WGVU

WGVU is the kind of jazz station that doesn't mess around. This US-based public radio outfit plays straight-ahead jazz with authority. The programming leans heavily on the hard bop and modal era - think John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' and Thelonious Monk's angular melodies. It's not trying to be smooth or watered down. The DJs clearly dig deep into the catalogs, pulling out live recordings and alternate takes that even dedicated fans might not know. Compared to algorithm-generated jazz playlists, WGVU has soul. You can listen to WGVU online and hear a set that moves from Art Blakey's thunderous…