A casualty of Ideastream Public Media’s WCPN 90.3 FM and Kent State University’s WKSU 89.7 FM consolidating their National Public Radio (NPR) programming was WCPN’s jazz programming. The March 2022 move made WKSU Northeast Ohio’s primary NPR news-and-information radio outlet, relegated WCPN to a WKSU “repeater station,” and switched WCPN’s position on the radio dial with that of Ideastream’s classical music station, WCLV 104.9 FM. WCLV began airing WCPN’s Ideastream-created jazz content, but during the wee hours of the morning.
“People that had been listening to WCLV overnights would write and say, ‘When are you going to do a full-time jazz station?’” remembers Ideastream Public Media general manager Jenny Northern. “We said, ‘OK, it’s time to think about a full-time jazz service.”
On Feb. 26 — exactly 107 years to the day that the Original Dixieland Jass Band (yes Jass) released the world’s first “jazz” record — Ideastream launched JazzNEO, Northeast Ohio’s only full-time professionally hosted jazz station. The service, broadcast on 90.3 HD2 and livestreamed on JazzNeo.org, features hosts Dee Perry — a longtime WCPN broadcast journalist who came out of retirement to take the position — and WCLV/WCPN vets John Simna and Dan Polletta.
“What we are determined to do, to the extent possible, through JazzNEO, is shine the light on what’s happening here in the region,” Northern says.
There’s plenty to cover and promote in Northeast Ohio’s jazz community, including noted natives such as Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer and producer Joe Lovano. Here, you’ll also find emerging artists such as singer-songwriter Ava Preston, and the many ensembles that play clubs such as the Bop Stop in Cleveland and BLU Jazz+ in Akron. You’ll also hear artists who have appeared at the Tri-C JazzFest and who have performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, as well as performances by students and faculty in jazz-studies programs at the likes of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Kent State University.
“One of the things that I really aspire to do is have a show that showcases these students in these jazz programs across the region,” Northern says.
Programming already includes “JazzNEO Spotlight,” a series of spots aired during programming breaks that feature local artists, venues and organizations; “Jazz in NEO,” spots trumpeting upcoming events; and “Jazz Happening Now,” an hour-long weekly show acquired from public radio distribution company PRX that focuses on music by up-and-coming artists. A form on the station’s website invites artists to submit recordings of their work.
“We may put them on the air,” Northern says. The current playlist includes music from all eras.
“But we think the present day is really important,” Northern adds. “It’s critical to continue to shine a light on emerging artists because they are the future of jazz.”
The schedule also includes Bop Stop’s own created and distributed “Live From the Bop Stop.”
Northern mentions conversations with the Tri-C JazzFest about covering the festival. There are also talks with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra about how the station might partner with the group and discussions with the Cleveland Museum of Art regarding how JazzNEO might bring jazz performances to its Transformer Station. One of Northern’s top goals is to create a dedicated studio for the station at Ideastream’s Idea Center to allow for live interviews to happen in downtown Cleveland — an investment that would involve restructuring the WCLV studio.
“We need to see what support there is in the community,” she says. “Ideastream is public media. And public media relies on the community for support.”
