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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Since welcoming pianist Orrin Evans to the group, The Bad Plus has embarked on an exciting musical journey that will come full circle during their farewell tour next year. -
The Curtis High School jazz band play with mentor Bren Plummer in this KNKX School of Jazz studio session. -
Grammy-winning composer and pianist Billy Childs draws inspiration from mentorship, and the 'alternate universes' various collaborations lend his projects. -
A senior trombone player with the jazz band at Mount Si High School in North Bend, Eddie Hefti shares an hour of his favorite jazz. -
With a name that serendipitously matches her career, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn feels she's living out her destiny, weaving together melody and emotion onstage. -
After a near-fatal car accident, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin channeled her recovery into creating the Grammy-nominated album Phoenix, a testament to her resilience. -
Brought up in Seattle's grunge scene, multi-instrumentalist Jessica Lurie makes music that reflects boundless curiosity and a love for diverse musical traditions. -
Ballard Brass, a lively student brass band from Ballard High School, strutted their stuff in the KNKX studios with four rousing, joyful tunes. -
A senior and drummer in the jazz band at Lynnwood High School, Chris Garzon serves up his favorite jazz in the KNKX studios. -
Since winning the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz competition in 2024, Chicago-born pianist Jahari Stampley continues to evolve as a pianist, composer and video game designer.
