The joy of sax! The Audio Ecotone for June 27, 2025

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 4:56pm | Eddy Owt

On June 28, 1846, Belgian musician and inventor Adophe Sax was granted a patent for his new instrument called the saxophone. The horn was designed to project as well as a brass instrument, while retaining the harmonic feeling of a woodwind. While the horn gained some adoption in the military, ragtime and vaudville bands, it wasn't until the 1920s jazz boom that the foundation for the sax's place in popular music was established.

On the eve of the 179th anniversary of Sax's patent, The Audio Ecotone celebrates the saxophone with a wide-ranging selection of music from Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Moon Hooch and a whole host of others. 

(Sorry, no Yakety Sax on the playlist.)

Listen live at 3 p.m. Friday on 95.7 FM in Davis or kdrt.org. The show repeats Saturday at 6 p.m. and Tuesday at 7 a.m. 

Photo shows bandleader Harry Gold playing a contrabass saxophone. (Photo: Dr. Neil Clifton / The biggest saxophone in the world )

Lost but found guitars, on Listening Lyrics -- replay from Feb. 23, 2024

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 4:00pm | Ned

It's not unusual for musicians' guitars to be lost or stolen. When the theft or loss involves a famous musician, it becomes "a story."

That is what today's Listening Lyrics is about -- six lost-but-found guitars owned by Zakk Wylde, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry, Bill Corgan and Paul McCartney. Each has a fantastc journey.

Listening Lyrics playlist for 02/23/2024

In the Key of Folk, June 25, 2025

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 12:30pm | Karen Leyse

We have another day of recent releases on In the Key of Folk, including tracks by Avery Hill, I'm With Her, My Politic, Steve Gillette, and Helene Cronin. We'll also play a couple of tracks from our neighbors to the north and a few from celtic groups. So join us for another fine hour of largely acoustic music. Tune in at 2 p.m. on KDRT 95.7 FM in Davis, or online at KDRT.org where you can also find when the show replays and oh so many more things!

Jazz After Dark, June 24, 2025

Tue, 06/24/2025 - 5:00pm | Don Shor

On tonight’s show:

  • Count Basie, vocal Helen Humes, My Heart Belongs to Daddy
  • Oscar Aleman, Cherokee
  • Charlie Parker, I'll Remember April
  • Stan Getz, Four
  • Sarah Vaughan, All the Things You Are
  • Miles Davis, Oleo
  • Frank Sinatra, Have You Met Miss Jones
  • Sonny Stitt, Confirmation
  • Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete, Days of Wine and Roses
  • Boots Randolph, The Girl from Ipanema
  • Erroll Garner, All the Things You Are
  • The Taylor Eigsti Trio, In A Sentimental Mood

Davisville, June 23, 2025: Top grad prizes research, time with people, and learning how to make a mug

Mon, 06/23/2025 - 5:30pm | Bill Buchanan

This year’s top graduating senior at the University of California, Davis is Avantika Gokulnatha. She just earned a degree in genetics and genomics, she’d like to help make aging more manageable for people, she values her art classes in the campus Craft Center, and she prizes research. “Research has always been what I define to be American,” she says, and on today’s Davisville she explains what she means, what brought her to Davis, and where she’s headed next.

This UC Davis photo by Gregory Urquiaga shows Avantika Gokulnatha with Jack McGruder of Fairfield as they talk about how to use an app on an iPhone

KDRT broadcasts live from the Davis Music Fest this weekend

Thu, 06/19/2025 - 2:23pm | Diane Crumley

The Davis Music Fest turns "Lucky 13" this year, and KDRT is thrilled to continue our tradition of live broadcasts, this time on Friday June 20 and Saturday June 21.

Davis Music Fest offers three days of live performances presented by the all-volunteer Davis Live Music Collective. With seven downtown venues and 40 bands, this all-ages, multi-genre event from June 20 to June 22 has something for everyone.

KDRT is broadcasting live from the fest on days one and two:

  • Friday's opening night at Sudwerk Brewing Co. includes two stages and six bands. KDRT (95.7 FM/kdrt.org) will broadcast from 4 to 8:45 p.m. from the Hopyard Stage featuring the Smoking Data Guns, Ian George, and The Gold Souls. We've also scheduled interviews with Broken Compass Bluegrass, The Big Poppies, The Gold Souls and Boot Juice.
  • On Saturday KDRT will be live from 3 to 8:15 p.m. at Armadillo Music featuring Ian George, Nat Lefkoff, and David Luning, and we'll have a booth on F Street for interviews with Katie Knipp, EleNah, The Snares, Son Cafe, and Tinvis.

Tickets are available here. The festival is a fundraiser for arts and music education in Davis public schools. It's funded partly by a Sacramento Foundation Arts and Culture Grant and by the City of Davis.

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