OnAir October 2023

ON AIR

WKCR 89.9 FM

October 2023 Vol. xxii, No. 10

OnAir · October 2023

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WKCR 89.9 FM Station Manager Ale Díaz-Pizarro stationmanager@wkcr.org Program Director Maria Shaughnessy programming@wkcr.org Director of Operations Zachary Vanderslice operations@wkcr.org Student Life Director Ted Schmiedeler studentlife@wkcr.org Publicity Director Georgia Dillane publicity@wkcr.org Jazz Heads Tanvi Krishnamurthy & Satch Peterson jazz@wkcr.org New Music Head Razvan Matei newmusic@wkcr.org Classical Head Melisa Nehrozoglu classical@wkcr.org American Head McKenna Roberts american@wkcr.org In All Languages Head Ann Vettikkal ial@wkcr.org Latin Head Leni Bryan latin@wkcr.org News & Arts Head Josh Kazali news@wkcr.org Sports Head August Phillips sports@wkcr.org

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Dear Listeners, Don't be fooled by this slimmer issue of OnAir: October is a heavyweight month at WKCR. For starters, it's our birthday! Though WKCR has been octogenarian since 2021, we turn 82 this year— and what better way to celebrate an 82nd birthday than 24 hours of Thelonious Monk? Born on October 10th, 1917, Monk shares a birthday with our station, a beloved and all-too-fitting coincidence.

That's not the only birthday coincidence this month: in this issue, you'll find articles about jazz great Pharoah Sanders and qawwali legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, both born October 13th.

Selecting birthday broadcasts is difficult (if we had one for every artist who deserved it, we would never have any regular programming!), but while these two musicians do not have 24 hours this month, they are celebrated within these pages (and, in Sanders' case, in a reduced form on our airwaves).

Who you can expect to hear for 24 hours, however, is no less impressive: traditions old and new, in the shape of Clifford Brown and Fela Kuti broadcasts, are joined by a day to celebrate salsa queen Celia Cruz, on this month's cover. And I would be remiss not to mention Ragas Live, the round-the-clock Indian classical festival in Red Hook, Brooklyn, that got started at WKCR and which we have the exclusive privilege of broadcasting every year.

Nothing I can add here would do justice to what's in store for this month (and that's without mentioning our regular programming), so suffice it to say that you'll want to keep your dial tuned to 89.9 all this month.

Happy Listening!

Alejandra Díaz-Pizarro Station Manager Cover photo from Library of Congress archives.

Mailing Address

CONTACT US

2920 Broadway General Inquiries: board@wkcr.org New York, NY 10027 Listener Line: 212-854-9920 USA ©Copyright 2023 WKCR FM NYC

This Month OnAir The Promise of Pharoah Sanders . . . page 4

Weekly Schedule . . . page 6

Special Broadcasts & Themed Shows . . . page 8

Show Listings for WKCR Listeners . . . page 10

Around the Station: Songs of the Summer

. . . page 12

King of Qawwali . . . page 14

Support WKCR . . . page 15

OnAir · October 2023

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FEATURE PIECE

The Promise of Pharoah Sanders

F

by Ian Pumphrey

or something as magical as Promises, it seems nearly intimidating to dive into its deep, spiritual beauty without being well-versed in the genius of jazz-great and tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (born Ferrell Lee Sanders).

I don’t have that knowledge. What I do know, however, is that the piano motif that starts Promises (and guides it) hooked me immediately.

Sam Shepherd, better known as Floating Points, selects a sparse arrangement of notes that sets an unforgettable tone of wonder and mystery.

This atmosphere of dreamlike ascension builds when Sanders’ sax dances around the repetition of notes from Shepherd.

Sanders plays just as minimally and carefully as Shepherd does, an in-tune collaboration from two brilliant minds of sound. Through each of the nine movements, we hear various instruments come in and out of the beautiful conversation of saxophone and piano building between Shepherd and Sanders. Harpsichords, synthesizers, keyboards, organs, and even Sanders’ voice are used but never preserved. Oftentimes, this amalgamation of instruments will build and build until it all dies down, back into the

4 OnAir · October 2023

wistful backbone of the arpeggiated motif, never straying away from its beginning.

Promises seems to reach its collaborative crux on “Movement 6” when we listen to all three collaborators: Sanders and his masterful saxophone techniques, Shepherd’s continued atmosphere of synthesizer and piano, and the sweeping, grandiose sounds of the London Symphony Orchestra.

