WDCB Listener-Supported Jazz & Blues

05/01/2025

We had a great time at The Jazz Showcase Wednesday night as saxophonist Edwin Daugherty and his quintet played a centennial tribute to Chicago jazz legend Gene Ammons. What a great way to celebrate International Jazz Day in Chicago!

Thanks to all of the musicians as well as everyone who joined us for show. And special thanks to photographer Zech Karunakaran for these excellent photos.

05/01/2025

Thank you to everyone who supported WDCB during our Jazz Day Fundraiser on International Jazz Day! If you were listening yesterday, you heard us pushing hard to meet a $16,000 Match. We didn't make it by 7pm, but we were so close. In fact, with donations that were still coming in from the day's eBlasts we DID make it about 10:30 last night. Yay! Thanks again!

04/30/2025

Happy International Jazz Day! Please support the station that brings you 130+ hours of jazz every week - Today's our Jazz Day Fundraiser, and every contribution is matched! Doubled! Thank you in advance!

04/28/2025

Paul Abella has the scoop on some new music hitting the airwaves in this week's "What's New on WDCB!"

Cyrus Chestnut – Rhythm, Melody and Harmony (High Note) Pianist Cyrus Chestnut returns in 2025 with a new album called Rhythm, Melody and...

04/26/2025

Beginning at 7pm on Saturday April 26th, a live-streamed concert from the Kennedy Center will celebrate the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters. Just click the link: https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/jazz/2024-2025/nea-jazz-masters-2025/ ...and follow the directions on the Kennedy Center page (scroll down to the big image and hit the 'Play' button).

04/21/2025

Paul Abella visits the WDCB Music Lounge with 3 new CD reviews in this week's "What's New on WDCB!"

Bill O’Connell – Touch (JoJo Records) You could be forgiven if you only associate the name Bill O’Connell with WDCB’s h...

04/17/2025

Chicago will say farewell to jazz guitar legend George Freeman (1927-2025) this Saturday afternoon, April 19th with a memorial event at the Logan Center, 915 E. 60th Street in Hyde Park, from 1:30pm – 5:30pm in the Logan Center’s 9th floor performance penthouse.

Freeman is pictured here on stage at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion waving to the crowd after his memorable live WDCB broadcast performance with Mike Allemana during the 2017 Chicago Jazz Festival.

(Photo by Alan Frohlichstein)

04/16/2025

The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival schedule is officially set. The headliners include Mavis Staples and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Check out the full lineup in our Music Lounge!

The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has announced the full lineup and programming highlights for...

04/14/2025

Paul Abella is back in the WDCB Music Lounge with new music! Check out this week's installment of "What's New on WDCB!"

Bob James & Dave Koz – Just Us (Just Koz) Bob James and especially Dave Koz are not names normally associated with straight ahead Jaz...

04/10/2025

We’re excited about “Jazz at the Plex” this Saturday afternoon at Comedy Plex on Lake St in Oak Park - featuring guitarist Tim FitzGerald’s organ trio.
When Greg Dudzienski (pictured here) performed there last month at the Jazz Thaw we realized this relatively new club is a perfect fit for jazz…with excellent acoustics too!
Join us this Saturday at 3pm!

04/07/2025

Paul Abella has 3 new releases to share with you in this week's edition of "What's New on WDCB!"

Artemis – Arboresque (Blue Note) The supergroup Artemis has just released their third album, Arboresque, and their time together really s...

04/04/2025

Congratulations to John Foster - Jazz Institute of Chicago's Managing Director of Programs and Education Initiatives - on being named a 2025 JAZZ HERO by the Jazz Journalists Association. Well deserved!!

The Jazz Journalists Association is pleased to announce its slate of 2025 Jazz Heroes who have impacted their local communities.

04/03/2025

Tonight at 10, Hambone welcomes Harrell "Young Rell" Davenport to the back seat of the Cadillac for a live, in-studio performance. Young Rell plays guitar and harp, & will be joined by Matthew Skoller.

04/03/2025

Thanks Tom Marker, Revolution Brewing, Delmark and FitzGerald’s!
It was an incredible night at FitzGerald’s on Tuesday as we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of WDCB’s “Bluesday Tuesday” with Dave Specter, Jimmy Burns & Sheryl Youngblood providing excellent music, Tom Marker presiding over the festivities and a great crowd of blues lovers and WDCB listeners to share it all with!
Thanks to our photo ace Alan Frohlichstein for capturing these great images.