WKCR personality, jazz expert Schaap celebrates 40 years of radio

Phil Schaap still isn’t out of things to say.

Schaap, CC ’74, a venerated jazz expert and disc jockey for WKCR, celebrated 40 years on the air this Tuesday at a Low Library gala. Donors, jazz aficionados, and musicians mingled at the gala, which served as a fundraising dinner for WKCR’s endowment fund. Several of Schaap’s supporters, including Dewitt Clinton Professor of History Eric Foner and jazz musician Kenny Washington, spoke about Schaap’s singular presence, both on and off the air.

Schaap, who is known to the jazz community as a veritable encyclopedia of jazz history, has been involved with WKCR since his first year at Columbia, when a Furnald floormate heard the jazz music coming from his room—a notable departure from the popular rock ’n’ roll of the era. “Jazz music wasn’t the music of my generation,” Schaap said in a phone interview. Fellow WKCR host Sharif Abdus-Salaam met Schaap his freshman year at football tryouts. “I’m glad he didn’t make the team,” he joked.

These days, Schaap takes the train to Columbia from his home in Hollis, Queens, six days a week. His show “Bird Flight,” which focuses on the music of Charlie Parker, has run every weekday morning from 8:20-9:30 for nearly 30 years. He has taught at Columbia, Princeton, and Juilliard, and currently teaches jazz history for adults at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Swing University.

Schaap’s voice is heard and respected by jazz fans and musicians alike. “He’s been on the air for 40 years, and I’ve been listening for 40 years,” WKCR donor Norman Fields said. “I’m a big fan.”
Jazz great Roy Haynes also attended the event. “It’s become part of my life … to hear him,” Haynes said.

Schaap’s status is that of a living legend at the WKCR station in Lerner Hall. “Phil’s been a mentor to generations of students,” said former Station Manager Emi Noguchi, CC ’10. Though Schaap’s relationship with today’s student programmers is less involved than it once was, he is still a presence at the station.

Phil “always kindly offers to put away their records,” Station Manager Michael Zaken, CC ’11, said, in a gala speech.

Though his work in Morningside Heights has been central to his career, Schaap’s relationship with Columbia University has had its share of tension. Though Schaap taught at Columbia in the past, the creation of the University’s Center for Jazz Studies in 1999 left several of Schaap’s supporters wondering why he wasn’t offered a position.“I think it’s a real shame he’s not teaching here any more,” Noguchi said. “Someone who gets a Ph.D. in jazz … there’s no way they can be more knowledgeable than Phil.”

According to some critics, Schaap’s obsessive attention to detail and tendency to soliloquize detracts from his on-air presence. To his fans, these are the beloved trademarks of his show.

Despite the gala’s festive air, WKCR’s financial worries loomed soberingly overhead. Guests—who had paid $500-600 to attend the gala—were urged to purchase memorabilia or donate more to WKCR’s endowment fund.

Although on-air fundraising covers day-to-day costs, it has some WKCR members worried. Money raised from on-air fund-drives “is hardly enough to run an FM radio station,” WKCR programmer Layan Fuleihan, CC’12, said.

The organization hopes to invest enough money in its endowment fund so as to be able to live off of the interest. According to WKCR Director of Broadcasting and Operations Ben Young, this number is about $5 million. “Once that’s in the bank we’ll be sitting much prettier,” he said. Still, building this endowment has been a struggle. “We’re very low in our goal,” Noguchi said.

When asked how WKCR had changed over his 40 years, Schaap answered, “The miracle is that it has stayed the same.” WKCR’s consistent commitment to alternative programming, however, may have jeopardized its financial future. Noguchi cited a dwindling population of jazz enthusiasts, as well as the declining prevalence of radio, as problems.

Abdus-Salaam drew a standing ovation at the end of his speech when he said, “We’re looking forward to another 40 years.” Schaap’s own plans are more modest, but similar. “I think I’ll finish the gig,” he said. “I’ll work as long as I can.”