Jazz lovers have long memories and pride themselves on their loyalty to trusted music resources. That dedication explains why the Jazz Showcase was bulging at the seams Tuesday night with fans honoring retiring 90.9 WDCB radio host Barry Winograd. Winograd will be leaving his daily 10am to 2pm slot September 20th with early morning host Leslie Keros slated to slide over to fill the vacancy.
Winograd’s roots in the jazz community couldn’t go deeper. Eighteen years in Glen Ellyn with DCB and lengthy stints at WBEZ and WXRT means his knowledge of the music and the people behind it is rich and plentiful. That command came through in the easy, unhurried and indisputably cool discourse Winograd engaged in during his broadcasts about the music many consider the greatest America has ever produced.
A veteran musician and bandleader, Winograd not only hosted the evening’s celebrations but performed with the Eric Schneider quintet. It was clear that he shares a lot of history with this classic jazz ensemble who knows how bring the fire.
Although stepping down from his daily show, Winograd will not be completely stepping away from his broadcasting persona. He’ll continue to host his Saturday morning show, When Jazz was King. It was also clear Mr. Winograd will have few regrets about not participating in the station’s seasonal fund raising drives. The Saturday morning segment and filling in for WDCB’s other radio hosts will complete his future commitments to the station and allow Chicago to continue relishing in his superlative perspectives and insights on the magnificent musical art form known as jazz.
