Jim Wilke is the host of Jazz NW and Jazz After Hours. Both shows are heard weekly on KPLU.
Jazz NW
Jazz Northwest focuses on the regional jazz scene from Portland to Vancouver. CDs by the best resident musicians from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver are featured, and the program also includes news about the best places to go for live jazz in the region. In addition, Jim goes "on location" to concerts, clubs and jazz festivals to record performances by resident and visiting artists for playback on Jazz Northwest. These one-of-a-kind recordings are available nowhere else!
Host Jim Wilke is a professional recording engineer and writer in addition to his radio programs which include "Jazz After Hours" on Public Radio International, heard nationwide since 1984.
Coming up on Jazz Northwest:
Greg Williamson A-Y-P Large Ensemble (photo by Daniel Sheehan)
Greg Williamson conducting from the drums (photo by Daniel Sheehan)
A concert mash-up celebrating the Centennial of the first Seattle World's Fair, the 1909 A-Y-P Exposition is featured on the next Jazz Northwest. Highlights from the concert premiere will air on 88.5 KPLU and kplu.org on Sunday, March 7 at 1 PM Pacific Time.
The 16 member band led by Greg Wiiliamson with singer Greta Matassa recreate some of the music from 100 years ago that was performed at the fair, and morphs into references to Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, swing, boogaloo and modern jazz. There are moments when several musical threads are played simultaneously a la Charles Ives in a kind of musical time machine. Some period instruments were used and photographs from the A-Y-P were projected as a backdrop on stage.
This concert was recorded at the premiere performance at the Triple Door during the 2009 Earshot Jazz Festival. The music was recently given a second performance at the 2010 Golden Ear Awards also at the Triple Door.
Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced exclusively for 88.5 KPLU and kplu.org. The program airs on Sundays at 1 PM Pacific Time and a podcast is available after the airdate from kplu.org. More info at ponyboyrecords.com..
Click here to view and listen to past Jazz NW concerts
Jazz After Hours Jazz After Hours is a late night jazz radio show hosted by Jim Wilke heard Friday and Saturday nights across the U.S. and parts of Canada since 1984. Like the last set at a jazz club, the mood is mellow but not without surprises. New and well-established jazz artists drop in for a chat, and the music ranges from latest releases to jazz classics. There's news of tours, festivals and clubs - the best places to hear live jazz. Click here for more information