When listening to this particular movement, it’s hard to deny the pure stroke of genius that Promises displays: the piece culminates with an achingly beautiful intensity that, as always through the album, is committed to Shepherd’s introductory sequence of notes.

After the album’s cathartic crescendo, Sanders’ tenor sax continues to guide the seventh movement in a fit of transcendent instrumentation before ultimately leaving Promises­–both an instrumental and a symbolic departure, as this album would be his last before his passing on September 24th, 2022.

The last two movements that end Promises distinguish themselves by their compositions.

The continual motif dies out in a towering, transcendent fury of organs in the eighth movement. What’s left for the ninth movement

is an understated conclusion of tension from the London Symphony Orchestra followed by roughly 40 seconds of silence, a powerful conclusion for Sanders’ musical career.

It feels numbingly trite to call Promises an experience more than an album, but it seems like that’s exactly what it's meant to be. It defies definition and, because of that, I’m often haunted by it. More simply, it’s something I’ve never heard before. But most of all, Promises is a historical moment in music not only because of its timing relative to Pharoah Sanders’ death, but also because it so accurately displays the brilliance of the jazz maestro’s transcendent talent.

Pharoah Sanders & Floating Points in the studio, recording Promises.

This October 13th, 2023, would have been Pharoah Sanders' 83rd birthday.

On Friday, October 13th, Out to Lunch (12p,-3pm) and Jazz Alternatives (6pm9pm) will be dedicated to his work.

Left to right: Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders.

OnAir · October 2023

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5:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNE

Jazz ‘til Dawn (cont’d)

Daybreak

Field Trip

8:00 am 9:00 am

Amazing Grace

Monday Morningside

10:00 am 11:00 am

Cereal Music

The Moonshine Show

12:00 pm 1:00 pm The Tennessee Border Show

Out to Lunch

2:00 pm

Sin Fro

3:00 pm 4:00 pm 5:00 pm

Sunday Profiles

Afternoon New Music

6:00 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 pm 9:00 pm 10:00 pm 11:00 pm 12:00 am 1:00 am 2:00 am

Raag Aur Taal SoundStage Live Constructions Back in the USSR The Celtic Show

Free Samples Caribe Latino Urbano Latinx

News + Arts P Honky Tonkin’

Nueva C

Tuesday’s Just as Bad

Som do

Night Train

Transfigur

Coordinated Universal Time

3:00 am 4:00 am

Jazz Alte

Phil Lives

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Transfigured Night

ESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Transfigured Night (cont’d)

k Express

Sounds of Asia

5:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am 8:00 am 9:00 am

Birdflight Eastern Standard Time Early Music

10:00 am 11:00 am 12:00 pm

Across 110th Street

Out to Lunch

onteras

2:00 pm

Something Inside of Me

Bach Hour

Programming

Canción

o Brasil

red Night

Hobo’s Lullaby

Middle Eastern Influences

Sonidos Colombianos

Saturday Night at the Opera 11:00 pm 12:00 am

The Mambo Machine

Transfigured Night

8:00 pm

10:00 pm

Notes From Underground Offbeat

7:00 pm

9:00 pm

Workaround The African Show

5:00 pm 6:00 pm

Traditions in Swing

ernatives

3:00 pm 4:00 pm

Afternoon Classical

Extended Technique

1:00 pm

El Sonido de la Calle

1:00 am 2:00 am 3:00 am 4:00 am

Jazz ‘til Dawn

OnAir · October 2023

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Special Broadcasts BIRTHDAY BROADCASTS Thelonious Monk

Tuesday, October 10th, all day

Many compositions from the pen of Thelonious Monk have made it into the songbook of standards.

Monk composed over 70 known tunes, almost all of which are just as distinctive, making him the second most recorded “jazz” composer after Duke Ellington.

Ragas Live

Saturday, October 14th, 8pm - Sunday, October 15th, 8pm

Our most unique yearly special will return this month with a whole new lineup of incredible musicians from all over the world. The festival, which started many years ago in our very studios, is broadcast live from Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. More information and tickets can be found at ragaslive.com.

Fela Kuti

Monday, October 16th, all day

A day after his October 15th birthday, WKCR is thrilled to bring back legendary afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, the newest addition to our annual birthday lineup.

