In the past, St. Louis boasted some of the most renowned jazz and smooth jazz radio stations. However, while the pulse of jazz still beats strong in our region, its melody now resonates from a suburb called Edwardsville, IL courtesy of the award-winning station, WSIE, 88.7 The Sound. During the semi-annual
ReMix Awards that I organize, I had the honor of presenting the esteemed radio personality ‘Easy in the Afternoon’ with an award in 2023. Though he was unable to comment, I am certain that he and his colleagues share a strong commitment to promoting local and national talent.
As we celebrate Black History Month, it is only fitting to pay tribute to the hottest black jazz artists who are making waves on this radio station. Here are the Top Black Jazz Musicians of 2025, shining brightly on the airwaves.
1. Kamasi Washington is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He has released several solo albums and is known for his work on albums by other artists, including Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” He has been praised for his unique blend of jazz, funk, classical and hip-hop influences in his music, as well as his technical proficiency on the saxophone. Washington has also collaborated with numerous musicians from various genres and continues to push the boundaries of modern jazz with his innovative and dynamic sound.
By Krists Luhaers – POS17_@Kristsll-397, CC BY 2.0
2. Esperanza Spalding is a jazz bassist, singer, and songwriter. She was born in Portland, Oregon in 1984 and began playing music at a young age, learning violin and piano before settling on the bass at age 15. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and later became an instructor at the school. Spalding released her debut album, “Junjo,” in 2006 and has since released several more albums, including “Esperanza” (2008), “Radio Music Society” (2012), and “Emily’s D+Evolution” (2016). She has won four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 2011, making her the first jazz artist to win the award. In addition to her successful solo career, Spalding has collaborated with other artists such as Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and Prince. She is known for her unique blend of jazz, funk, and R&B, and her powerful vocals and dynamic bass playing. She continues to push boundaries and challenge the conventional definitions of jazz music.
By Andrea Mancini – Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87195483
3. Robert Glasper is an American pianist, composer, and record producer. He is known for his fusion of jazz, R&B, and hip hop music styles. He has released several albums as a bandleader, including “Canvas”, “Black Radio”, and “ArtScience”, which have earned him three Grammy Awards. He has also collaborated with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, and Common. Glasper is considered to be one of the leading figures in modern jazz music.
4. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (formerly known as Christian Scott) is a Grammy-nominated, New Orleans-born jazz trumpeter, composer, and producer. He is noted for his unique blend of traditional jazz with elements of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music, and for his use of the harmonic technique known as “whisper technique.” Adjuah has released multiple critically acclaimed albums and has collaborated with artists such as Prince, Esperanza Spalding, and Mos Def. He is also known for his activism and advocacy for social justice issues in the music industry.
Wikimedia/Andreas Lawen, Fotand
5. José James is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for his unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, and soul music. He was born on January 20, 1978 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and began his music career in New York City in the early 2000s. James has released several critically acclaimed albums and has collaborated with artists such as Flying Lotus, Norah Jones, and Robert Glasper. He is known for his smooth and soulful vocals, and has been described as one of the leading voices of the new jazz generation.
6. Terri Lyne Carrington is a jazz drummer, composer, and producer from Medford, Massachusetts. She began playing drums at the age of seven and went on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She has worked with numerous jazz musicians, including Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, and Esperanza Spalding. Carrington has released several albums as a bandleader and has won three Grammy Awards for her work as a musician and producer. In addition to her work in jazz, she is also an activist and educator, focusing on promoting gender equality and diversity in the music industry.
By Sonicportraits at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
7. Gregory Porter is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is known for his distinctive baritone voice, jazz music, and soulful performances. He has released several critically acclaimed albums and has won multiple Grammy Awards. He is also known for incorporating social and political themes into his music. Porter has collaborated with various artists and has performed internationally.
