John Kessler
All Blues HostJohn has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KNKX “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle.
His most memorable and satisfying KNKX radio moment was getting an email from Jimmy Lane, a bluesman and the son of blues legend Jimmy Rogers, who said something like “You’re playing the good stuff, keep it up!”
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Singer Lady Blackbird joined multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Chris Seefried for this KNKX studio session hosted by John Kessler. -
Jerry Lee Lewis was known as rock and roll’s first great wild man. But his contradictory life was full of success and scandal. John Kessler remembers "The Killer."
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Although not as well-known as Buddy Guy or Otis Rush, brothers Syl and Jimmy Johnson both carved out separate and successful careers in the bustling Chicago blues scene of the 1960s and 70s.
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KNKX All Blues host John Kessler is always on the lookout for songs that will stop you in your tracks and make you listen—or dance, or cry. A multitude of great releases in 2022 made it difficult to narrow down to the "top ten." This year’s list is full of beloved veterans and promising newcomers.
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Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most recognizable voices in modern blues. In an interview with KNKX All Blues host John Kessler she talks about using that voice to speak out on social issues.
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KNKX All Blues host John Kessler reviews "Hard to Kill," the latest album by singer-songwriter Janiva Magness.
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KNKX All Blues host John Kessler talked to Grammy winning singer, songwriter and activist Fantastic Negrito. He'll perform at the Neptune Theater in Seattle on June 15.
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KNKX "All Blues" host John Kessler caught up with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram while the young guitarist was on the road to his next gig.
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With his distinctive style of funky blues, Bobby Rush has had a career that spans 70 years. After decades of playing the chitlin circuit, Bobby Rush has broken through to the mainstream with a long overdue Grammy in 2017 for his album Porcupine Meat and another in 2021 for Rawer Than Raw.
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Bluesman James Harman may not have been a household name, but he was a big part of the LA blues scene and played with some of the very best in the business. John Kessler remembers James Harman.