Celia Cruz

Saturday, October 21st, all day

Join us for an electrifying 24-hour birthday broadcast as we celebrate the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. From her timeless hits to rare recordings and interviews, we'll honor the indomitable spirit and musical legacy of this iconic artist. Don't miss this salsa extravaganza!

Clifford Brown

Monday, October 30th, all day

Born in 1930, in Wilmington, DE, Clifford Brown's extraordinary trumpet artistry captivated audiences worldwide. Despite his tragically short life, he left an indelible mark with his brilliant improvisations and influential compositions. Join us in celebrating the enduring influence of this virtuoso on the world of jazz. From his early days with Lionel Hampton to his iconic collaborations with Max Roach, we'll explore the remarkable journey of Clifford Brown through his music.

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SUNDAY PROFILES Sundays 2:00-7:00 PM

Steve Reich

October 1st, 2:00 - 7:00 PM Host: Casey Lamb

Labeled: Black Saint Records October 8th, 2:00 - 7:00 PM

Hosts: Steve Mandel and J Cohn

Ernie Henry

October 22nd, 2:00 - 7:00 PM Host: Sid Gribetz

The Fishmans

October 29th, 2:00 - 7:00 PM Host: Ian Pumphrey

LIVE CONSTRUCTIONS Sundays 10-11pm Ghais Guevara - October 1st, 10-11pm Moderate Rock - October 8th, 10-11pm Dead Tooth - October 15th, 10-11pm Pell - October 22nd, 10-11pm

FREE SAMPLES Mondays 9-10pm Host: Ted Schmiedeler

The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest (10/2) The Blueprint - Jay-Z (10/9) Piñata - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib (10/23)

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE OPERA Saturdays 9:00 PM-12:30 AM Host: Ale Díaz-Pizarro

Giuseppe Verdi Birthday October 7th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Luciano Pavarotti Birthday October 14th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Guillaume Tell (Rossini)

October 28th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Show Listings

JAZZ

Daybreak Express, weekdays 5-8:20am Out to Lunch, weekdays 3-6pm Jazz Alternatives, weekdays 6-9pm These three programs comprise the core of our jazz offerings. Programming consists of everything from New Orleans jazz, jazz age, swing era, bebop, hard-bop, modal, free, and avant-garde. In short, you’ll encounter the entire range of recorded jazz on these programs.

Hosts rotate from day-to-day, offering an exciting variety of approaches, some of which include thematic presentation, artist interviews, or artist profiles Birdflight, Tues.-Fri. 8:20-9:30am Archival programs from the late Phil Schaap, one of the world’s leading jazz historians, who hosted this daily forum for the music of Charlie Parker for about 40 years.

Traditions in Swing, Sat. 6-9pm Archival programs hosted by the late Phil Schaap, this award-winning Saturday night staple presents focused thematic programs dealing with jazz up until about World War II. Schaap presents the music, much of it incredibly rare, from the best sound source, which is often the original 78 issue.

Phil Lives*, Mon. 3-5am This overnight show features archival broadcasts of longform programs from late NEA Jazz Master Phil Schaap.

CLASSICAL Cereal Music, Mon.-Thurs. 9:30am-12pm An entirely open-ended classical show to start your weekdays. Tune in to hear the most eclectic mix of classical music on the New York airwaves!

The Early Music Show, Fri. 9:30am-12pm Dedicated primarily to European medieval, Renaissance, and baroque music, all from before 1800 (±50 years).

Extended Technique*, Wed. & Thurs. 3-6pm WKCR’s first interdepartmental show (in the New Music and Classical departments) dedicated to contemporary classical music. You’ll hear everything from 12-tone and minimalist compositions to film and video game scores, and all things in between.

Afternoon Classical, Fri. 3-6pm.

Similar to Cereal Music, most of Afternoon Classical has no restrictions on what type of classical music to play.

The last hour of the show, however, is dedicated fully to the music of JS Bach.

Saturday Night at the Opera, Sat. 9pm-12:30am.

One of NYC’s longest running opera shows, Saturday Night at the Opera is a 3.5 hour show that allows operas to be played in their entirety, with room for commentary, descriptions, and some history.

NEW MUSIC Afternoon New Music, Mon. & Tues. 3-6pm Our daytime new music program features a wide variety of music that challenges boundaries and subverts categorizations. Shows include everything from seminal new music compositions to the most challenging of obscure deep cuts and new releases.