Gregory Porter/Wikimedia Commons
8. Cecile McLorin Salvant is a Grammy award-winning jazz singer and songwriter. She was born in Miami, Florida in 1989 and grew up in a multicultural household with a French mother and a Haitian father. She began singing at a young age and studied classical and baroque vocal techniques before discovering jazz in her teenage years. In 2010, she won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition and released her debut album, “Cécile”, the following year. Her second album, “WomanChild”, was released in 2013 and received critical acclaim. She has since released several more albums and has become known for her unique interpretations of jazz standards and original compositions. Salvant has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Jazz Vocal Album for her albums “For One to Love” (2016) and “The Window” (2018). In addition to her successful recording career, she has also performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, solidifying her reputation as one of the most exciting and versatile jazz vocalists of her generation.
9. Makaya McCraven is an American drummer, producer, and composer. He is best known for his jazz-inspired, improvised music that combines elements of hip hop, funk, and electronic music. McCraven has released several albums as a bandleader and has collaborated with artists such as Jeff Parker, Marquis Hill, and Moses Sumney. He has received critical acclaim for his innovative approach to jazz and has been recognized as a rising star in the genre. McCraven’s music has been described as “a new sound from an old world” and has been praised for its fusion of traditional and contemporary elements.
10. Terrace Martin is a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, record producer, and rapper from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his work as a producer and musician for artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and YG. Martin also has a successful solo career, releasing several critically acclaimed jazz and hip hop fusion albums. He has received multiple Grammy nominations for his work and is considered one of the most influential and innovative producers in contemporary music.
Now here is a favorite that is not listed above, but is a featured regular on WSIE: Rod Tate
Rod Tate(website)
Rod Tate is a saxophonist/songwriter, and recording artist.
He performs Smooth/Contemporary Jazz, Praise & Worship, Gospel Jazz and R&B.
Rod is based out of his hometown, St. Louis, MO.
Rod is a full time musician that performs primarily track dates as a solo act and as a duo, “The 2Smooth Duo” with guitarist, Gregg “Happy Guitar” Haynes.
Rod attended Normandy High School in St. Louis Missouri. He was part of the music program under the direction of Bob Boedges. He was a member of the top Jazz Band (Norseman), Concert, and Marching bands. In his freshman year he was the first freshman in the history of the school to make the top jazz band. In his senior year he was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz award, which is given each year to the senior who shows great promise in the jazz arena.
After high school, Rod attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He was part of the music program under the direction of Brett Stamps, where his focus was Jazz performance . He was a member of the Jazz bands, combos, studied theory and the business of music. During his college days, is when his love of jazz intensified, in particular Traditional/Straight Ahead Jazz.
As a performer he has opened for contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra, Pieces of A Dream, Chuck Loeb, Bob Baldwin, Marion Meadows, Phil Perry, Ramsey Lewis, Legendary Poet Sonia Sanchez, The Temptations, Howard Hewitt, Eddie LeVert and Lonnie Liston Smith. He has opened for Gospel artists Richard Smallwood, Anthony Brown and Gospel jazz keyboardist Ben Tankard, comedian /actor Tommy Davidson, Tavis Smiley, as well as, Hall of famer, Ozzie Smith. He was the entertainment for comedian/actor Joe Torry’s wedding.
Rod has appeared on B.E.T.’s segment of Jazz Discoveries. He has appeared on St. Louis’ Fox(Channel 2) morning show. He has appeared on St. Louis’ Show Me St. Louis on KSDK(Channel 5).
Rod was a musical guest on Trinity Broadcasting Networks “Praise The Lord” Program.
About WSIE:
Serving Southwestern Illinois and the Greater St. Louis area, WSIE 88.7, the Sound, delivers a rich blend of Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Blues and easy R&B, among other companion genres of music. WSIE is a community supported, non-commercial radio station.
Located in: Dunham Hall
Address: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Dunham Hall, University Dr, Edwardsville, IL 62026
Phone: (618) 650-2228
This Black History Month get out and support your local jazz stations, concerts and talents. They depend on you to keep them entertaining the world.
Pictures are all courtesy of Wikimedia, as long as you attribute the owner
I now leave you with a great video of Gregory Porter and Lalah Hathaway from You Tube: Stop the Insanity
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