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Contents 1 American 2 Arts 3 Classical 4 In All Languages 5 Jazz 5.1 Birthday Broadcasts 6 Latin 7 New Music 8 News 9 Sports

This article is related to WKCR radio station.

American music programming has been present on WKCR since the 1950, when its programmers sought to follow WKCR's mission to provide an alternative to other types of music found on the radio. The station has since become a home for the roots of American music (blues, gospel, old-time, etc.). The American department attempts to remain loyal to the traditional musical forms of America and to persevere in their presentation where other radio stations are more content to follow current trends.

WKCR strives to bring indigenous folk-derived American art forms to the public. More information about specific musical territory covered by each of WKCR's regular programs is contained in the individual program descriptions.

Special programming includes an annual country music festival around Valentine's Day weekend and an annual Blues Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Soul music festivals also occur but are scheduled on a less consistent basis.

Amazing Grace Sundays, 8:00am-10am

The American Department's broadcasting week begins at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays with this program devoted to gospel music. Amazing Grace most greatly emphasizes the golden age of African-American gospel, the 1940's and 1950's, but an effort is made to present gospel in all its varieties, including the Anglo-American and Caribbean traditions. In addition to its dedication to classic recordings, Amazing Grace utilizes its pre-church time slot to stay in touch with local performers.

The Moonshine Show Sundays, 10am-12pm

Bluegrass and old-time music programming first appeared on WKCR in 1966. The Moonshine Show, hosted by Matt Winters, continues this longstanding tradition, presenting the hill country string music of the Mid-South via classic recordings and frequent live in-studio performances. With musical selections featuring various instrumentations and drawn from different geographic origins and decades, Winters covers the full spectrum of this living art form each Sunday morning.

The Tennessee Border Show Sundays, 12pm-2pm

Comprising one half of WKCR's country programming, The Tennessee Border Show focuses on the masters of country music from the latter half of the twentieth century. The show is not afraid to delve into country music forefathers, like Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. Over the years, it has established itself as a source for information about 'real' country music, countering commercial country music's tendency to diminish the genre's past.

Honky Tonkin' Tuesdays, 10pm-11:30pm

Whereas the Tennessee Border Show focuses on country music from the latter half of the twentieth century, Honky Tonkin' is dedicated to the country music of the 1940's and 1950's. One might think that this would limit the show to 78-era recordings, but just this year, a new Honky Tonkin' tradition was born with the premier of the WKCR Radio Jamboree. Occurring the third Tuesday of every month, the WKCR Radio Jamboree has a house band, Sheriff Uncle Bob and the Goodtimers, as well as a new act each month in an attempt to recreate the feeling of live radio in the classic country years of the late 1940's.

Tuesday's Just as Bad Tuesdays, 11:30pm-1am

This program makes up the more acoustic half of WKCR's two blues shows. Tuesday's Just As Bad draws from an extensive library of pre-WWII blues recordings to present a strictly acoustic first set. The second hour features more of a variety, with an emphasis on the blues masters of the post-WWII era. Judging from some listeners' claims that they have been listening to the program for all twenty of its years, the program's approach seems to work well.

Night Train Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings, 1am-5am

One of two soul / rhythm and blues shows on WKCR, the Night Train, owing to its overnight time slot, offers an adventurous selection. The show features classic soul, soul jazz, seventies funk, Afrobeat and Afro-funk, and other derivations of the funk/soul/R&B genre.

Squeeze Radio Thursday nights, 1am-5am

Airing on Thursday nights/Friday mornings from 1:00-5:00am, Squeeze Radio offers a wide selection of hip hop programming. In its original incarnation, DJ Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito aka DJ Cucumberslice co-hosted the Stretch & Bobbito Show. In the 1990s the show was voted "the best hip hop show of all time" by Source Magazine and "the best hip hop show in New York" by the Village Voice. Today, Squeeze Radio is co-hosted by SUCIO SMASH and TIMM SEE and features Adam Waytz.

