It can sometimes become stressful searching our radio for a decent station, especially when looking for jazz radio in Columbus. We are blessed to have Jazz programming on WCBE each Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm and another station has popped up. Jazz 102.1 WCRX-LP, a non-commercial radio station operated by the Bexley Public Radio Foundation, is looking to ease the pain by offering a daily Jazz experience to those who struggle to find their niche station.
The station, broadcasting since 2007, decided in late 2011 to add music to their daily lineup in addition to their traditional educational broadcast services. Jazz 102.1 WCRX-LP was the first such community radio station and is the oldest community radio station in central Ohio, proudly broadcasting longer than any other community radio station. The station shares the 102.1 FM frequency and broadcasts only from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week. A separate group broadcasts from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. using similar call letters, WCRS-LP. We are WCRX-LP. Hence, the difference in how and why we refer to ourselves as Jazz 102.1 WCRX-LP. Don’t be confused as you’ll immediately notice the difference in the programming after 3 p.m. in the afternoon, after we sign off for the day.
“The station made a conscious choice to provide the community with jazz music programming based upon the fact that there existed little to no regular daily jazz radio programming in the central Ohio area,” Sax Johnson, manager of the station, said.
Johnson says that although the station is shared, and the Jazz programming only runs from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, it is still a step in the right direction.
“What a wonderful art form we have offered to and given the world. While our station only broadcasts 12 hours out of each day, I believe it’s a good start, and I’m sure you and others will agree that it’s an idea whose time has come. We’re proud of having the opportunity to usher jazz music programming back to the Columbus airwaves on a regular basis,” Johnson said. “We’re also extremely proud to regularly and daily, play the music of many of our own local musicians. We’re also involved in providing educational information, along with news and other information to the community. “
Johnson said that he appreciates every listener and hopes that everyone tuning in has an enjoyable experience. He says the signal can be weak in some locations but says it is currently being looked into.
Visitors to http://www.wcrxlp.com can take a jazz survey and even message Johnson with opinions and suggestions.
“I hope you’ll let us brew your jazz just the way you like it!” Johnson said.
Check out their Jazz Music Schedule
So far so good. I hope that this 102.1 starts to play the jazz at all hours. Thanks for the station.
Sax I really enjoyed participating in the jam session Saturday nite I hope the station benefited……paco
I just happened to find this station when I had to reprogram my radio. FINALLY Columbus has a jazz station. You can’t be considered a sophisticated metropolis if you don’t have even one local jazz radio station. I listen every morning on my way to work. Love it. I hope you can eventually expand your hours so that I can listen on my way home.
save this jazz radio signing to save
I like jazz but not jazz light…I remember WBBY which had 25Hr jazz and a variety of music. I also like the information programming…Pacifica Radio and various speakers and would like to have both. You will have more listeners with more variety.
WBBY had local support from listeners just like WCBE…CBE has only Sunday jazz but they are great. Please continue the innovative and creative programming and become a real jazz station with alternative information that is not available anywhere else. Columbus deserves creative and sophistocated entertainment.
To it may concern . My name is Daniel S Turns. I lived in Colmbus , Ohio all my life.
Reasonly I moved to Colonial, Hgts Va . Here they don’t have a jazz n the radio. If they do I can’t find one. So something happen to me , I got home sick jazz . Not just any jazz
radio station. I wanted your station. When I lived there for years there was no jazz station. I can’t tell you how happy I was when I found out that jazz was back in Columbus. I told some of my friends that like and enjoy jazz about your new radio station , some of them was upset because.of the listsoning time and fading in and out of the radio station. Some of them just stop listsoning . I don’t care I like your station from day one . Once I get here and get home sick for jazz I download the station and Im
happy. Yours truly Daniel S Turns