Jazz and Blues Features

Kassa Overall's music is the sound of a classical jazz musician raised by West Coast G Funk. He's not afraid to mix and match genres, like throwing autotuned raps on top of smooth-jazz trumpet.

Pianist Ryan Hsi from Mercer Island High School in Seattle will join Abe Beeson as virtual guest DJ tonight (July 1) on Evening Jazz. He is in the school's jazz band and will start his junior year in the fall.

Tenor saxophonist Sam Llanillo from Ingraham High School in Seattle will join Abe Beeson as virtual guest DJ tonight (June 3) on Evening Jazz. He is a senior and in the school's jazz band. He has formed his own indie pop-rock band called Aurora Ave. Last month they participated in the Sound Off! showcase at MoPOP.

Saxophonist Cade Sando from Cascade Christian High School in Puyallup will join Abe Beeson as virtual guest DJ tonight (May 6) on Evening Jazz. He is a sophomore and in the school's jazz band. Cade plays alto and soprano saxophone, although he prefers soprano when it comes to jazz.

Social media has given us innumerable lists of songs on all kinds of topics. "Best love song," "My favorite break-up songs"—you name it, there’s probably a song list for it. Today, Nick Morrison’s going to give you a list of songs about … well, we’ll let him tell you.

Jazz speaks to social issues, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington’s focus on equality informs her work at the Berklee School of Music as well as her new album. Robin Lloyd reports for Jazz Appreciation Month.

He’s an Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award Winner, broadcaster and originator of Jazz After Hours on public radio and champion of live jazz everywhere. For Jazz Appreciation Month, KNKX Music Director Carol Handley talked with Jim Wilke about his appreciation of the NW jazz scene and capturing it in live recordings.

The uplifting and swinging sound of gypsy jazz is no spring chicken. It’s pushing 90. So Nick Morrison decided to see how it was aging into the 21st century. Here’s his report.

Classical music and jazz may seem to be worlds apart, but they have more in common than you might think. KNKX Music Director Carol Handley explores some favorite jazz/classical crossovers for Jazz Appreciation Month.

Being on stage can be stressful. Even more so when singing for a live audience and you forget the words to the song. When you have the improvisation skills of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, though, you can turn lemons into lemonade.

His playing influenced Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and no – we’re not talking about a horn player. We’re talking about pianist Ahmad Jamal. Paige Hansen has more for our series during Jazz Appreciation Month.

The important connection between musicians onstage and a crowded jazz club has been missing for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many fans have been turning to live recordings that captured moments of magic, when the music onstage was matched by the energy in the crowd.

Nationwide recognition for jazz artists is a rare thing. The National Endowment for the Arts stepped up its mandate in 1982 to include jazz as an art form and celebrate those who advance it. Robin Lloyd introduces the 2021 NEA Jazz Masters for Jazz Appreciation Month.

Bassist Jaco Pastorius was a musical innovator, a celebrated master and an audacious free spirit, who proved an inspiring—and challenging—force to all who played music with him. KNKX’s Michael Stein tells us more.

Historically speaking, jazz and blues met at the piano. For Jazz Appreciation Month, KNKX Music Director Carol Handley traces the development of the irresistible style called "stride" from its beginnings to the present day.

During the 1940s Swing Era, certain big bands began to popularize a saxophone style that would become known as the "Texas Tenor" sound. Nick Morrison’s going to take us back to the beginning of that sound and follow its evolution from the big-band era to 1960s soul music.

Jazz Appreciation Month brings recognition to the art form and to the artists who produce it. But did you know there are also awards for the behind-the-scenes supporters of jazz? Robin Lloyd has the scoop from jazz journalist Paul De Barros.

When you hear Bill Charlap on piano, you have the sense of someone lost – so lost in the music we may never be able to exist on that mountain with him. Paige Hansen has more on his exquisite playing in our series for Jazz Appreciation Month.

Jazz is a music based on improvisation, and evolution. Moving through Dixieland, swing, bebop, free jazz, fusion and beyond can make describing what jazz is a difficult proposition. KNKX jazz host Abe Beeson spoke to three generations of musicians to find a definition.

Trumpeter Amy Anderson from Henry M. Jackson High School in Mill Creek will virtually join Abe Beeson as guest DJ tonight (April 1) on Evening Jazz. She is a senior and in the school's jazz band. Amy also sings jazz.

Springtime is coming on a lot faster than the end of the pandemic, but there are more signs of artists and audiences reuniting in person in the near future. Making the most of quarantine restrictions, saxophonist Kate Olson presents a circus of sounds with her K.O. Solo project streaming live Friday night .

Trombonist Nate Gilbreath from Bellevue High School will join Abe Beeson virtually as guest DJ at 7 tonight (March 4) on Evening Jazz. He is a senior and in the jazz band at Bellevue High School and Bellevue College.

In 1969, Roberta Flack debuted with her album “First Takes.” It included her version of a song written by Donny Hathaway, “Trying Times,” which addressed the civil disorder of the era.

Maceo Parker had many influences growing up, but Ray Charles was number one.

When Nina Simone had finally had enough, she wrote her first protest song in 1963.

For Black History Month, Robin Lloyd honors Dr. Billy Taylor and his Civil Rights anthem “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.”

KNKX remembers the groundbreaking bandleader Blanche Calloway for Black History Month.