Across 110th Street Saturdays, 12pm-3pm

WKCR's weekend soul show has enlisted many formats over the years, including various mixtures of soul, funk, R&B, and doo-wop. Currently, the show focuses on soul and funk records from the late sixties and early seventies, many of which owe a great debt to the breakthroughs of James Brown. The show's emphasis is set on the absolute classics of the genre and some of its most extreme rarities. Recent guests include: James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Marva Whitney, Eddie Bo, and Lee Fields. The show does not air from September through November, when the Columbia Lions football season is broadcasted in its stead.

Something Inside of Me Saturdays, 3pm-6pm

Whereas Tuesday's Just As Bad places emphasis on acoustic blues, Something Inside of Me, WKCR's weekend blues program, focuses more upon the electric blues recordings of the post-WWII era. The show draws on the entire body of blues recordings, but as it bridges the gap between WKCR's soul show and swing-era jazz show, it lends itself to an emphasis on soul blues and jump blues.

Since 1986, the Arts department at WKCR has been bringing listeners topical information on upcoming cultural events in the New York City area via interviews with artists. WKCR represents all art forms, from film and literature to theatre and the visual arts. As of 20 March 2006, listeners have an opportunity to learn more about the Arts almost every night after 9 pm.

Studio A features an hour long, in-depth educational experience on one topic. While one or more artists may be invited as guests, the evening’s conversation revolves around a single type of art or artist.

Arts and Answers, the latest edition of Arts programming, broadcasts in half hour segments with one or more artists discussing a single work of art.

The latest additions to Arts programming occur on Friday nights. On every even Friday of the month, Cultural Corner brings a more eclectic conversation to listeners. The first half-hour features a roundtable conversation on an artistic experience (either current or classic) and the second half-hour features an interview with an artist involved in the work. Beginning 2 June 2006, Art Waves will broadcast every odd Friday of the month as the only non-interview based Arts programming. Art Waves is designed to be an experimental radio program featuring radio plays, author recitals, and more.

Though the WKCR Arts department is small, it has generated interest among artistic venues and producers in and outside the five boroughs. The department has a rich tradition of quality, eye-opening programming and strives to expose the public to underappreciated talent.

Studio A Sunday, 9-10pm An hour long conversation on one particular subject that may be split up into several segments.

Arts and Answers Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30-10pm A thirty minute conversation with one or more artists that discusses a single work of art.

Cultural Corner 9-10pm every even Friday of the month A roundtable conversation among students and critics concerning a work of art that shall be featured on Arts and Answers.

Art Waves 9-10pm every odd Friday of the month An experimental, sound design show that shall feature radio plays produced by WKCR and readings by artists. (begins in June)

WKCR Classical offers an alternative to traditional Classical radio and features music infrequently heard elsewhere, including contemporary art music and rare historic recordings. The department is committed to playing works in their entirety and to exploring the full extent of the genre with new and varied programming.

The Classical department often broadcasts interviews with important Classical music figures. Elliott Carter and Pierre Boulez have each joined us for their 90th and 75th birthdays respectively. Other guests have included composers Ned Rorem, Jason Eckhardt, Martin Bresnick, and Joan Tower; pianists Gyorgy Sandor, Yefim Bronfman, Marilyn Nonken, and Maurizio Pollini; conductor Michael Gielen; and modern music ensembles Speculum Musicae, Continuum, New York New Music Ensemble, and Absolute Ensemble.

WKCR's Classical festival programming presents large bodies of work by a single artist (or within a single theme) in an organized and engaging manner. Broadcasts have included three days of Early Music, an American Composers festival, and birthday celebrations in honor of Pierre Boulez, Elliott Carter, Béla Bartók, and Enrico Caruso.

Each December, WKCR pays homage to Johann Sebastian Bach with what many listeners consider to be a true New York-area treasure, the BachFest: seven to ten days of Bach's compositions, played 24 hours a day.