Transfigured Night, Tues./Thurs./Sat. 1-5am Our overnight explorations into the world of new music, Transfigured Night rewards our late night listeners with a wide range of sounds and experimental music.

Workaround*, Fri. 9-10pm WKCR presents live DJ sets from Columbia students and local artists.

Live Constructions, Sun. 10-11pm This weekly program features a live in-studio performance or a performance pre-recorded specially for the show.

AMERICAN Honky Tonkin’, Tues. 10-11pm One of WKCR’s longest-running American music programs, Honky Tonkin’ lands in the harder side of Country music. Emphasizing the greatest voices in the genre, Honky Tonkin’ is a country music dance party every Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s Just as Bad, Tues. 11pm - Wed. 1am Tuesday’s Just as bad explores the world of blues prior to World War II. Shows weave their way through the first decades of recorded music history and turn to the postwar years in the final half hour.

* Indicates show was created after January 2022

OnAir · October 2023

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LISTINGS FOR LISTENERS Night Train, Wed. 1-5am All aboard! One of our two overnight programs in the American department, Night Train rolls through the postwar R&B and soul tradition, from the genre’s emergence in the 1940’s and 50’s through the funk revolution in the 1970’s. Shows often feature extended live recordings and concerts.

Offbeat, Fri. 1-5am Offbeat is committed to broadcasting undiscovered new hip hop music. Shows typically focus on exposing underplayed or up-and-coming new artists, including experimental instrumental artists not typically played on mainstream hip hop radio.

Across 110th Street, Sat. 12-2pm Kicking off our Saturday afternoon American music run, Across 110th Street airs soul, funk, and dance music from the 1960’s through the 1980’s and 90’s.

Something Inside of Me, Sat. 2-4pm Something Inside of Me is WKCR’s Saturday afternoon blues show, focusing mostly on the electric and post-war styles.

Hobo’s Lullaby, Sat. 4-6pm Rooted in the folk revival of the 1950s and 60s, Hobo’s Lullaby airs American folk and traditional music styles from the early 20th century through the present day.

From old staples like Leadbelly, Elizabeth Cotton, and Woody Guthrie to contemporary stalwarts like the Carolina Chocolate Drops and lesser known artists, domestic traditions are alive and well on Hobo’s Lullaby.

Notes from the Underground, Sun. 12:30-2am Notes from the Underground showcases contemporary hip hop and rap music with an emphasis on emerging and experimental artists. The program also hosts local and visiting artists for interviews, freestyles, and guestcuration.

Amazing Grace, Sun. 8-10am Greeting listeners on Sunday morning, Amazing Grace shares with listeners the world of the African-American gospel tradition.

The Moonshine Show, Sun. 10am-12pm On the air for nearly 60 years, The Moonshine Show showcases the American Bluegrass tradition, from the earliest roots in vernacular string-band music, through * indicates show was created after January 2022

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the genre’s pioneers in the 1940s and 50s and advancements in the 60s and 70s, through the leading innovators and stars of today.

The Tennessee Border Show, Sun. 12-2pm One third of WKCR’s country music programming, along with Honky Tonkin’ and the Bluegrass Moonshine Show, Tennessee Border highlights the singer-songwriter tradition, from Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt to Lucinda Williams.

LATIN Caribe Latino, Mon. 10pm-12am Caribe Latino is a music program that features the diverse, upbeat music from numerous Latin communities in the Caribbean. Popular Latin rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Latin Jazz take center stage throughout the program.

Urbano Latinx, Tues. 12-1am A weekly Latin show airing contemporary sounds from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the diaspora, Urbano Latinx features mixes of salsa, merengue, Latin punk rock, and more.

Sin Fronteras*, Wed. 12-3pm Falling in the space of Out to Lunch on Wednesday afternoons, Sin Fronteras explores the tremendous Latin Jazz tradition.

Nueva Canción, Wed. 10-11pm Nueva Canción is an exploration of protest music created throughout Latin America during the 60s and 70s and its numerous other manifestations throughout other countries and time periods.

Som do Brasil, Wed. 11pm - Thurs. 1am From samba and bossa nova to MPB, hear the numerous and enchanting sounds and rhythms of Brazil.

