KNKX | Your Connection To Jazz, Blues And NPR News
A northbound train pulls into Westlake Station in downtown Seattle.
Simone Alicea / KNKX

Seattle Squeeze: Get ready for changes to downtown transit tunnel

Even though Seattle commuters are still getting used to the viaduct replacement tunnel, transportation officials are preparing for the next step in the "Seattle Squeeze." Starting Saturday, all buses that currently use the downtown transit tunnel will move onto the surface streets.

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Elaine Thompson / The Associated Press

Seattle approves taller buildings, more density in neighborhoods

Environmental activists gather around structures erected on a grassy area in front of the Legislative building at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, the first day of the 2018 legislative session.
Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press (file)

Analysis: Democrats leverage legislative majority in favor of environmental policy

Kennewick man says Gov. Jay Inslee blocked him from commenting on his campaign’s Facebook page

By • 6 hours ago

A Tri-Cities man who has been a frequent online critic of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he was blocked this month from commenting on Inslee's campaign Facebook page. The move comes as Inslee, a Democrat, launches his candidacy for president and his campaign says its working to make his Facebook page "a little less toxic."

322 focuses in on their modern jazz sound

By • Mar 18, 2019
BrandonLee Cierley of 322.
Parker Miles Blohm / KNKX

Saxophonist BrandonLee Cierley has now performed in the KNKX studios four times, the first as a student at PLU with his band director, David Deacon-Joyner in the lead. Now, after a third session with his own band, 322, Cierley is coming into his own as a player and a band leader.

Northwest fishing fleet renews fight against proposed mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay

By • Mar 18, 2019
courtesy Ronn Griffin

Thousands of people in the Pacific Northwest — commercial fishermen, their crews, sport fishermen, seafood processors, even many boat builders — depend on wild salmon caught every summer in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. The Trump administration has re-started permitting for a controversial mining project there — and locals are gearing up to fight it.

Biggest Fan: Sound Effect, Episode 136

By • Mar 18, 2019
CREDIT PHILLIP ROBERTSON/FLICKR

 

This episode orignally aired on February 24, 2018.  

Hotel stays, out-of-state placements put pressure on lawmakers to increase foster care funding

By • Mar 18, 2019

In the woods near Olympia’s Capitol Forest, there’s a brown two-story house with unpainted plywood walls in the entryway that tell a story.

Democratic lawmaker says raising the cap on local school levies is still a priority

By • Mar 18, 2019
Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press

Many school districts are planning substantial budget cuts for the fall, including Seattle, Olympia and Tacoma. At the same time, they're urging state lawmakers to raise the limit on levies so they can collect more in local property taxes.

Jazz Northwest: Cory Weeds live at Frankie's and Jazz Forest CD debut

By • Mar 16, 2019

Probably the next best thing to hearing a jazz group playing live in a jazz club is a good recording of that performance. That's the latest offering from Vancouver, B.C., musician, presenter and label owner Cory Weeds.

This quintet plays some relatively unfamiliar titles by Lee Morgan, Mal Waldron, Jackie McLean, Walter Davis Jr. and others in a new CD recorded in performance at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, B.C. 

The New Cool: Karl Denson talks Kravitz, Stones, Skerik, Sexual Chocolate and his new album.

By Abe Beeson • Mar 15, 2019
Artwork by Jason Deamer

Karl Denson brings his saxophone, flute and powerful voice back to Seattle for two nights at Nectar Lounge in Fremont March 20 and 21 to celebrate his brand new album Gnomes and Badgers. I spoke to him earlier this week about his first album in five years, and his varied career working with Lenny Kravitz, The Rolling Stones, Seattle's sax hero Skerik, and a surreal day with Eddie Murphy.

Put some wine on it: Specialty license plates in the Pacific Northwest are growing

By • Mar 15, 2019

The options to share your fandom or your love of nature through your car license plate keep growing in Oregon and Washington. But not all license plate ideas go down smoothly: A proposed Washington wine country license plate, like Oregon already offers, drew some whining at the state legislature this week.

Record storm may not get a name, but Puget Sound is more than ready for ‘extraordinary’ warmth

By • Mar 15, 2019
Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

Some folks in the greater Puget Sound region have still been watching the last bits of snow melt in their yards, after record cold hit the region last month.

But it will all be gone for sure this weekend, as KNKX weather expert Cliff Mass says a radical change is underway.

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Featured Studio Session

Christian Sands in the KNKX Studios.
Parker Miles Blohm / KNKX

In The Hands Of Christian Sands

Talking before our live session with pianist Christian Sands and his trio, I told him his former boss, bassist Christian McBride, formed his New Jawn without a pianist because Sands is irreplaceable. He laughed out loud and said, "I like the way you think!" After hearing his phenomenal trio in our Seattle studios, that idea may not be so farfetched. Christian Sands' new album Facing Dragons is his second in two years, and just his second as a leader. It's clear the role suits him. The new...

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Featured Jazz Northwest

Jean Baylor at Jazz Port Townsend 2018
Courtesy of Jim Levitt

The Baylor Project at Jazz Port Townsend

The Baylor Project, featuring Jean and Marcus Baylor made their Jazz Port Townsend debut this Summer and they were instant hits. Singer Jean and drummer Marcus Baylor headed the group which included Stefon Harris, vibes, Taylor Eigsti, piano and Jon Hamar, bass. All were also members of the faculty from Centrum's Jazz Workshop, which precedes the Festival the last weekend of July each year.

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