Morning Classical Monday-Thursday, 9:30am - Noon

Afternoon Classical Thursday, 3:00 - 6:00pm Friday, 3:00 - 4:30pm

The Morning and Afternoon Classical programs provide an eclectic mix of music, spanning the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods and featuring such composers as Bach, Shostakovich, Bartók, Stravinsky, Schubert, Janácěk, Carter, Schoenberg, Haydn, Hindemith, Debussy, Pärt, Boulez. WKCR also presents entire shows focusing on a variety of topics, including 19th century lieder, 20th century string quartets, Bach's cantatas, Scriabin's piano works, the American art song, and modern Russian masters. Live from Miller Theatre Friday, 4:30 - 6:00pm

Live from Miller Theatre was founded in January 2002 and has since been featuring music related to the programming at Columbia University's Miller Theatre. The program is co-hosted by George Steel, the executive director of Miller Theatre, and Matt Winters, and features previews of upcoming events at the theatre, live concert recordings, live interviews and performances, discussion of upcoming events around the city, and thematic explorations of music composed at any point between the 15th to the 21st centuries.

The Early Music Show Friday, 9:30am - Noon

The Friday Morning Early Music Show is dedicated to Western music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. It features such composers as Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay, Josquin Desprez, Palestrina, Ockeghem, Jacob Obrecht, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Monteverdi, Henry Purcell, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and the prolific "anonymous." The Early Music Show provides listeners with a link to the growing Early Music community, imparting information about live performances around the city and insightful interviews with leading and emerging artists and scholars. Lutanist Paul O'Dette; Frederick Renz, director of New York's Ensemble for Early Music; Marcel Peres, director of Ensemble Organum; and members of the ensembles Anonymous 4, Lionheart, Rebel, and many others have all discussed their work on the program. The Early Music Show also has an ongoing affiliation with the concert series Music Before 1800.

Saturday Night at the Opera Saturday, 9:00pm-1:00am

Saturday Night at the Opera presents works from across the history of the art form, each in its entirety, along with scene synopses and historical background. WKCR features performances of classic repertoire by legendary performers, such as Bellini's Norma with Maria Callas, Verdi's Nabucco with Piero Cappuccilli, and Puccini's Turandot with Jussi Björling and Birgit Nilsson; 20th century classics, such as Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, Berg's Wozzeck, and Britten's Peter Grimes; and operas by living composers, such as Thomas Adès' Powder Her Face, Meredith Monk's Atlas, and Einojuhani Rautavaara's Thomas. From time to time, entire shows are devoted to great voices of the past, such as Enrico Caruso, Leontyne Price, Lauritz Melchior, and Bidu Sayão. The show also features live interviews: composer Jack Beeson and singers Barbara Bonney, Lauren Flanigan, Phyllis Pancella, and Dana Hanchard are some of the artists who have been interviewed on WKCR's airwaves.

The In All Languages department is responsible for producing WKCR's world music programming. The department's name originates from the Ornette Coleman album/composition of the same name, which might suggest that WKCR's international department does not feature typical world music broadcasting. WKCR designed the department's format to treat each country or region with the concentrated attention it deserves, not just as a part of the world outside the United States. The department's shows, though collectively covering a broad range of musical styles, individually demonstrate a refreshing focus.

A majority of IAL shows are specific to a certain region of the world: Raag Aur Taal and Morning Ragas are devoted to South Asian music, Reggae Riddims is dedicated to the music of Jamaica, the African Show delves into the musical traditions of Africa, and Sounds of China reviews the variety of music of the Greater China region. Although the majority of the department's programming is region-specific, the In All Languages flagship show is dedicated to other traditions from around the world. In providing a wide range of musical traditions, the IAL department maintains a tasteful balance of both detailed and general programming.

Many stations offer world music, but few offer the authentic, traditional music of rich and diverse heritages available in WKCR's programming. The IAL department offers an honest and straightforward presentation of its music outside of the influence of political correctness and current trends. The department prides itself in offering an exciting variety of sound through its exploration of world music.

