Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation. Jazz has roots in European harmony and African rhythmic rituals. Charles Mingus, Jr. Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz double bassist, pianist, composer, and bandleader. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered ...

My Balagan with Kevin Gallagher is heavy on the ’60s & ’70s, new artists, Boogie Blues, Blues-Rock, Alt-country, Folk, Funk, Acid Jazz, World Music and Latin Jazz. Drop-in every other Monday 4-7 pm for musical meanderings with Kevin Gallagher. He’ll drop the bucket down WPKN’s musical well and see what he drags up. “I know where things will start out, but I’m never quite sure where we’ll end up. It’s all about playing any kind of music that fires me up, with the occasional Interview thrown in”. -Kevin On My Balagan, Kevin talks with Musicians, pundits, and activists. Learn More Listen on Soundcloud ...

Playing the music takes priority. However, I attempt to include anecdotal and historical information about the music. I also try to provide enough information on each item, especially on new releases, so the listener can order it. I don’t direct the listener to any particular vendor. Bob has defined WPKNs blues for decades. Learn More

My Soul: From Me to You with Cheryl Magoveny airs on the 2nd Saturday of every month at 4 PM. You can expect to hear Soul, Singer-Songwriter, Funk, Jazz, Country, Blues, Classical, and anything that sparks my interest when preparing a playlist. I have been on the air at WPKN since September 2018. I served on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer, and I volunteer for special committees when needed. I am inspired by WPKN in many ways. Most of all, in the way WPKN allows its programmers the freedom to explore and take full control of their show’s content. I am greatly impressed by ...

Morning Maniac Music with host David Golden. Sundays, 10 AM – 1 PM; Imagine a friendly audio diner serving a specialty sandwich of jazz & jam, with a free-form garnish. The daily playlist is posted in real-time on TWITTER & SPINITRON (except for live, in-studio performances). I’ve served on various station boards and committees, hosted a bunch of live music, and hopefully kept you company. Bring your favorite mug and hang out. Learn More Listen on Soundcloud

WPKN Sunday Brunch Concert with host David Golden. Sundays, 1 – 2 PM. NOTE: Due to Covid-19, out of an abundance of safety concerns, we’re not hosting live performers in the studio for the time being. Until we can do so, we’re presenting a variety of recorded concert performances. I’ve served on various station boards and committees, hosted a bunch of live music, and hopefully kept you company. Bring your favorite mug and hang out. Learn More

The Jazz Sound is hosted by Rick Petrone who plays mostly Jazz recordings from the ’40s to the present. He also presents interviews with Jazz Artists. A professional musician for 50+ years, Petrone was in charge of Stamford station WJAZ 96.7 from 1980-92. It was a 24/7 Commercial jazz station with all programming by Petrone. Today, Petrone can be heard from every Monday afternoon from 1 to 4 pm. Rick Petrone is a bassist who has been active in jazz since the 1960s. Learn More Listen on Soundcloud

Harry Minot with Harry Minot airs on the fourth Wednesdays from 4 to 6:50 pm. The show will bring you the music you'll love from blues to jazz, classical to R&B. Harry Minot was WPKN’s General Manager from 1978 to 2008. Prior to that, he had been a Producer at Compton Advertising on NYC’s fabled Madison Avenue, and before that had begun his broadcasting career at WLAD/Danbury CT. Learn More

Afternoon Jazz airs Tuesdays, 1-4 PM with Lisa Sahulka. It is mostly Duke & Monk-ish, and Manfred Eicher’s ECM record label, and always jazz from 1900 forward. As a young person, I walked into WPKN and was accepted into this wonderful, sometimes eccentric, but endlessly interesting community. Had I not met Harry Minot when I did, my musical taste, which now angles toward Duke Ellington, would be much less interesting, and so too my life. WPKN taught me that jazz is more than music, and radio is far more than programming- it is a tapestry. This is Harry’s thought, but I know he won’t mind me borrowing ...

My Other Music (MOM) with Joseph Celli is a wide-ranging interest in Western classical, R&B, experimental & avant-garde, Cajun, Latin, and the whole history of American Jazz. YES! The whole history from early 20th century to new explorations in improvisation. Joseph Celli is an American musician and composer specializing in contemporary and improvised music for oboe and English horn. In addition, he plays the Yamaha WX7 MIDI breath controller, as well as double reed instruments from several Asian cultures, including the Korean hojok and piri, and the Indian mukha vina. His early training was as a jazz saxophonist which allowed him to work his way through ...