You know you can hear, say, a track from legendary trumpeter Miles Davis' seminal "Kind of Blue" album on WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM — the world leading jazz station based in downtown Newark. Did you know that right now thanks to the station's forward looking programming and outreach you can also see both Miles and Mayor Cory Booker, too?

Miles is among the jazz icons dramatically portrayed in the current WBGO art exhibit "Musical Visions," works by artist Barry Boobis, in the station's 54 Park Place, WBGO Art Gallery. The show has been up since Aug. 11 and runs through Sept. 30. There is a free meet the artist reception this coming Thursday, Aug. 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"Dorthaan is pulling out all the stops for this reception," Boobis said in a telephone interview. "She has pianist John di Martino playing in duo." Dorthaan is Dorthaan Kirk, the station's special events and programs coordinator. Kirk has been with WBGO since its beginnings in 1979 and conceived the gallery: "I always try to bring diversity to the WBGO gallery by exhibiting both jazz related art and the art of women, African Americans and also Newark artists."

Boobis, a celebrated artist, talked about his work: "My great grandfather composed the music for the 'Hatikvah,' the national anthem of Israel, and my father was a commercial artist," Boobis said. "It's like genetic splicing; I paint music. People say how soulful my works are, what they are really seeing is the musical energy that I channel through Zen meditation."

Boobis marries his realism with abstract expressionism. "In 'Virtuosity,' I use an explosion of impasto (thick layers of paint) and lines of color to represent the music," Boobis said. "My Miles is very macho, aggressive." 

As to Booker, he appears monthly with WBGO's ace newsman Andrew Meyer on "Newark Today," a live call in show that airs the second or third Thursday of each month. This past Thursday's broadcast brought together Booker and Meyer with Newark Police Chief Sheilah Coley and Police Director Samuel Demaio. The shows are subsequently available for listening and viewing via the WBGO website. 

"Channel 78, Newark Public Access television tapes each edition," Meyer said, "and makes it available to viewers who have Newark cable vision." 

Meyer, who joined the multiple award-winning WBGO news department in 1998 is a familiar voice as the news anchor during "Afternoon Jazz," with host Michael Bourne; the two also enjoy friendly banter. In addition, Meyer is the producer and co-host with station news director Doug Doyle of the "WBGO Journal, an award-winning, half-hour weekly news program.

Meyer has been hosting "Newark Today," since 2008, a year after its inception. "It's a rare and regular opportunity for the people in Newark and beyond to have direct interaction with the Mayor and other local and state wide officials," Meyer said. "Listeners can call in or email in advance with questions. There is also a 'Newark Today,' Facebook page where the conversation can continue." 

WBGO has been recently been making news of its own. In July, the station officially announced the installation of an upgraded transmitter and antenna system on top of 4 Times Square in New York City, along with a $500,000 leadership grant from Prudential as part of WBGO's current $3 million capital campaign. 

Come fall, the new transmitter and antenna will extend the WBGO listening area and improve its signal, for example, by overriding interference caused by other New York skyscrapers. 

"Only the antenna is going to New York; WBGO is a part of Newark," WBGO President and CEO Cephas Bowles said in a conversation at the Newark Museum earlier this summer. "Our broadcast studios, production facility, and administrative offices are here, along with our space for lives performances. The campaign and signal enhancement will strengthen WBGO's commitment to the Newark community."

Learn more about WBGO's many special events and programs, including live broadcasts and free programs for children at www.wbgo.org. The meet the artist reception for "Musical Visions, The Art of Barry Boobis" is at the WBGO studios, 54 Park Place, Newark, Thursday, Aug. 25, from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. The sponsors are Barefoot Cellars, E&J Distillers and Eastern NJ Chapter of Thrivent International. The exhibit continues through Sept. 30 and is free and open to the public during regular weekday business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wheelchair accessible.