In All Languages Sunday, 11:00pm - 2:00am

As the flagship show of the department, In All Languages presents a focused examination of a different musical tradition each week. The program draws from a library of ethnomusicological and field recordings, with a goal is of presenting music that is embedded in a particular society or way of life, and not exclusively made for commercial purposes. Some recent episodes include Magyar folk music of Hungary, Aboriginal music of Australia, Classical music of Iran, Mbira music as found in southern Africa, devotional music of South Asia, Mountain music of Peru, and Conch Shell music of Tonga.

Raag Aur Taal Sunday, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Previously known as Garam Masala, Raag Aur Taal explores the sounds and rich cultural heritage of South Asia with hosts Pooja Agarwal and Swarup Swaminathan. The term "Raag Aur Taal" roughly translates to "melody and rhythm," indicating the classical nature of this program. Each week, the program ventures into the classical music traditions of the Indian subcontinent, as well as other artistic forms including dance and theater. Devotional music and folk music are occasionally explored as well. The program hosts its Festival of South Asian Music each August.

Sounds of China Saturday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

This variety program is put together by the Sounds of China student group of Columbia University, and is presented in Chinese dialects. Sets within a given show range from traditional music to the latest popular music, from comedic sketches to news features.

The African Show Thursday, 10:00pm - 12:00am

WKCR's program of African music, news, and politics holds the title of longest running African show in New York. Founded by Joe Mensah, the African Show was co-hosted by the legendary Babatunde Olatunji until this team handed over the show to current host Lawrence Nii Nartey in the late 1970's. Nii is exceptionally proud of the wealth of music that the African continent has produced and strives to present African music in all its varieties, from traditional to popular, from western to eastern, from northern to southern. Over the years, guests of the show have included I.K. Dairo, E.T. Mensah, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Manu Dibango, Sam Mangwana, Nana Ampadu of African Brothers International, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soukous Stars, Hugh Masakela, and Doudou Ndiaye Rose. The show also plays host to an annual festival of African culture around Thanksgiving time.

Reggae Riddims Friday, 12:00am - 1:00am Saturday, 6:00am - 10:00am

These two programs present the greatest and the latest in reggae music. Reggae Riddims covers the full spectrum of Jamaican music, from the foundation to the most current hits. The selection is kept strictly positive and guest sounds are featured every week.

Reggae Riddims's unique approach has attracted numerous guests to the program in recent years, including: 'Family Man' Barrett, the Congos, Sammy Dread, Sly Dunbar, Phillip Frazier, Joe Higgs, Junior Marvin, Junior Reid, Judah Eskander Tafari; veteran DJs Ranking Joe, Sister Nancy, U Brown; foundation producers Clive Chin (of the Impact label), Carlton Patterson (of the Black and White label), Manzy Swabie (of the Ja-Man label); newer artists Junior Kelly and Luciano; and historians Steve Barrow, Roger Steffens, and Chris Wilson. The show also hosts several marathons including the Labor Day Weekend Reggae Marathon and the Bob Marley - Dennis Brown Birthday Broadcast.

Morning Ragas Sunday, 6:00am - 8:00am

The sister show to Raag Aur Taal, this show focuses exclusively on the ragas of Indian classical music that are traditionally listened to at dawn or during the early morning. The raga is not a tune, melody, scale, mode, or any concept for which an English word exists. Instead, a raag functions both as description and prescription; it describes a general melodic practice, while it prescribes rules on how to build a certain melody. Compositions in Indian classical music are built on the rules of a raag. The Hindi/Urdu word "raag" is derived from the Sanskrit "raga" which means "color" or "passion." The notion of the morning raga may then be thought of as an aural method of coloring the mind of the listener, through a combination of various acoustic characteristics, with sentiments that complement the morning atmosphere.

The sounds of jazz have been heard over the WKCR-FM airwaves for over 60 years. In that time, the Jazz department has cultivated a position of great respect among both listeners and musicians: Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charles Mingus have been guests at the station. In the past year, the station has hosted musicians such as Billy Taylor, Dick Hyman, Randy Sandke, Henry Grimes, Art Davis, and Lawrence Lucie, among many notable others.

