WKCR is excited to present its annual Lester Young & Charlie Parker festival to run from August 27th to 29th. Beginning Saturday, August 27, WKCR will have a three-day festival dedicated to the music of saxophonists Lester "Prez" Young and Charlie "Bird" Parker. The 27th marks Prez's birthday, and the 29th, is Bird’s. We will play 24 hours of Young on the 27th, 24 hours of Parker on the 29th, and both Young and Parker interchangeably on the 28th. This is the station’s flagship jazz broadcast event of the year and will feature student programmers, alumni, and Schaap archives for a full 72 hours.
Join WKCR in celebrating two individuals who were true pioneers of their music. Tune in to 89.9FM-NY or online at wkcr.org from midnight, Saturday, August 27th until midnight, Tuesday, August 30th for the full 72-hour celebration!
| August 27th - LY | August 28th | August 29th - CP | |
| 12 AM - 3 AM | Phil Schaap Archival | Phil Schaap Archival | Sam Seliger |
| 3 AM - 6 AM | Paul Burkey | Phil Schaap Archival | Schaap Uncut |
| 6 AM - 9 AM | Paul Burkey | Phil Schaap Archival | Schaap Uncut |
| 9 AM - 12 PM | Phil Schaap Archival | Sam Seliger | Stephen Park |
| 12 PM - 3 PM | Sam Seliger | Jacob Grayzel | Matthew Rivera |
| 3 PM - 6 PM | Drew Sirenko | Ale Diaz-Pizarro | Sam Seliger |
| 6 PM - 9 PM | Phil Schaap Traditions in Swing | Sid Gribetz | Schuyler R. |
| 9 PM - 12 AM | Charles Iselin | Two Schaap Interviews and a Bird Flight | Phil Schaap Archival |
August 27: Celebrating Lester Young's Birthday
August 28: Featuring a mix of both musicians
August 29: Celebrating Charlie Parker's Birthday
Phil Schaap Archival Schedule:
8/27:
12AM-3AM: Originally broadcast on 8/31/2019, the Parker/Young festival, In part 3 of 4 of this extended Lester Young celebration, Phil features a thematic potpourri of rare alternate takes from the November 1939 Count Basie Hollywood session, the Martin Block Jam Session, Prez' contributions to the From Spirituals to Swing concerts, solo excerpts from the Jones-Smith, Inc. session and a pair of Billie Holiday tracks.
9AM-12PM: Originally broadcast on 8/12/2013, in preparation for that year's Parker/Young festival, Phil takes an Out to Lunch to dive into “Prez on Aladdin.”
6PM-9PM: Originally broadcast on 8/31/2013, Traditions in Swing, after the annual Parker/Young festival, Phil devotes his Traditions in Swing to more Prez.
8/28:
12AM-1:20AM: Originally broadcast on 7/5/2017, Bird Flight “Lady Be Good,” on this edition of Bird Flight Phil describes the story of the famed "Lady Be Good" recording from Jazz at the Philharmonic, featuring Charlie Parker and Lester Young.
4AM-9:20AM: Originally broadcast on 8/27/2010, from the annual Lester Young and Charlie Parker birthday broadcast.
9:00PM-9:20PM: Originally broadcast on 8/27/1994, as part of the Lester Young Birthday Broadcast, Phil interviews Mary Young, Lester's widow, on various aspects of their family life.
9:20PM-10:40PM: Originally broadcast on 8/27/2003, from the archives, an incomplete interview with Lee Young, Lester Young's brother, on the Lester Young Birthday Broadcast. The interview focuses on The President's early 1940s activities.
10:40PM-12AM: Originally broadcast on 3/31/2008, Bird Flight, Phil explores Bird's various versions of "Cherokee."
8/29:
3AM-9AM: Originally broadcast on 8/29/2013, for the 40th anniversary of the Charlie Parker festival, Phil presents a musical biography of Bird.
9:20PM-12AM: Originally broadcast on 8/30/2018, as a follow-up to the annual Birthday Broadcast, Phil presents a Charlie Parker potpourri with recordings not covered on the previous day's marathon.