Sonidos Colombianos, Fri. 10-11pm Sonidos Colombianos presents music from one of the most culturally diverse countries of Latin America: Colombia! Our bilingual musical tour is guaranteed to include not only cumbia, but also the guitar-based bambuco from the Andean region, the harp llanero music from the Eastern Plains, the marimba-infused currulao from the Pacific Region, and the accordiondriven vallenato of the North Atlantic Coast.

LISTINGS FOR LISTENERS The Mambo Machine, Fri. 11pm - Sat. 2am The Mambo Machine is the longest running salsa show in New York City. The program presently plays a wide spectrum of Afro-Latin rhythms, combining new and old into an exciting, danceable mix.

El Sonido de la Calle*, Sun. 2-4am A companion show to Saturday night’s American Notes from Underground, El Sonido de la Calle highlights the diverse world of contemporary Spanish-language hiphop and dance music.

IN ALL LANGUAGES The Celtic Show, Mon. 12-1am Music from across the island of Ireland throughout the era of recorded music, particularly focusing on traditional folk and vernacular music forms.

Coordinated Universal Time, Mon. 1-3am Coordinated Universal Time brings our listeners the latest cut of music from anywhere in the world, especially highlighting music that does not get attention in America.

Our programming tries to bring the hottest and the most recent tunes to WKCR’s airwaves.

The African Show, Thurs. 10pm-12am The longest running African music radio show in the United States, the African Show brings you a variety of music from the entire continent of Africa.

Middle Eastern Influences, Fri. 12-1am During the hour-long show, Middle Eastern Influences features a wide range of beautiful tracks from regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and even, at times, South Asia.

Sounds of Asia, Sat. 6-8am Rechristened from Sounds of China, Sounds of Asia explores the recorded musical traditions and innovations of Asia and the Pacific islands.

Eastern Standard Time, Sat. 8am-12pm One of New York’s most popular Reggae programs, Eastern Standard Time takes listeners through Saturday morning from 8 am to noon with the hypnotic sounds of Reggae and Jamaican dance music.

Field Trip, Sun. 6-8am Field Trip focuses on the music and practice of field recordings: music recorded outside of a studio. Tune in and you may catch field recordings that were recorded fifty years ago, others that were experimented with by your favorite Afternoon New Music artist, or even those documented in New York City by WKCR itself.

Raag Aur Taal, Sun. 7-9pm Raag Aur Taal explores the sounds and rich cultural heritage of South Asia. The term “Raag Aur Taal” roughly translates to “melody and rhythm,” indicating the classical nature of this program.

Back in the USSR, Sun. 11pm-12am Back in the USSR features music from across the former Soviet Union and soviet states across Eastern Europe and East and Central Asia, from the mid-20th century through the present.

NEWS & ARTS Monday Morningside*, Mon. 8:30-9:30am Monday Morningside is WKCR’s morning news broadcast to kick off the week, featuring news segments on events around Morningside Heights and upper Manhattan.

If you’re not an early bird, all episodes are available as podcasts on Spotify!

Free Samples*, Mon. 9-10pm Explores landmark hip hop albums and their place in history and music at large by playing a selection of songs and breaking them down into the samples that make them up—meaning this show often crosses over with other genres, such as jazz, soul, and funk.

SoundStage*, Sun. 9-10pm SoundStage features audio dramas and radio plays from the WKCR archives as well as new compositions by students and contemporary writers. Some shows also feature interviews with dramatists and directors.

SUNDAY PROFILES Sunday Profile, Sun. 2-7pm* A WKCR classic, programmers use five hours to showcase longform profiles of pioneering artists. While the primary focus remains on jazz music, we also feature other styles and traditions from across WKCR’s different programming departments.

* indicates show was created after January 2022

OnAir · October 2023 11

Sarah Barlyn, Chief Engineer "Last Last" – Burna Boy

Razvan Matei, New Music Head "You Said Something" – PJ Harvey

Ale Díaz-Pizarro, Station Manager Ale hosts Saturday Night at the Opera weekly and Hobo's Lullaby every other Saturday.

"Dirty Mind" – Prince

Maddox Mayo, intern "Pash Rash" – Jeff Rosenstock

Lulu Fleming-Benite, programmer "Sex Dwarf" – Soft Cell Echoed by Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director Georgia hosts Out to Lunch every other Monday.

"Ever New" – Beverly Glenn-Copeland Sam Seliger, Librarian & Archivist Sam hosts Tuesday's Just As Bad weekly and Out to Lunch every other Monday.

