Clifford Brown Birthday Broadcast

WKCR is pleased to announce our special broadcast celebrating what would have been the 96th birthday of American trumpeter Clifford Brown, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Friday, October 30th, 2026. Though short lived, Clifford Brown’s life left an indelible mark on the world of jazz due mainly to his virtuosic trumpet playing which continues to inspire players and listeners alike. Sonny Rollins once remarked “Clifford was a profound influence on my personal life. He showed me that it was possible to live a good, clean life and still be a good jazz musician.” After many early years on the Philadelphia scene performing at Philly clubs like the Peps. Show Boat, The Blue Note, and Club Harlem he moved out to California. It was here that began his collaborations with drummer Max Roach with the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet–a group that is often heralded as one of the greatest and most innovative in jazz history–their recordings, including “Study in Brown” and “Clifford Brown & Max Roach,” set new standards for small group jazz. Hearing even a few seconds of Clifford Brown exposes his technical brilliance, exquisite phrasing, and deep emotional resonance. His all-too-brief but illustrious career showcased his remarkable talent, making him one of the most celebrated figures in the history of jazz. His timeless compositions such as “Joy Spring,” “Daahoud,” and “Sandu” have become beloved standard jazz repertoire. Despite his death in a car crash at only 25, he was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame in 1972. Brown remains one of the pioneers of the trumpet, and has been solidified as one of the greatest to ever play this music. Listeners can tune in on 89.9FM or stream the birthday celebration live on our website, wkcr.org. Follow WKCR on Instagram (@wkcr) and Twitter (@WKCRFM) for updates about this special broadcast and future events. Online listening is available 24/7 at wkcr.org via our web stream.

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