9 FM is excited to announce a 10 hour broadcast on Saturday, July 13, in celebration of the life and music of avant-garde saxophonist Albert Ayler (1936–1970). Known for his radical reimagining of jazz, Ayler forged a deeply spiritual and emotionally raw sound that redefined the genre and remains unmatched to this day.

WKCR is pleased to announce a special broadcast in honor of Gustav Mahler’s 165th birthday, for 24 hours on July 7, 2025. The special broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Monday programming and feature both his masterpieces and lesser-known works.

NEW YORK, NY — July 4, 2025 — WKCR-FM is proud to continue its long-standing tradition of honoring the life and legacy of the legendary Louis Armstrong with a 24-hour broadcast exclusively featuring his music, beginning at midnight on Friday, July 4th, 2025. All regular programming will be preempted for this annual tribute to one of the greatest icons in American music.

Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross brought the art of ensemble group vocals to a higher level. Bebop singers Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross each individually were pioneers of vocalese, the style of writing lyrics to recorded instrumental solos to create new songs. The synergy of the group was even more remarkably creative.

WKCR is excited to announce our upcoming Anthony Braxton Birthday Broadcast, in honor of the musical pioneer’s 80th birthday. The broadcast will run for 8.5 hours from 9:30 AM-6 PM in place of regularly scheduled programming.

WKCR pays tribute to the life and work of Al Foster, who passed away on May 28, 2025 at the age of 82. Aloysius Tyrone Foster was born on January 18, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia, where he began playing the drums at age 13. He began his career when he was only 20 years old, making his recording debut with Blue Mitchell. He is best known for his work with Miles Davis, who first heard Foster play in 1972.

Sid Gribetz presents a five hour tribute to pianist Harold Mabern this Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 2-7 PM on WKCR.

Mabern was born March 20, 1936 in Memphis and raised in that Southern town, surrounded by many great young jazz players in his school. Mabern’s own mentor and friend, only a couple of years older, was Phineas Newborn. His schoolmates and lifelong associates included Frank Strozier, George Coleman, and Booker Little.

WKCR is excited to announce a special 24-hour broadcast for May 22nd celebrating the 11th anniversary of the arrival of Sun Ra (1914-1993). The special broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Thursday shows.

Tune in this Thursday, May 8 between 5am-3pm for WKCR’s Keith Jarret birthday broadcast and collaboration between our jazz and classical departments!

WKCR is pleased to announce a special broadcast in honor of two iconic composers, Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, on FM and HD radio for 24 hours on May 7, 2025. Split into two 12-hour segments, we will celebrate the birthday of Brahms from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm, and the birthday of Tchaikovsky from 12:01 pm - 11:59 pm. The special broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Wednesday programming.

WKCR is pleased to announce our annual birthday celebration for the most recorded jazz bassist of all time, Ron Carter, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online 24 hours straight from 12:00 am to midnight on May 5th, 2025. This will include an exclusive broadcast from 8-10 pm, featuring interviews and a performance from Carter’s Foursight Quartet, live at the Blue Note.

Sid Gribetz presents Freddie Redd Sunday April 27 from 2-7 PM.

Freddie Redd is perhaps best known for his association with Jack Gelber’s groundbreaking 1959 off-Broadway play “The Connection”. Redd is perhaps least known as an active jazz musician for the following 60 years of his long life. For, he never sought publicity, traveled frequently, and, not favoring the constrictions of the recording studio, did not leave a long discography of commercial recordings.

WKCR is thrilled to announce our special 24-hour broadcast on April 25th celebrating the 108th anniversary of the birth of Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996).

WKCR is thrilled to announce a special 24-hour broadcast on April 29th celebrating the 126th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington (1899-1974).

Join us during Amazing Grace (8-10 AM) this Sunday, April 13, for an interview with Cheryl Wills, author of Isn’t Her Grace Amazing! The Women Who Changed Gospel Music. Host Rachel Smith will accompany the interview with musical selections drawn entirely from the discographies of the trailblazers in Wills’s work. As always, listeners can tune in at 89.9 FM or stream WKCR online at wkcr.org.

WKCR is pleased to announce our annual birthday celebration for celebrated bassist and pianist Charles Mingus, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online 24 hours straight from 12:00 am to midnight on April 22, 2025.

WKCR is honored to announce a special 24-hour broadcast in celebration of the 97th birthday of one of the most iconic and influential voices in jazz history, Billie Holiday. Tune in on April 7 to WKCR 89.9 FM for a full day of music from the legendary “Lady Day,” whose haunting, soulful voice left an indelible mark on jazz and the American musical landscape.

WKCR merchandise is now available to purchase! All of the designs available are limited edition and purchasable now through April 18th. The "Pixel Hoodie" features a brand new design while the "WKCR scribble shirt" and "'The Alternative' Tee" highlight iconic archival logos. If you didn't get a chance to support WKCR through our fund drive, purchasing merchandise is a great way to do so as all of the proceeds go to WKCR's operating budget!

All merchandise can be found by clicking the MERCH tab at the top of our page or through clicking the link below.

Tune in on March 30th from 2-7 for an over view of the career of Hazel Scott. The show will include live interviews with Dr.Cornel West, Grammy award winning pianist Michelle Cann, and son of Hazel Scott and Adam Clayton Powell jr., Adam Powell III.

Only on WKCR 89.9 FM NY & wkcr.org

WKCR is excited to announce our annual birthday broadcast of the legendary Bix Beiderbecke. Bix was born Leon Bismarck Beiderbecke in Davenport, Iowa, on March 10, 1903. He began playing piano when he was only two or three years old and could recreate almost any tune he heard by the age of seven. As a teenager, Bix taught himself to play cornet by listening to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band on his brother’s Victrola phonograph.

WKCR is excited to announce our annual birthday broadcast of the legendary Ornette Coleman. Born March 9th, 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas, Ornette Coleman had a searing, unrepentantly human sound and endless melodicism that fully embodied Bird's vocal angularity, the sprawling, rough-and-tumble expressiveness of the Southwest saxophone lineage, and the blues.

Tune in on March 2nd at 7 PM EST to hear Anupam Shobhakar's new album Liquid Reality and an interview with the artist held by the host

Tune in from 6pm-Midnight on Saturday 2/22 to celebrate 90 years of the Village Vanguard with WKCR, live from the legendary venue itself!

WKCR is very excited to announce our annual birthday broadcast in honor of an icon of the 20th century: Nina Simone. Listeners will enjoy 24 straight hours of Nina Simone on Friday, February 21st. Simone’s music was often labeled as jazz, but her genius defies the boundaries of genre. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, and Tracy Chapman have cited her as an important influence. In fact, Simone was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Sid Gribetz presents the music of trumpeter Bill Hardman this Sunday, February 16, 2025 from 2-7 PM.

Hardman was a crisp trumpeter with the brashness and elan of the bebop and hard bop ethos, colored also by a lyrical and even romantic aspect in his tone. While perhaps not achieving tremendous fame, he was a valued figure in our jazz scene of his time.

Bill Hardman was born in 1932 (or 33 depending on the source) and raised in Cleveland, where he came up with musicians such as Tadd Dameron.