Santa Monica, CA (November 30, 2016) – KCRW has revealed the Best of 2016, the yearly coveted collection of top ten albums assembled by KCRW’s legion of dynamic and diverse DJs. Each year KCRW takes on the arduous task of whittling down the year’s releases to highlight what shined bright.

The list was announced in front of a live audience last night at a special KCRW Apogee Session hosted by Music Director Jason Bentley at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio. Jason was joined by ten KCRW DJs who individually revealed and reviewed the winners on stage.

KCRW’s Best of 2106

1. Anderson .Paak – Malibu
2. Kaytranada – 99.9%
3. David Bowie – Blackstar
4. A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service
5. Wilco – Schmilco
6. Andy Shauf – The Party
7. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
8. Bon Iver – 22, A Million
9. Autolux – PUSSY’S DEAD
10. Solange – A Seat at the Table

In addition to the station’s Best of 2016 each KCRW DJ has revealed their personal top 10. Check it all out at the interactive and immersive Best of 2016 website.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

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Monday, November 28 (Robbie Robertson)

Tuesday, November 29 (Seu Jorge)

10:00 AM PST

Santa Monica, CA (November 28, 2016) – Today at 10:00 AM PST, one of the most beloved songwriters and guitarists of his time, Robbie Robertson will visit KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic to talk about the lasting influence of the iconic concert film “The Last Waltz,” which was released 40 years ago. With songs like “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and “Up on Cripple Creek,” he and his partners in The Band fashioned music that has endured for decades, influencing countless musicians. Robertson will also discuss the release of his autobiography “Testimony,” in which he finally tells his own spellbinding story of the band that changed music history, his extraordinary personal journey, and his creative friendships with some of the greatest artists of the last half-century. Check out the interview live on KCRW.com.

On Tuesday, November 29, at 10:00 AM PST, KCRW features Seu Jorge in studio for a short acoustic set and conversation. Jorge is in the midst of playing several sold-out shows in Los Angeles as a special tribute to the late David Bowie. Jorge, one of Brazil’s most talented contemporary singers, rose to international fame in the Wes Anderson film A Life Aquatic. In his acclaimed role as Pelé dos Santos, a singing sailor, Jorge performed several of Bowie’s songs in Portuguese, accompanying himself simply on an acoustic guitar. Jorge’s adaptations of Bowie’s music underscore the breadth and depth of his compositions and have gone on to have a significant cultural impact. Bowie himself commented, “Had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese, I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with.”

This week on MBE continues with Two Door Cinema Club on Wed, November 30 in advance of their show at The Shrine, and James Vincent McMorrow kicks off the month of December with his sexy, soulful, hip hop-inspired sounds on Thursday, December 1st.

Morning Becomes Eclectic, hosted by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, is the station’s signature daily music program (9:00 AM – Noon) featuring new releases from emerging and established artists, underappreciated gems, live performances and interviews.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

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Full episode online now at:

https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/guest-dj-project/emeril-lagasse

Santa Monica, CA (November 23, 2016) – Emeril Lagasse, one of the most recognizable chefs in the world, joins host Eric J. Lawrence for the current installment of KCRW’s Guest DJ Project. Lagasse, a regional James Beard Award winner who owns 13 restaurants, and is well known for his Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril, serves up some of his favorite tunes just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

For Lagasse’s Guest DJ set, he highlights a New Orleans’ legend, expresses the importance of music in his everyday life and work, and shares some songs that simply make him happy. He also reveals a personal connection to one of Billy Joel’s biggest hits, “Piano Man.” “The interesting story is that there’s a character in one of the lyrics of the song [now John at the bar is a friend of mine]… and John used to work for me at Commander’s Palace, way before he was with Billy Joel. But what’s amazing about the song is that it’s, for me, it’s very deep, it’s very personal, there’s a lot in there that says a lot about people and places, and just things going on in life then and things that are going on in life now.”

Emeril Lagasse currently stars in the globetrotting Amazon series “Eat the World.”

Emeril Lagasse Guest DJ Project Tracklist:

1. Piano Man – Billy Joel

2. Vertigo – U2

3. Free – Zac Brown Band

4. Right Now – Van Halen

5. Iko Iko – Dr John

KCRW’s Guest DJ Project is an online-only production that features an array of cultural luminaries sharing and discussing songs that have inspired and moved them. Past guests on KCRW’s Guest DJ Project include Joe Mantegna, Andy Cohen, D’Angelo Russell, Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader, John Krasinski, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, W Kamau Bell, Dr. Neil deGrass Tyson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many more. All previous episodes can be found here.

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw

Full episode online now at:

http://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/guest-dj-project

Santa Monica, CA (November 2, 2016) – Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard D’Angelo Russell is one of the most promising players in the current lineup. KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley visited the Lakers’ practice facility to shine a light on some of Russell’s favorite songs for the current installment of KCRW’s Guest DJ Project. His all hip-hop playlist shows many sides of the 20-year-old Kentucky native.

During the taping, Russell reveals his game day anthem, how it feels to be a celebrity in Los Angeles, his penchant for discovering new music, and his thoughts on the upcoming season which just launched on October 26. “I think pre-season was great,” Russell comments. “As a team, we took a lot of steps forward. Everything was new for us; you know, new players, new coaching staff. It was just a whole whirlwind as far as those aspects, but I feel that we are on the right track.”

Russell is off to a great start. In the Lakers’ season opener, he scored 20 points in a 120–114 win over the Houston Rockets.

D’Angelo Russell Guest DJ Project Tracklist

1. J. Cole – “Rise and Shine”
2. Lil Uzi Vert – “I Can Drive”
3. Future – “Married to the Game”
4. Rae Sremmurd – “Look Alive”
5. Travis Scott – “Goosebumps”

*Note this podcast contains explicit language

KCRW’s Guest DJ Project is an online-only production that features an array of cultural luminaries sharing and discussing songs that have inspired and moved them. Past guests on KCRW’s Guest DJ Project include Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader, John Krasinski, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, W Kamau Bell, Dr. Neil deGrass Tyson, Daniel Radcliffe, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many more. All previous episodes can be found here.

Upcoming guests include Emeril Lagasse, Andy Cohen, John Waters and more!

About KCRW:

KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of LA and deliver in innovative ways — on the radio, digitally and in person — to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world.  A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, and via five KCRW-developed smart phone apps and online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw

Facebook | facebook.com/kcrwradio

Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw

Google+ | plus.google.com/+kcrw