WKCR presents a 126-hour long Phil Schaap tribute broadcast, beginning 6pm Tuesday February 1st and running continuously for five full days through midnight, Sunday February 6.
Phil passed away on September 7, 2021 at the age of 70. For over 50 years he was the guiding light and spiritual leader of jazz programming at our radio station. His death affected us all dearly, but we have gathered ourselves to honor him the way he taught us to do for all jazz luminaries, with a long running in depth radio broadcast.
The Tribute will touch on all aspects of Phil’s career, but especially his radio broadcasts. As the cornerstone of the Tribute, we will be playing Phil’s most popular shows from the WKCR archives, such as Traditions In Swing, Birthday Broadcasts, Phil’s interviews with jazz legends, Bird Flight, Out To Lunch, and excerpts from our Festivals. The program will also feature some of Phil’s contributions to other aspects of the jazz community, as an educator, record producer, sound engineer, record vault researcher, concert producer at the West End Cafe, and so much more. We will play representative musical selections to acknowledge these many activities. Furthermore, the program will allow us to reminisce in tempo to include interviews with figures from the jazz world, panel discussions with WKCR colleagues from across the decades, testimonials from listeners, and other features.
Tune into 89.9 FM NY and stream on wkcr.org to join us in the celebration.
Programming Schedule: (Please note all times are approximate)
TUESDAY 2/1
6:00 PM: Jazz Alternatives with Sharif Abdus-Salaam from 9/16/2021, where Phil Schaap is interviewed by Sharif Abdus-Salaam
9:00 PM: Jazz Profiles 50th Anniversary, originally broadcast 2/2/2020
WEDNESDAY 2/2
12:00 AM: Bird Flight from 12/7/2017, Phil explores Charlie Parker's first issued records, the Decca singles of Jay McShann and His Orchestra.
1:15 AM: Bird Flight from 8/2/2018, Phil explores the recordings of the June 22, 1945 Town Hall concert that featured Diz and Bird.
2:45 AM: WKCR DJ Sam Seliger plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
5:00 AM: Bird Flight from 3/27/2018, this show begins a series focusing on Charlie Parker's working band, the Golden Era BeBop 5, and the recordings of their broadcasts from the Royal Roost in 1948 and 1949.
6:20 AM: Bird Flight from 4/3/2018, this show continues a series focusing on Charlie Parker's working band, the Golden Era BeBop 5, and the recordings of their broadcasts from the Royal Roost in 1948 and 1949.
7:40 AM: Bird Flight from 12/1/2014, part one of a Bird Flight pair focusing on the relationship between Bird and fellow Bop alto saxophonist Sonny Criss. Their performance of "Liza" recorded June 16, 1952, at The Tradewinds, Inglewood, C.A., is explored.
9:00 AM: Bird Flight from 12/3/2014, part two of a Bird Flight pair focusing on the relationship between Bird and fellow Bop alto saxophonist Sonny Criss. Their performance of "Liza" recorded June 16, 1952, at The Tradewinds, Inglewood,C.A., is explored.
10:30 AM: Matthew Rivera interviews Phil Schaap, intermixed with some recordings Phil produced
12:00 PM: Out to Lunch from 1/21/2013, Phil celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by playing the earliest integrated Jazz records.
3:30 PM: Festival Archival featuring Howard McGhee
5:00 PM: Festival Archival featuring Earle Warren
6:00 PM: Festival Archival featuring Roy Eldridge
6:30 PM: Traditions in Swing from 10/28/2017, the first in a 16 part series of shows covering the complete recorded works of tenor saxophonist Leon "Chu" Berry, with the solos excerpted and recordings played in best sound.
9:30 PM: Matthew Rivera interviews bandleader and bassist Vince Giordano.
10:30 PM: Phil Schaap, a retrospective: Part 1. Join WKCR alumni Sharif Abdus-Salaam, Elliot Bratton, Mitch Goldman, William Goldberg, Sid Gribetz, Eddie Karp, Jamie Katz, Cliff Preiss, and Ed Scarvalone for a conversation reflecting on the life and work of Phil Schaap.
THURSDAY 2/3
12:30 AM: WKCR DJ Maria Shaughnessy plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
3:00 AM: Bird Flight from 11/17/2010, the first of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
4:20 AM: Bird Flight from 11/18/2010, the second of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
5:40 AM: Bird Flight from 11/19/2010, the third of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
7:00 AM: Bird Flight from 11/23/2010, the fourth of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
8:20 AM: Bird Flight from 11/24/2010, the fifth of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
9:40 AM: Bird Flight from 11/29/2010, the last of a six part series on the Norman Granz record date of early spring 1949 which produced recordings of "Cardboard" and "Visa".
11:00 AM: Selected listener and alumni tributes to Phil, intermixed with recordings produced by Phil
11:30 AM: Out to Lunch from 2/29/2016, Phil presents a show on soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's earliest record dates as a leader.
2:45 PM: Festival Archival, in anticipation of the Billie Holiday Centennial Broadcast, Phil explores the early recordings of one of her most important influences, Ethel Waters.