Black History Month concludes at the end of the week, and Seattle jazz musicians and fans will be celebrating the legacy of African-American musicians in the Northwest Saturday and Sunday nights with the virtual Jackson Street Jazz Walk .

Tenor saxophonist Austin Schneider from Lynnwood High School will virtually join Abe Beeson as guest DJ tonight (Feb. 4) on Evening Jazz at 7 p.m. He is a senior and in the school's jazz band program. Listen to the show and read their Q&A.

Tenor saxophonist Rohan Wassink from Shorecrest High School will virtually join Abe Beeson as guest DJ tonight (Jan. 7) on Evening Jazz at 7 p.m. He is a junior and in the school's jazz band program. Listen to the show and read their Q&A.

Drummer Calvin Lundin from Seattle Academy virtually joined Abe Beeson Dec. 3 on Evening Jazz. He is a sophmore and in the school's jazz program. Listen to the show and read their Q&A.

Drummer Avery Clarke from Ballard High School will virtually join Abe Beeson tonight at 8 p.m. (Nov. 5) as guest DJ during Evening Jazz. He is a junior and in the school's jazz band program. Listen to the show and find his playlist.

Bassist Gary Peacock passed away on Friday, September 4. He was a highly influential player, who had a seven decades-long career and taught locally during his time in Seattle as an instructor at Cornish College of the Arts. KNKX Director of Music Programming Carol Handley looks back at the life and career of Gary Peacock, honoring a bassist who blazed his own path, transforming the way that many bass players approach their instruments and whose time here in the Northwest was spent as an educator of jazz to other young artists. Gary Peacock was born in Idaho and grew up in Yakima. Gary also spent some years in the Northwest, first as a biology student at the University of Washington in the early 70's before going on to teach at Seattle's Cornish College of the Arts. Many musicians in the Northwest and beyond got some first-hand schooling from Gary Peacock and his years in the area gave many of us an opportunity to hear him live at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley with artists including Ralph

Alto saxophonist Anna McPherson from Snohomish High School will virtually join Abe Beeson on Evening Jazz tonight at 8 p.m. (Sept. 3) as guest DJ. She is a sophomore and in the school's band program. Listen to her show and read her Q&A.

Trumpeter Jonah Elbaum from West Seattle High School will take over Evening Jazz with Abe Beeson tonight at 8 p.m. (Aug. 6) as guest DJ. He is a junior and in the school's jazz band. He is also an aspiring filmmaker. Listen to his show and read his Q&A.

Trumpeter Austin Miller from Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens joins Abe Beeson tonight at 8 p.m. (July 2) during Evening Jazz as guest DJ. Austin also plays the horn and is in the wind ensemble at his high school. Listen to the show and read his Q&A.

Pianist Elijah Allen-White from Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle will accompany Abe Beeson tonight at 8 p.m. (March 4) during Evening Jazz as guest DJ. Elijah is KNKX's first virtual guest student DJ. Listen to the show and read his Q&A.

For Jazz Appreciation Month, Robin Lloyd salutes pianist, composer, and arranger Toshiko Akiyoshi. As a musician she is a trailblazer on the piano, in the jazz genre in her 64 year career, she has experienced many firsts.

We live in a world of super-powers competing for global influence. Beyond military victory and economic dominance, they also compete for our hearts and minds, often deploying artists as ambassadors.

One of the great American songwriters of the last century, still gets plenty of exposure by some of todays’ great singers. Paige Hansen shines a light on Cole Porter.

South African Jazz pianist and Composer, Abdullah Ibrahim was named the National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master last year. Carl Pogue takes a closer look at the artist, his life and music.

For Jazz Appreciation Month, Robin Lloyd focuses on three influential Latin Jazz musicians and composers who shaped their creative talents to lead others in new directions as bandleaders.

One of the most idiosyncratic musicians in jazz, Thelonious Monk is also one of the most popular. KNKX jazz host Abe Beeson is a big fan, but he’s been wondering: just what is it that makes Monk’s music so cool?

Dick Stein takes a look back at American radio jazz hosts who helped us discover some of the world’s best jazz talent. Part of our Jazz Appreciation series.

Once in a generation, a musician comes along whose individual innovations are so dramatic they fundamentally change the function and perception of their instrument. For electric bass, that person was Jaco Pastorius. John Kessler has the story, part of our Jazz Appreciation series.

Multi-instrumentalist Nicolas Lofgren from Bainbridge High School on Bainbridge Island will take over Evening Jazz with Abe Beeson as guest DJ at 8 p.m. tonight (March 5). Nicolas is a senior and plays lead alto in the jazz band at his high school. He also plays clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophones. Listen to the show and read his Q&A.

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues Charles Mingus is perhaps the jazz world’s most famous bass-playing composer. There are three repertory bands playing his music on a regular basis, and those compositions are still provoking and inspiring musicians and music fans around the world. Abe Beeson highlights his story.

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues. Rhiannon Giddens is a modern songwriter and musician, who is carrying the tradition of African American work songs and Appalachia into contemporary music. KNKX's Paige Hansen takes a look into her work.

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues. Robin Lloyd celebrates the diverse artistry of Regina Carter.

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues. In our latest story, KNKX's John Kessler shares the culture and sounds of Mardi Gras.

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues. KNKX's Carol Handley takes a look at saxophonist Lester Young, who was a key “bridge” player from Bebop to Cool Jazz.