Abe Beeson

Host, New Cool and Jazz at KNKX-FM (Tacoma, WA)

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School of Jazz guest DJ for May: Sidney Mbugua

1 week ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

A senior tenor saxophone player with the Bellarmine Prep jazz band, Sidney Mbugua has a deep love for jazz. He’s also aware of the close connections of jazz and modern music. The first song Mbugua played on the show as this month's KNKX School of Jazz guest DJ is pianist Ahmad Jamal’s “I Love Music.” He explained that he actually first heard the tune sampled in “The World Is Yours” by rapper Nas. “A lot of hip-hop production uses these old jazz pieces, specifically piano," Mbugua shared.
Young quintet Knats bring a new sound to England's modern jazz scene

1 week ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

From England’s most northern city of Newcastle, the young group Knats are bringing a new perspective to London’s celebrated modern jazz scene. Their debut self-titled album incorporates Afrobeat, along with drum and bass dance rhythms, into the hard bop jazz legacy. The drum and bass genre evolved in 1990's England, characterized by fast tempos and heavy bass lines, influencing later electronically driven dance music like house, techno and dubstep.
Turning up the Seattle-New Orleans jazz connections

3 weeks ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

The KNKX Travel Club recently visited the birthplace of jazz and blues for the French Quarter Festival. The annual celebration highlighting local New Orleans musicians included a number of players with deep connections to the Seattle area. With nearly 100 jazz clubs, plus a number of hotel bars, and an array of live music in the streets, New Orleans has countless talented musicians with whom to collaborate.
School of Jazz guest DJs for April: Oren Sternberg and Isaac Plummer

1 month ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

Tenor sax players with the Eckstein Middle School jazz band, barely teenaged Isaac Plummer and Oren Sternberg have already spent many years listening to jazz. You can listen to an hour of their favorite jazz songs as April’s KNKX School of Jazz guest DJs.Plummer, a 13-year-old, was born into a jazz home. His father Bren Plummer is a professional bassist and composer in jazz and classical fields, and a song from Plummer’s 2018 KNKX Studio Session found its way onto Isaac and Oren’s playlist.
Takuya Kuroda offers music for the daily grind on new album

1 month ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

With his soulful new album Everyday, modern jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda fulfills promises he made on his visit to the KNKX studios last year. That studio session included saxophonist Craig Hill, who brought a new dynamic to Kuroda’s songs, which featured trombonist Corey King on previous albums. In that session interview, Kuroda promised KNKX fans that Hill would have a greater role in his band moving forward. Everyday shows that his promise has been fulfilled.
The Femme Ellington Project swings into the KNKX studios

1 month ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

Seattle JazzED continued their partnership with the KNKX with an exciting studio session of jazz classics performed by the nonprofit organization's Femme Ellington Project. Founded in 2010, Seattle JazzED gives jazz education opportunities to students who would otherwise not have access. Many JazzED students have worked with the KNKX School of Jazz in recent years, including three past KNKX guest DJ's who are now working at JazzED.
Thomas Marriott delivers a fun, film-inspired session at KNKX

2 months ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

Seattle's iconic trumpeter, Thomas Marriott recently celebrated a new album Screen Time with his East Coast friends at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. The quartet also visited the KNKX studios to play music "from screens large and small." For the new album, Marriott selected seven pieces from television and film, as well as a pair of originals. He's accompanied by Orrin Evans, Robert Hurst III and Mark Whitfield Jr. at the piano, bass and drums on the recording and in the KNKX studios.
Seattle's genre-bending group Mega Cat, attempts to redefine jazz and beyond

2 months ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

On a cold, rainy winter night in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, music lovers of all stripes literally lined up at the Seamonster Lounge to hear the popular new instrumental band in town, Mega Cat. The music of Mega Cat isn’t easy to describe. In a conversation with KNKX, the band’s founding trio members offered up phrases like “punk jazz, cinematic, interstellar, progressive, funky” and more. Mega Cat’s origins date to the recent pandemic isolation.
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet deliver a spirited show in the KNKX studios

2 months ago | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

On a sunny February day, The Brubeck Brothers brought their long-running quartet to KNKX's Seattle studios for an exclusive session honoring the music of their father Dave Brubeck. They were in town for shows at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. Bassist (and trombonist) Chris Brubeck co-leads the band with his brother Dan Brubeck on drums. Mike DiMicco and Chuck Lamb handle guitar and piano.
Patterns Fly leads a soaring soul jazz celebration in the KNKX studios

Feb 10, 2025 | knkx.org | Abe Beeson

Patterns Fly is a trio that began almost by accident, but they’ve developed a new modern jazz sound that could only come from these three players at this particular time. Portland-based keyboard player Galen Clark often worked with Seattle-based guitarist Andy Coe and drummer D’Vonne Lewis over the last two decades. They've collaborated on each other's projects, including Trio Subtonic and McTuff — but Patterns Fly is different.