Abe Beeson
New Cool & Jazz HostAbe grew up in Western Washington, a third generation Seattle/Tacoma kid. It was as a student at Pacific Lutheran University that Abe landed his first job at KNKX, editing and producing audio for news stories. It was a Christmas Day shift no one else wanted that gave Abe his first on-air experience which led to overnights, then Saturday afternoons, and started hosting Evening Jazz in 1998.
At the end of 2015, just as the campaign to save 88.5 began, Abe debuted his modern jazz show The New Cool. Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m., you can hear 21st-century jazz inspired and informed by the sounds of today: hip-hop, & funk, Electronic music and punk rock — the future of jazz has arrived.
His most memorable KNKX radio moments include introducing Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Oscar Peterson, and other greats; attending jazz festivals in Spain and Argentina with groups of KNKX jazz fans; and locking himself out of the station on a particularly cold winter night.
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Renowned jazz guitarist Martin Taylor reflects on his unique musical upbringing and early work with pioneering fiddler Stephane Grappelli. -
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, co-led by sons of jazz legend Dave Brubeck, explore how their father's music is tied to his sense of social justice and solidarity. -
Martín Selasco's electro-cumbia project Terror/Cactus welcomes jazz reed player Kate Olson on new single. -
Seattle-native Frank Vitolo, now in Brooklyn, is releasing new funk-soaked jazz this summer. -
Pianist and composer Bill Anschell, a very well-liked Seattle musician with more than a dozen acoustic albums, shares his love of electronics. -
Saxophonist Peter Daniel leads a top band from his new album Quartets in this KNKX studio session performance. -
Drummer Adam Deitch, guitarist Ari Teitel and organist Sam Fribush celebrate the versatility of the organ trio on their debut album. -
A septet of mostly graduating seniors from Bainbridge High School’s jazz band play with confidence and passion in this KNKX studio session performance. -
Jacqueline Tabor and Marina Albero bond over the music of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone in the KNKX studios. -
Barrett Martin grew up on jazz but also made his mark on the '90s grunge scene. His travels further influenced his music, but he still calls Olympia home.
