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).
Sun Ra visits WKCR! Is he eating ice cream? Yogurt? Who knows?
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