"The Whiskey Ain't Working" – Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt Natalie DiFusco, programmer "Smile Please" – Dean Blunt Maria Shaughnessy, Program Director Maria hosts Early Music every Friday.

"Mon Amour" – Annalisa Echoed by Stella Fusaro, programmer, and Casey Lamb, programmer.

Satch Peterson, Jazz Head Satch hosts Out to Lunch every Friday.

"Love Thy Neighbor" – John Coltrane Stella Fusaro, programmer "Soldier" – Destiny's Child Rachel Smith, programmer Rachel hosts Out to Lunch every Thursday.

"I Drink Wine" – Adele Erin Suh, intern "BBY" – Bladee Echoed by Ted Schmiedeler, Student Life Director.

12 OnAir · October 2023

Natalie Najar, programmer "Summertime" – The Sundays Echoed by Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director, and Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head.

Josh Kazali, News & Arts Head "Green Green Rocky Road" – Dave Van Ronk

AROUND TH

What was of your s Ted Schmiedeler, Student Life Director Ted hosts Free Samples every Monday night.

"Speed Drive" – Charli XCX Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director, Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head, Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head "Rush" – Troye Sivan Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director, Maria Shaughnessy, Program Director, and Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head.

Benjamin Rothman, programmer "Together Again" – Janet Jackson

Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head "Big Time Sensuality" – Björk Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Stephen Dames, programmer Stephen hosted Something Inside of Me every Saturday. He is currently on hiatus.

"Anna Calls From the Arctic" – Dry Cleaning

Eva Beeman, programmer "She Lives in My Lap" – OutKast & Rosario Dawson Echoed by Sam Seliger, Librarian & Archivist.

David Gonzalez, programmer David hosts Urbano Latinx every Tuesday.

"Cada Vez Que Digo Adiós" – Enanitos Verdes

Rachel Yuan, programmer Rachel hosts Extended Technique every Wednesday.

"ICU" – Phoebe Bridgers

HE STATION

s the song summer?

McKenna Roberts, American Head McKenna hosts The Moonshine Show every other Sunday.

"Lovely Sewer" – Yves Tumor Echoed by Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head, and Erin Suh, intern.

Lucia Santos, programmer "Intoxicated" – Ol' Dirty Bastard ft. Raekwon, Method Man & Macy Gray Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, and Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director.

Vivien Sweet, programmer "Messages from the Stars" – The Rah Band Ian Pumphrey, Events Director Ian hosts Playlist Profiles on some Tuesday/ Wednesday evenings.

"Submarines" – The Frights Casey Lamb, programmer Casey hosts Cereal Music every Wednesday.

"Cities" – Talking Heads Anika Strite, programmer "No Embrace" – Dirty Projectors, Björk Ashwin Marathe, programmer "Tere Vaaste" – Sachin-Jigar Sofía Trujillo, Latin Head "Domingas (Ao Vivo)" – Jorge Ben Jor

Leon Zhou, programmer "How Much is Weed" – Dominic Fike

Hannah Puelle, programmer "As We Go Up, We Go Down" – Guided By Voices

Elena Hardy, programmer "Pale Blue Sky" – Cranes

Jayin Sihm, programmer " " – Lamp

Isabelle Fishbein, programmer "Corinthians (Proctor's)" – Zach Bryan

Ben Goldman, programmer "Pedestrian At Best" – Courtney Barnett

Hannah Revels, programmer "Crush" – Ethel Cain

Muna Ali, programmer "Ayonha" – Hamid al Shaeri

OnAir · October 2023 13

IN ALL LANGUAGES

King of Qawwali: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

N

by Ashwin Marathe

usrat Fateh Ali Khan’s 25-year singing collaborated with western artists to fuse qawwali career brought international attention into different musical styles. His album Night to the repertoire of qawwali. From India, Song with Michael Brook, a Canadian guitarist to Tokyo, to London, his voice was heard as the and music composer, earned him a Grammy staple for qawwali music as art form. Though his Nomination for Best World Music Album. death was early at 48, he had already cemented The album merged Khan’s qawwali lyrics with himself as the staple for qawwali music, earning Brook’s electronic music, creating a spacy and the Pride of Performance performance from dreamy vibe that showed the best of two vastly the President of Pakistan in 1987, two Grammy different styles of music. This release followed Awards, and the UNESCO Music Prize in 1995. a previous collaboration between both artists, His work continues to impact Bollywood music Mustt Mustt, another fusion album that brought and the development of the qawwali and western world music genre. electronic music together.