Roughly 67 hours (about 40%) of WKCR's weekly airtime is currently devoted to Jazz music. The station prides itself in presenting a form of American art music infrequently heard on FM radio, characterizing its approach to programming as 'one foot in the past, one foot in the future'. WKCR is deeply committed to spreading the storied history of jazz music and of its numerous genuises, many of whom have been neglected by the media in recent decades. The Jazz department also features and interviews cutting edge and avant-garde musicians.

WKCR strives to present this original music of America in a historically conscious and educational fashion. Guided by alumni members, among the foremost jazz experts in the world, the station has produced a variety of festivals, which have served to educate both programmer and listener. Beginning in 1970, WKCR began to present extended broadcasts, generally exceeding 150 hours in length, with the purpose of presenting the complete recorded works of a musician fundamental to the development of jazz. A few notable examples include the Louis Armstrong Centennial Festival Part I (June 30 - July 7, 2000; 184 hours), and the Duke Ellington Centennial Festival (April 23 - May 1, 1999; 240 hours). A two-week John Coltrane Festival took place in the spring of 2004.

WKCR's jazz department also presents 14 annual 'Birthday Broadcasts,' 24-hour marathons that celebrate the birthdays of the pivotal figures in jazz history. The station also occasionally interrupts regular programming for unscheduled 'Memorial Broadcasts,' which serve to pay tribute to musicians upon their passing and alert the jazz community to memorials and funeral plans. WKCR considers jazz to be more than just a recorded phenomenon and fosters the jazz community by announcing upcoming concerts and music-related events.

With its jazz programming, the station seeks to simultaneously address the needs of both the newcomer to jazz and the jazz aficionado.

Daybreak Express (Monday through Friday, 5:00 - 8:20 am)

Out To Lunch (Monday through Friday, 12:00 - 3:00 pm)

Jazz Alternatives (Monday through Friday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm)

These three shows form the core of WKCR's jazz programming, with a rotating cast of DJs presenting the entire range of recorded jazz, from its birth in New Orleans through its most avant-garde incarnations on today's scene. Each programmer presents his or her unique approach to the music; on a given day, one may hear anything from an in-depth examination of a focused theme to an eclectic presentation covering a broad mix of styles. Additionally, many DJs are known to invite prominent and up-and-coming artists to our studios to discuss their music; the Wednesday edition of Jazz Alternatives is always reserved for this purpose.

Bird Flight (Monday through Friday, 8:20 - 9:30 am)

WKCR's Phil Schaap, one of the world's leading jazz historians, hosts this daily forum for the music of Charlie Parker. Besides offering a variety of approaches to listening to Bird's music, the show is often an example of scholarship in action, as Schaap uncovers and preserves jazz history through countless on-air interviews.

Wednesday Musician's Show (Wednesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm)

Every Wednesday, WKCR invites a working jazz musician to act as a "guest DJ" on Jazz Alternatives. The show has long been popular with local musicians: besides getting a chance to play their favorite records, they have the opportunity to discuss their own music and inform listeners about their current projects.

Traditions in Swing (Saturday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm)

Phil Schaap has hosted this award-winning show for over thirty years. He offers thematic presentations of jazz from the first half of the twentieth century, from the earliest records of the 'teens through the end of the swing era in the mid-forties. Schaap uses the best and rarest sound sources in order to present the music in its highest quality.

Jazz 'til Dawn (Sunday, 2:00 - 6:00 am)

This overnight show typically features the jazz department's most adventurous programming, including extended works and complete albums. Jazz Profiles (Sunday, 2:00 - 7:00 pm)

This five-hour feature, WKCR's longest regularly-scheduled show, presents an in-depth look at one specific artist or theme. DJs conduct thorough research to offer rare recordings alongside acknowledged masterpieces, thus presenting listeners with a fully-rounded portrait of the chosen musical subject.

Monday Morning in Mono (Monday, 2:00 5:00 am)

WKCR's weekly jazz programming begins with this show, which explores the world of jazz in the first half of the twentieth century. Like 'Traditions in Swing', Monday Morning in Mono's thematic presentations help listeners to learn to enjoy earlier styles of jazz. The show begins a 7.5 hour block of continuous jazz, WKCR's longest block of continuous scheduling in any style of music.

