WKCR 89.9FM NY

WKCR is very pleased to announce a 48-hour broadcast in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan.

Nicknamed “Sassy” and “the Divine One,” Vaughan had a range that went from baritone to soprano. With her inventive, lyrical style, she helped popularize the art of jazz singing, along with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

Sid Gribetz presents a five hour radio tribute to saxophonist .JR Monterose this Sunday March 17, 2024 from 2-7 PM on WKCR's Profiles. Monterose possessed a very strong and personal emotional tone on the tenor sax, and he is one of the underrated masters of the modern jazz era.

WKCR is very excited to announce the return of a beloved birthday broadcast in honor of one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s: cornetist, pianist, and composer Bix Beiderbecke.

Bix embodied the spirit of the Jazz Age with his pure style, gift for improvisation, and inventive compositions.

WKCR announces our festival honoring Maurice Ravel, broadcast on FM and HD radio for 24 hours on his birthday: March 7th, 2024. The special birthday broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Thursday programming.

WKCR is excited to announce our annual birthday broadcast of a legendary figure in the world of jazz, Ornette Coleman. Ornette Coleman, born on March 9th, 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas, was an alto saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer who became one of the biggest innovators in jazz music, and is credited as one of the pioneers of what critics often regard as “free jazz”.

Sid Gribetz presents a five hour radio special featuring saxophonist Sonny Stitt this Sunday, February 25, 2024 from 2-7 PM on WKCR's Profiles.

Stitt was one of the greats. Sonny possessed technical skill and fleet mastery as a musician, and he projected a tone full of warmth and human expression. He excelled whether playing bebop, ballads or the blues, “rhythm” pieces or improvisatory excursions in the American popular songbook standards.

Jazz host Rachel Smith is back on the air with another special guest: jazz singer Antonia Bennett. The pre-recorded interview will air on WKCR from 12 noon to 1 PM (ET), on Thursday, February 22, 2024 (during Rachel's regularly-scheduled Out to Lunch program).

WKCR is very excited to announce a special birthday broadcast in honor of one of the most important vocalists of the 20th century: Nina Simone.

Jazz meets rock in this special interview with John Densmore, drummer of The Doors. Hosted by Rachel Smith on WKCR, the pre-recorded interview will air from 1:00 - 2:45 PM (ET), on Thursday, February 15, 2024 (during Rachel's regularly-scheduled Out to Lunch program).

Tune in tonite to Raag aur Taal at 7 pm (EST) as we broadcast a live interview of Hidayat Khan and an exciting upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall.

Hidayat Khan, is a globally acclaimed sitarist who has performed in numerous classical concerts as well as he performed with the Rolling Stones. He is an exquisite sitar player and vocalist well-versed in the 'Gayaki ang', a unique rendition where voice blends with the instrument. Hidayat Khan carries the torch of a coveted lineage spanning seven generations of outstanding vocal and instrumental court musicians.

In 1945, Charlie Parker recorded “Now’s the Time,” a blues-based jazz composition with Parker on alto sax and Miles Davis on trumpet. In the years following, interpretations of the Bird’s piece have transcended time and audience. Building on the legacy of Parker's work, WKCR is excited to introduce a new program titled Now's The Time, which will inherit the Friday 8:30am-9:30am slot previously occupied by Birdflight. This new show aims to embrace the spirit of exploration and innovation that Parker and his peers worked to cultivate.

WKCR announces a much-awaited celebration of reggae music: a 48-hour broadcast on FM and HD radio and online, from 12:00am on Saturday, January 3rd, to 12:00am on Monday, January 5th, of 2024. In honor of Dennis Brown and Bob Marley, the broadcast will occur between their birthdays on February 1st and 6th, respectively. It will run from the conclusion of the Phil Schaap Memorial Broadcast on Friday until The Celtic Show at 12:00am on Monday.

Celebrating the date of his first broadcast on 89.9 FM, WKCR hosts the third annual Memorial Broadcast in honor of the late Phil Schaap. A true jazz legend, Phil Schaap regularly hosted Birdflight, Traditions in Swing, and countless other programs throughout his 51-year tenure at WKCR and won international acclaim with his encyclopedic knowledge of the jazz canon, specifically the music of Charlie Parker, his work in sound restoration, and his superb interviewing skills. Join us for 24 hours of archival Phil Schaap broadcasts from the last half-century.

