In 2025, KAXE introduced some new programming to the airwaves. This includes the staff-produced Headwaters, new times for On the River, Minnesota Mixtape and History of Jazz with Paul Kivi.
Jazz enthusiast Kivi, was a recent guest on the KAXE Morning Show, where he shared, "I think this is the finest music ever made and it's kind of gotten lost across time."
His love for jazz began in high school when he discovered Louis Armstrong’s groundbreaking recordings.
“Jazz is a really big tent,” Kivi explained. “There is a lot of overlap between what happened in popular music, [like] for example, blues.”
The show, which airs chronologically, kicks off with pre-jazz influences like ragtime and will dive deeper into how Louis Armstrong shaped the genre’s identity. "Louis really gave jazz its distinct voice,” Kivi said.
Listeners can look forward to engaging stories, timeless music and an insightful journey through one of America’s most dynamic art forms. Kivi emphasized that early jazz is approachable and hopes the series inspires a deeper appreciation for the genre’s modern complexities.
Catch History of Jazz with Paul Kivi, Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 4 p.m. on KAXE.
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