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Long ago it became tradition at WKCR to play 24 hours of a jazz great's music on his/her birthday.

• Max Roach
  • (b. January 10, 1924)

• Roy Eldridge
  • (b. January 30, 1911; d. February 26, 1989)

• Ornette Coleman
  • (b. March 9, 1930)

• Bix Beiderbecke
  • (b. March 10, 1903; d. August 7, 1931)

• Billie Holiday
  • (b. April 7, 1915; d. July 17, 1959)

• Charles Mingus
  • (b. April 22, 1922; d. January 5, 1979)

• Duke Ellington
  • (April 29,1899; d. May 24, 1974)

• Louis Armstrong
  • (b. August 4, 1901; d. July 6, 1971)
    • He believed his birthdate to be July 4th 1900, so we celebrate both birthdays

• Lester Young
  • (b. August 27, 1909; d. March 15, 1959)

• Charlie Parker
  • (b. August 29, 1920; d. March 12, 1955)
    • Combines with Lester Young to form a three-day broadcast

• John Coltrane
  • (b. September 23, 1926; d. July 17, 1967)

• Thelonious Monk
  • (b. Oct. 10, 1917; d. February 17, 1982)

• Clifford Brown
  • (b. October 30, 1930; d. June 26, 1956)

• Coleman Hawkins
  • (b. Nov. 21, 1904; d. May 19, 1969)

Latin music programming on WKCR began in 1970. At the time, Latin music was otherwise only available on the radio through commercial stations, which played older music and romantic ballads. WKCR's introduction of salsa music to the airwaves changed the climate of Latin broadcasting in the New York metro area. The Latin department's programmers were especially interested in music's history and took the station's reach as an opportunity to inform their audience through oral histories and musician interviews. This created a surge among musicians to vie for airtime on the lone radio station showcasing Latin music. The musicians interviewed by WKCR's Latin department include Machito, Tito Puente, Ray Baretto, Willie Colón, Eddie Palmieri, Charlie Palmieri, and many other famous and local musicians.

Because WKCR's Latin programming had gained so much popularity in New York City, colleges in the area soon followed WKCR's lead and started their own Latin programs. Some commercial radio stations followed, changing their formats to salsa music, which was growing in popularity. WKCR stands out in its reflection of the community it serves, its birthday and memorial broadcasts, and its programming, which gives consideration to quality over popularity.

Over the years, the Latin department has developed a reputation as a leader in Latin music broadcasting and prides itself in passing on to each new generation of programmers.

Caribe Latino Monday, 10pm-midnight

Caribe Latino features various types of music from the numerous Latino and Caribbean communities. Such popular Latin rhythms as salsa, merengue, bachata, and Latin jazz take center stage during the two hour program. The show has also evolved into a cultural/historical exhibition, examining and challenging the roots of today's popular Latin rhythms by playing them side-by-side with classic recordings of the same genre. Guests are frequently invited to the program to share their latest projects or to be honored for their contributions to Latin music. The program also informs the listeners of related events within the community.

The Latin Jazz Hour Mondays, midnight-1am

The Latin Jazz Hour explores the music of contemporary artists throughout the world while acknowledging the stylistic foundations established by Charlie Palmieri, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Tito Puente, Machito, and other legends of the genre. The Latin Jazz Hour showcases artists such as David Sanchez, Danilo Pérez, Ray Vega, Ralph Irizzary and Timbalaye, Chucho Valdés, Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band, William Cepeda and others, all of who have been pioneering new forms with the genre. The show aims to be sincerely provocative and musically conscious, bringing to light the works of artists in the thriving latin jazz community and serving as an educational forum for interested listeners.

Música en Nueva York Wednesdays, 10pm-11pm

Musica en Nueva York is a one-hour exploration of Afro-Latin music in which the old and the new converge. Particularly emphasized are the different styles and rhythms that have originated in New York City through the years. On occasion, prominent artists passing through or residing in town are interviewed. The show aims to appeal both within and outside of the Latino community. The program is hosted both in Spanish and in English. Musica en Nueva York has been on the air since September 1997.