6:00 PM: Traditions in Swing from 5/6/2017, the first of a five part series on the complete recordings of Herschel Evans, tenor saxophonist in the original Count Basie Orchestra, with a focus on the items on which he is featured.
9:10 PM: Sid Gribetz interviews drummer Kenny Washington
10:10 PM: Phil Schaap, a retrospective: Part 2. Join WKCR alumni Paul Burkey, Mitch Goldman, Charles Iselin, Cliff Preiss, Matthew Rivera, and Stephen Seliger for a conversation reflecting on the life and work of Phil Schaap.
FRIDAY 2/4
12:00 AM: WKCR DJ Schuyler Rabbin-Birnbaum plays recordings produced by Phil Schaap, Schuyler will be playing two Duke Ellington Reissues: “Ellington at Newport 1956” and “Such Sweet Thunder.”
3:00 AM: WKCR DJ Matthew Rivera plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
6:00 AM: WKCR DJ Ed Scarvalone plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
9:00 AM: WKCR DJ Paul Burkey plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap, Paul will be playing Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall and the 9/18/49 Jazz at the Philharmonic concert 12:00 PM: WKCR DJ Charles Iselin plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap, Charles will be playing Louis Armstrong Hot fives and sevens recordings.
3:00 PM: WKCR DJ Sid Gribetz plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap, Sid will be presenting the Benny Carter Verve reissues, Jimmy Rushing, and "Bird at the Roost."
6:00 PM: WKCR DJ Cliff Preiss plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap, Cliff will be playing the reissues of Flip Phillips and Machito and his Orchestra, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Lester Young With The Oscar Peterson Trio, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Johnny Hodges, and Kenny Kersey.
9:00 PM: WKCR DJ Cliff Preiss will be presenting a special “Live at the West End” recording, which originally aired 3/29/1985
9:35 PM: “Live from The West End” - WKCR DJ Josh Kazali plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap including Benny Waters, Earle Warren and the Count’s Men, plus Phil produced “Jazz Session 45s”
SATURDAY 2/5
12:00 AM: Former WKCR Classical Director and guest DJ Louise Dubin shares stories about Phil Schaap and plays four Charlie Parker tracks produced by Phil.
12:25 AM: Eddie Karp interviews Billy Banks
1:00 AM: TBA
2:15 AM: WKCR DJ Schuyler Rabbin-Birnbaum plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
5:00 AM: Bird Flight from 7/08/2011, the first of a four part series on the first edition of Charlie Parker with Strings and its influences.
6:10 AM: Bird Flight from 7/15/2011, the second of a four part series on the first edition of Charlie Parker with Strings and its influences.
7:30 AM: Bird Flight from 7/20/2011, the third of a four part series on the first edition of Charlie Parker with Strings and its influences.
8:50 AM: Bird Flight from 7/21/2011, the last of a four part series on the first edition of Charlie Parker with Strings and its influences.
10:10 AM: Selected listener and alumni tributes to Phil, intermixed with recordings produced by Phil
11:00 AM: Phil Schaap, a retrospective: Part 3. Join WKCR alumni Kevin Costa, Martin Johnson, and Loren Schoenberg for a conversation reflecting on the life and work of Phil Schaap. 12:00 PM: Out to Lunch from 1/2/2017, for the first Out To Lunch of 2017, Phil celebrates the music of pianist and composer Herbie Nichols on the day before his 98th birthday.
3:15 PM: Festival Archival from 3/9/2019, on this edition of the Birthday Broadcast, Phil presents the earliest live and studio recordings of Ornette Coleman.
6:45 PM: Traditions in Swing 6/30/2018, Phil explores the innovative and great early arrangements for the saxophone section by Benny Carter on record.
10:00 PM: Traditions in Swing from 11/3/2018, Phil pays tribute to the pioneering bassist Jimmie Blanton on the 79th anniversary of his joining Duke Ellington's orchestra and a few weeks after his centennial.
SUNDAY 2/6
1:15 AM: WKCR DJ Amiri Tulloch plays selected recordings produced by Phil Schaap
4:00 AM: Bird Flight from 1/4/2016, the first of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
5:10 AM: Bird Flight from 1/8/2016, the second of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
6:10 AM: Bird Flight from 1/13/2016, the third of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
7:30 AM: Bird Flight from 1/15/2016, the fourth of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
8:50 AM: Bird Flight from 1/19/2016, the fifth of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
10:05 AM: Bird Flight from 1/22/2016, the last of a six part series on the famed concert at Massey Hall given May 15, 1953. This show provides an overview of the concert.
11:25 AM: Eddie Karp interviews Jim Eigo
12:00 PM: Out to Lunch from 6/20/2011, Phil on Bill Challis
2:40 PM: Out to Lunch from 2/15/2016, in an annual tradition, Phil plays the music of The President on President's Day, this time presenting the evolution of Lester Young's style over his recorded career.
5:50 PM: Traditions in Swing from 9/6/2017, in the first in a series of shows focusing on the early dawn of recorded Jazz, Phil features the music of the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band.
9:05 PM: To close out the Phil Schaap Tribute Broadcast, listen to tracks selected by our alumni which celebrate the life of Phil Schaap.
