In 1971, KFCA joined NPR and was approved for a power increase to 100,000 watts from a new tower on South Mountain.

On August 24, 1972, soon after signing on from its new, stronger tower, the station changed its calls to KMCR-FM for "Maricopa County Radio".

In 1985, the call letters were changed to KJZZ to reflect the jazz musical programming featured by the station.

Also heard on KJZZ (as well as several other public radio stations in the southwest and Texas) are unique news stories under its program entitled Fronteras: The Changing America Desk.

[7] The only remaining music programming left on the main signal is a Sunday night blues show.