WKCR is excited to announce a special birthday broadcast in honor of one of the most influential trumpeters in the world of jazz, Roy Eldridge.

WKCR announces a 24-hour birthday celebration for Tom Jobim, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online all day on Thursday, January 25, 2024. The special broadcast will run from the middle of Som do Brasil until Middle Eastern Influences at 12:00 am on Friday. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Thursday shows.

Sid Gribetz presents a five hour radio program celebrating the career of tenor saxophonist Don Byas this Sunday, January 14, 2024, from 2-7 PM on WKCR FM Profiles.

A prolific and influential figure on the national jazz scene during the World War Two years, Byas moved to Europe in 1946 and remained an expatriate for the rest of his life. While he achieved some celebrity on the continent, sadly his absence from the US has left him a somewhat forgotten figure in our music here.

WKCR announces our second birthday celebration for Japanese artist Ryuichi Sakamoto, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online 24 hours on Wednesday, January 17th, 2023. The special broadcast will run from the conclusion of Honky Tonkin’ until Som do Brasil at 12:00am on Thursday. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Wednesday shows.

WKCR announces a special broadcast for the centennial birthday of American drummer and composer Max Roach, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 30 hours from 6 pm on Tuesday, January 9 until midnight on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. The broadcast will run from the beginning of Jazz Alternatives on Tuesday until Som De Brasil at 12:00 am on Thursday.

The schedule for WKCR’s 2023 Bachfest is here!
With the beloved festival being just days away, make sure you have your radios tuned to 89.9 FM and be tapped in to WKCR.org ⭐️ we are excited to be bringing you 8 straight days of BACH!

Link to schedule: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11HYO1urcutanH_IB2sBolxfuCoe0SiqJ/view

The schedule for WKCR’s 2023 Bachfest is here!
With the beloved festival being just days away, make sure you have your radios tuned to 89.9 FM and be tapped in to WKCR.org ⭐️ we are excited to be bringing you 8 straight days of BACH!

Link to schedule: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11HYO1urcutanH_IB2sBolxfuCoe0SiqJ/view

Sid Gribetz presents a tribute to pianist, vocalist and songwriter Bob Dorough for five hours this Sunday December 17, 2023 on “Jazz Profiles” from 2-7 PM on WKCR radio. Dorough encompasses a wide arc of American music. He is rooted in the Americana of a Hoagy Carmichael or Johnny Mercer, energized under the counter-cultural fervor and swell of the bebop jazz revolution, a witty and literate songwriter of sophisticated pieces, a cultural icon of children’s songs, and a vivid interpreter of the American popular songbook with a unique personal vision.

Barry Harris’s passing left a deep hole in the jazz community. One New York Times article famously reads “He played with Charlie Parker. For 15$ he’ll play with you.” This article of course describes the Barry Harris Tuesday workshops that he held for about 50 years in NYC which has been revered by jazz musicians and listeners as THE class for learning how to play the music.

On Sunday, December 10, tune in from 2-7 PM for an extensive profile on Bossa nova. Jazz host Rachel Smith tracks this genre––from its inception to its adoption into the American jazz scene to its surprising crossovers––in this 5-hour special program.Program schedule to be released soon! Image credits to respective owners.

WKCR is excited to announce a special birthday broadcast in honor of the legendary jazz trumpeter, Donald Byrd. As an influential figure in the world of jazz, Donald Byrd's contributions to the genre have left an indelible mark, inspiring countless musicians and enthusiasts around the globe. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Saturday shows.

We are very excited to announce that one of the defining voices of the newer generation of talent carrying forward the jazz legacy, Sean Mason will be joining WKCR in Studio for a live performance along his contemporary, Chris Lewis, playing music from Sean’s latest release: “The Southern Suite”. This Monday, November, 20th at 7:30pm on Jazz Alternatives, Sean and Chris will play a duo set, followed by an in-studio interview with Sean Mason to talk about his album and performance.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the timeless legacy of jazz icon Coleman Hawkins available for listening on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows.

Now is the time to help support your favorite radio station!

If WKCR contributes to your day in any way, we ask that you help support us stay on air. We are rely entirely on support from listeners so now is the time to help us stay on air, stay commercial free, stay 'alternative!'

Donate today through the link on our website (big yellow button!) or by calling (212) 851 - 2699 !

You can also support us via check by sending it to

WKCR FM

2920 Broadway

New York, New York

10027