Jazz radio stations are evolving (or not) to keep up with the unfolding of new music in the genre while navigating the commercial pressures of streaming services. A panel of jazz radio leaders will discuss recent trends, challenges, and successes in the world of jazz radio in the digital age. Featuring WRTI’s Josh Jackson, Keanna Faircloth (Artimacy Podcast and NPR), Matt Fleeger (KMHD, Portland’s Jazz Radio), Darek Mazzone (KEXP Seattle), and moderated by WRTI/NPR’s Nate Chinen.
ABOUT: Keanna Faircloth (a.k.a. “K. Charles”) is entering her 20th year as a radio on-air talent. She served as the host of Afternoon Jazz on WBGO 88.3 FM in Newark, NJ. While at WBGO, Keanna created and produced the widely acclaimed interview series, The Pulse. Most recently, she has signed on with Yamaha as the Artist and Media Relations Manager for jazz and classical piano. In 2018 she created the podcast, Artimacy, which she describes as a platform, “where art and intimacy meet.” The podcast is a two-hour program that spotlights music from Jazz to Soul, and beyond, and features artist interviews airing every Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm ET on DC Radio 96.3 HD4 and online at www.dcradio.gov. In years previous, Keanna was an on-air host at WPFW, and could also be heard on Urban One, NPR, and WHUT. During this time, she co-created a YouTube series called “…It Was All a Dream,” where she interviewed artists like Christian McBride, Robert Glasper, and Anthony David among others. As a result of her work, DCTV signed her as the host of Studio 901.
The culmination of her work led to her being named a “Future African American Leader in Radio” by Radio Ink Magazine in 2019. To date she has amassed literally hundreds of interviews and hosted festivals both nationally and internationally– from the DC Jazz Festival to the NYC Winter JazzFest, to JazzFest Berlin. She has been featured in national publications such as The New York Times, and has had her writing published by NPR Music. Currently, you can hear her as a contributor on NPR’s New Music Friday edition of All Songs Considered, and as the newest voice of the music segment on NPR’s Here and Now.
ABOUT: Josh Jackson is the Associate General Manager for programming and content at WRTI. He began his radio career at WWOZ in New Orleans, worked as a production assistant at American Routes, and moved to New York to become the associate producer of Jazz From Lincoln Center with Ed Bradley. Josh was formerly the vice president of content at WBGO and the program director of Virginia’s statewide network of NPR news and music stations.
He was the founding producer of the multi-platform concert series Live at the Village Vanguard and The Checkout: Live, a concert experience for the hourly music magazine he created, The Checkout. His efforts in multimedia production led to the creation of NPR’s Jazz Night in America.
At WRTI, he was the producing partner with JazzDanmark for the 2021 Dangerous Sounds podcast.
Josh is a two-time recipient of the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Broadcasting. He calls Philadelphia home, since that’s where he listens to vinyl records and makes radio shows in his Mount Airy basement.
The 2023 Winter Jazzfest JAZZ TALKS series is presented in partnership with Jazz At Lincoln Center.
National Jazz Museum in Harlem
We are your go-to venue for off-site meetings, receptions, film screenings, workshops, networking events, socials and more. Located in the heart of Central Harlem’s thriving culinary and entertainment district, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem is the perfect place to hold your next gathering.