Som do Brasil Wednesdays, 11pm-1am

Brazil's diverse body of musical styles is examined on Som do Brasil, from samba and bossa nova to MPB. In addition to exposing the country's eclectic music tastes, Som do Brasil seeks to connect with the Brazilian community in New York by alerting listeners of Brazilian cultural events and promoting local musicians and artists. The program's recent guests include local artists Ze Luis, Vanessa Falabella, and the Brazuca Band and world famous Sergio Mendes, Simone, and Jair Rodriguez. Som do Brasil first broadcasted in September of 1997, hosted by Eduardo Delgado. The show features the Antonio Carlos Jobim Birthday Broadcast every January and has held a 500 Years of Brazil broadcast, featuring 8 hours of Brazilian music from the earliest recordings to new releases.

Sonidos Colombianos Fridays, 10pm-11pm

Sonidos Colombianos presents the music of Colombia in a bilingual format, including cumbia as wellas the guitar-based bambuco from the Andean region, the harp llanero music from the Eastern Plains, and the accordion-driven vallenato of the North Atlantic Coast. Sonidos Colombianos also features Colombian big band music from the 1950s newer Afro-Caribbean music called champeta, and salsa from Cali, known as the "salsa capital of South America". The last program of each month focuses on one specific musical genre, group or composer. The program first aired on January 13, 1991 and has since been a venue for interviews with local and international musical groups such as Foncho Castellar y sus Alegres de Colombia, Alquimia, Grupo Niche, and Miguel Morales.

On July 20, 1998, Sonidos Colombianos presented a 13-hour music festival marking Colombia's independence day. Unprecedented on the New York FM airwaves, this festival featured extensive and detailed educational segments, including previously unheard recordings of vallenato accordionists competing for the "Rey Vallenato" title in Colombia, interviews with an American and Colombian musicologist on the local New York "coste–o" music scene and the carnival music of Barranquilla, and several on-air interviews with WKCR listeners about how they felt about their music. The festival ended with a nod to the WKCR jazz tradition by playing Charles Mingus' piece, "Cumbia and Jazz Fusion".

The Mambo Machine Friday, 11pm-2am

The Mambo Machine is the longest running salsa show in New York City. Jose "Cheo" Diaz founded the program in 1971, and retired from hosting it thirty years later. At its beginning, the show focused on mambo and Latin jazz, but in its present version, the Mambo Machine plays a wide spectrum of Afro-Latin rhythms, combining new and old.

The term 'new music' dates back at least to 1925, when The New Music Society of California, organized by Henry Cowell, held its first concert. The announcement bill for this concert contained a statement of the society's aim: "To present musical works embodying the most progressive tendencies of this age, and disseminate the new musical ideas". Although situated over seventy five years in the future and on the other side of the continent, WKCR's New Music department is, nonetheless, aptly served by this statement of purpose. The New Music department presents alternative approaches to music, with or without reference to a familiar tradition (such as jazz or classical music).

Over the years, the New Music department has presented several groundbreaking festivals, radio marathons of considerable duration which pay tribute to and carefully examine specific artists, movements, or schools. We hope that by listing these festivals we will aid your understanding of our concept of new music.

• Fred Frith - 1983
• Karlheinz Stockhausen - 1984
• Harry Partch - 1985
• John Cage - 1992
  • In 1987, Cage used WKCR's studio as his extended musical instrument. Station DJs passed him opera records from which he played random excerpts while manipulating all the other sound variables controllable from the studio.
• Evan Parker - 1994
• Noise - 1997
• Electronic Music - 1998
• Peter Kowald - 2002
• Luciano Berio - 2003
• Harry Partch / Terry Riley - 2003
• Derek Bailey - 2006

Even as far back as the 1950's and 60's, WKCR had links to the world new music, through the pioneering electroacoustic composers of the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center -- men such as Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Leuning. It was not until the 70's, however, that WKCR's commitment to new music crystallized. The efforts of the late Taylor Storer in creating the New Music Distribution Service helped to create a synergistic relationship between avant-garde performance and recorded artifact. The scene had been created, and WKCR's New Music Department was part of the back bone of its distribution channel to the listening public.

