Blog one column
From full-band recordings to live performances and special events, WICN’s beautiful Studio 50 space is available on an hourly basis. Contact us for details.
Many exceptional jazz musicians who remain outside of wide commercial success, in some cases, have chosen an independent path to be away from the constant physical, emotional, and commercial demands of a touring lifestyle. One such musician, Shirley Horn, would define herself based on her own brilliant piano accompaniment and a remarkably expressive voice, as […]
Within the civil rights struggle against South Africa’s apartheid (1948-1994), the voice of protest had to take many forms. Musically, in representation of political protest, and bringing worldwide attention to racial and societal injustice, South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer Hugh Masekela has been described as “the father of South African jazz.” […]
You can stream this year’s Women’s History Month concert in full at your convenience! The show featured wonderful tributes to Anita Baker and Nina Simone, with a dynamite band backing vocalists Sympli Whitney and Valerie Stephens. Colors of Jazz host Bonnie Johnson put together this incredible lineup and emcees the concert. Hey Rim Jeon […]
Each jazz instrument has its history of legendary players. Think Miles on the trumpet; Coltrane on the sax; Monk at the piano. There are many such superb musicians who are universally revered for their craftsmanship and innovation. When it comes to jazz drummers, as well as a bandleader, Roy Haynes had an oversized reach of […]
Close friendships between jazz musicians don’t always translate to a combination that creates a chemistry and bond, professionally and personally. Yet in the case of David “Fathead” Newman and R&B giant and bandleader Ray Charles, their friendship connected them to a decade-long musical relationship from which the most seminal work of Charles’s career was recorded. Both […]
by Tom Lucci, Host, Standard Time, Mondays 3-6pm and WICN Board Member Nearly 500 enthusiastic jazz fans gathered at Jazz Congress 2025 on January 8 and 9 at the Jazz at Lincoln Center complex overlooking New York’s Central Park. Among them were yours truly, WICN Standard Time host Tom Lucci and Image Archivist Kofi Poku, […]
Support for WICN comes from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. “Making more arts and creativity possible through the power of collective giving. Learn how you can help make more possible at greaterworcester.org/more.”
Melba Liston, a self-taught trombonist, arranger, and composer, represented one of the first mainstream gender breakthroughs in the 1940s after she stepped onstage with legendary bandleaders like Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. As a female jazz musician, Liston would face the inherent challenges of a male-dominated stage and recording industry in the genre. The “on-the-road” […]
WICN Hosts: 2024 Best-Of Lists Tom Nutile’s Top 12: As a lifelong reader of jazz magazines, who notes with interest their top ten lists, their five-star reviews, and who pays attention to the JazzWeek charts when planning my weekly Standard Time show on WICN, I have come to realize that all these lists mean… very […]