Khan sang in languages Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan like Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, was born October 13th, 1948 in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Persian, and more. His Qawwali, an art form discography includes hits passed down from family like "Afreen Afreen," "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya," "Sochta to family, was present in Hoon," and more. Though his through his father, who himself was a vocalist and Khan passed at a young instrumentalist. Qawwali, a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. age, his work continues devotional Sufi musical form, to live on through the dates back to the 13th century. The setup of a Bollywood industry and has inspired figures qawwali involves a lead singer, soloists, and a like A.R. Rahman, Javed Akhtar, and more, chorus of five to six singers accompanied by a who have taken Khan’s qawwali music and tabla (drums) and a harmonium. transformed it into Bollywood hits. Songs like Khan began performing with his qawwali "Dam Mast Qalandar" and "Tere Bin Nahin party—Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Lagda," originally sung by Khan, have turned Mubaarak Ali Khan & Party—in 1971, where he into popular Bollywood songs in recent years. performed at Radio Pakistan’s annual music Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali lives on festival. His first hit, "Haq Ali Ali," soon followed. in the songs and movies of Bollywood, often Khan’s work brought qawwali music to the undetected and uncredited. I’m confident that international stage. Khan traveled with his his voice—fierce and passionate in songs like family in the 1980s and 90s to places like Paris, "Mast Qalandar" and "Sochta Hoon," but soft and Japan, New York, and more, which brought gentle in songs like "Crest" and "Night Song"— will continue to echo in the genre of qawwali qawwali into new spaces for the first time.

Along with traveling internationally, Khan for years and years to come.

14 OnAir · October 2023

SUPPORT WKCR TOP 5 REASONS TO DONATE TO WKCR 1. You’d be helping a student-run, listener-funded, and volunteer-based radio station continue to bring you the absolute best in what radio has to offer. Music, arts, news, and sports— we’ve got the works!

2. You wouldn’t be a free-rider anymore.

3. WKCR donations are tax-deductible (so make sure you donate before tax season). For more info on that, or anything else business-related, email business@wkcr.org 4. Being “the Original FM,” our equipment is getting a bit old. For example, Buzz, the hamster that runs the wheel that powers the station, is getting a little worn-out and arthritic. We need a new hamster. Sorry, Buzz, but it’s gotta be done!

5. Isn’t OnAir cool? Without proper funding, projects like this can’t come to fruition and, if they do, don’t make it very long. Donate to allow the little OnAir minions to stay in the job (we are all OnAir minions).

HOW TO DONATE TO WKCR IN 4 STEPS

BY MAIL Step 1: Locate your nearest checkbook

ONLINE Step 1: head to www.wkcr.org

Step 2: Indicate “WKCR” as payee and fill out as usual

Step 2: Click the yellow “DONATE TO WKCR” banner at the top of the page

Step 3: Mail check to CU Gift Systems, 622 West 113th Street, MC 4524, New York, NY 10025

Step 3: Fill out the form in the giving portal and enter your information...

Step 4: ...and VOILÀ! Just like that, you have become a WKCR supporter!

WKCR also accepts checks to our direct address. Just Follow the same steps listed above but mail the check to: 2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027

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OnAir · October 2023 15

16 OnAir · October 2023

WKCR 89.9 FM

2920 Broadway New York, NY 10027

Sp e c i a l t ha n k s to A l e D í a z - P i z a r ro , Anika Stri te, A shw i n Ma ra t h e , Ben Goldman, Benjamin Rothman, Casey Lamb, David Gonzalez, Elena Hardy, Erin Suh, Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, Eva Beeman, Georgia Dillane, Hannah Puelle, Hannah Revels, Ia n P u mph rey , Isabelle Fishbein, Jayin Sihm, Josh Kazali, Leon Zhou, Lucia Santos, Lulu Fleming-Benite, Maddox Mayo, Ma r i a Shau gh n e s sy , McKenna Rober ts, Melisa Nehrozoglu, Muna Ali, Natalie DiFusco, Natalie Najar, Rachel Smith, Rachel Yuan, Razvan Matei, Sam Seliger, Sarah Barlyn, Satch Peterson, Sof ía Trujillo, Stella Fusaro, Stephen Dames, Tanvi Krishnamur thy, Ted Schmiedeler, & Vivien Sweet.