The New Music department also played a role in the establishment of what is known today as the New York Downtown Scene consisting of such composers/performers as John Zorn and Zeena Parkins. Many of Zorn's early compositions, indeed the majority of his Games works, which exhaustively explored the possibilities of improvised music, were recorded in the studios of WKCR.

To this day, an interdependence exists between the new music scene and the radio station. Through live performances and interviews, artists are able to share their latest work with the listening community. Through special broadcasts and focus programs, the history of the new music as well as its most current incarnations are constantly on display for the curious and the connoisseur alike.

In essence, the New Music department is a lifeline for the community. Inspiring artists - Philip Glass used to tune in during his stint as a taxi driver - as well as exposing them, informing listeners as well as challenging them, WKCR remains a unique source for the consistent and focused examination of musical innovation in and beyond New York City.

Afternoon New Music Monday-Wednesday, 3-6pm

Acting upon the wisdom of composer and educator Bill Dixon, our daytime new music programming presents "a constant examination of the best examples". Seminal new music works are featured as part of a focused thematic program, or of an eclectic mix of sounds.

Transfigured Night Tuesday and Thursday, 1-5am, and Saturday, 2-6am

Our infamous overnight explorations into the world of new music, Transfigured Night rewards our late night listeners with a wide range of sounds. The department's longest show (4 hours), it also provides an opportunity to hear extended pieces in their entirety.

Live Constructions Sunday, 9-10pm

This weekly program features a live in-studio performance or a performance pre-recorded specially for the show. Past guests / featured artists include: Merzbow, Solmania, Terry Riley, Flux Information Sciences, Farmer's Manual, Pita, William Hooker, John Zorn, Lois V Vierk.

WKCR News provides a unique take on local, national, and global issues by challenging student reporters to develop alternative and uncompromising approaches to interview, discussion, and reporting in all aspects of the news field. This tradition has its roots in WKCR's award-winning coverage of the Columbia student strike of 1968. The department prides itself on developing creative and in-depth coverage of news stories often overlooked by the major networks.

Youth Mic Hosted by: The Youth Mic Crew Mondays, 9-9:30pm News, debate, poetry, and commentary all coming to you live from high school and middle school students in the NYC area. Youth Mic focuses on issues important to teens and presents a fresh take on the topics that structure our world.

Late City Edition - Tuesday Hosted by: Ishmael Adjetey Osekre, Jason Frazer, Shoshana Schwartz, and Bradley Blackburn. Tuesdays 9:00-9:30 pm

In-depth interviews with news-makers, exploring issues ranging from the local to the global. Rotating hosts each bring their own style and format, but always present topics in a critical and innovative way.

Late City Edition - Thursday Hosted by: Nell Geiser and Rachel Quimby. Thursdays 9:00-9:30 pm

In-depth interviews with news-makers, exploring issues ranging from the local to the global, as well as more focused half-hour programs, dedicated to exploring a particular topic in detail.

News Focus Hosted by: Kris Weiner, Rachel Quimby, Ishmael Adjetey Osekre, Justin Goncalves, Ilene Spitzer, Grace Park, Hannah Temple, Estelle Chan, and Matt Nguyen Weekdays, 5:57-6pm

WKCR News reporters go beyond the headlines to bring you the voices and nuances of an important story each weekday just before Jazz Alternatives.

WKCR-FM is the flagship station of Columbia Lions Sports, broadcasting selected Lions football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, and baseball games throughout the year. The broadcasting schedule varies, depending on athletic competitions.

The Firing Lion Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 pm

A 60-minute panel program featuring views, opinions, and interviews from the world of Columbia, collegiate, and professional sports. Frequent guests include Columbia coaches Bob Shoop and Joe Jones, as well as sports journalists from around the country.