Chicago Jazz Radio Stations
How Fans of Classic Jazz Music Can Find it in the Windy City
Sep 2, 2008
Chicago is a legendary city when it comes to jazz music. Not only have there been many legendary jazz musicians that have come through the city, but the city has been known for producing some classic jazz albums through classic jazz record labels.
Despite being the place where the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker spent time and recorded classic records and played memorable concerts, these days the state of jazz in Chicago is rather grim.
The Early Days of Jazz Radio in Chicago
In the first few years of radio and when radio began making the shift from shows to all-music, there was no breakdown in the styles of music. Rock and roll played on the same stations as Frank Sinatra and jazz and other forms of music. Chicago had classic radio stations such as WLS and WGN, which were heard, at times, all across the country.
As the 1970s dawned, however, radio itself began to change. The growth of FM radio caused people to start dividing their music and their radio stations. Popular music even began to be divided into pop, alternative, rock and roll and such. Jazz was a victim of that kind of division and none more so than in Chicago.
Famous Chicago Jazz Radio Station WBEZ
Before too long, jazz was confined to radio stations at the far-left side of the radio dial, known for being the location of non-commercial radio. This is normally reserved for public radio and radio stations run by local universities and schools. Jazz was a safe alternative for various schools who often found rock and roll potentially offensive and classical too risky with strange composure names.
In Chicago, the prominent public radio station is WBEZ. The publicly funded radio station is the Chicago station for National Public Radio. For many years it would broadcast various news and other programs and then reserve its night-time programming for all music and that music was all jazz.
Over the years, Chicago’s jazz fan base dwindled, but they remained a loyal and passionate audience. However, they were becoming such a small number that, in 2007, WBEZ decided to discontinue its music programming and put on more news-related programming.
Chicago’s jazz fans were outraged and attempted to stage an outcry and protest, but there just weren’t enough of them to prevent the change.
Suburban Radio Station WDCB
This has left only one radio station within the Chicago area that still plays classic jazz such as Miles Davis, Count Basie and Charlie Parker. The station is WDCB, located in northwest suburban DuPage County. They are located on the campus of the College of DuPage and exist entirely by corporate donations and listener subscriptions.
Despite being on a college campus, the radio station is not staffed entirely by students. Students do run and work in various office positions, but the on-air staff is entirely paid and professional within the radio industry.
Throughout the day the program known as “All Things Jazz” runs. Classic jazz cuts are played with deep knowledge of the recordings and albums given by the DJs. In the evenings and during the weekends, the programming expands to other forms of music, news and community events.
Conclusions for Chicago Jazz Fans
In Chicago, those who prefer listening to classic jazz music instead of smooth jazz have limited options, but there are options. There are many online selections and even WDCB, since it is located so far into the suburbs, has forced many to either listen to poorly-tuned signals in their cars or via the internet.
Choices exist for fans of the genre within the Windy City, but it takes work. It also, unfortunately, takes an internet connection, which leaves many fans feeling a bit alienated.
