Don’t just take it from us, take it from Béla Fleck! Support Public Radio! 📻
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In honor of “World Radio Day,” we’re sharing a sneak peak of a forthcoming interview WRTI’s Nate Chinen (@natechinen ) conducted with Béla Fleck (@belafleckbanjo ) in the remarkable instrument shop Vintage Instruments (@vintageinsphilly ).
The banjo master spoke about his vast career, forming the Flecktones nearly 40 years ago, and importance of public media, now more than ever.
Public radio has played a vital role in sharing Béla’s music — s/o to WMOT (@rootsradiowmot ) — and countless other musicians creating sounds outside of the mainstream.
Look out for WRTI’s full conversation with Béla Fleck dropping in March, and help ensure the great work we do for you and the WRTI community continues. Donate today at wrti.org/donate. Link in bio! ❤
#belafleck #wrtimusic #wrti #philly #publicradio
Legendary drummer Will Calhoun, and keyboardist Cheick Tidiane Seck stopped by our table at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival!
Are you at Exit Zero to hear the Will Calhoun Mali Project and other amazing artists? If so, stop by to say hi in Convention Hall and grab some fun swag. It's a beautiful weekend by the sea, and WRTI'S Nicole Sweeney is emceeing the main stage.
May 26th marks 100 years since the birth of Miles Davis. To celebrate, WRTI presents Miles @ 100: a 24-hour celebration. We'll have live and studio album playbacks, hour-long features of his greatest bands and more.
🎺You can also submit your Miles requests at wrti.org/requests!
Tune in beginning Tuesday, May 26 at midnight. Schedule:
- midnight to 6 a.m. on FM / HD-1
- 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on HD-2
- 6 p.m. to midnight on FM / HD-1
All programming can be heard worldwide at wrti.org or by using the WRTI mobile app.
Tune-in to Sunday Rotation this weekend at 8pm to hear selections from guitarist Julian Lage's March performance at The Keswick Theatre.
Joined by keyboardist John Medeski, bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Kenny Wollesen, Lage performs songs from his critically acclaimed 2026 album, Scenes from Above. Don't miss this exclusive live performance on WRTI!
New pod drop. Bassist Carlos Henriquez on why Monk is one of the most unique voices of the bebop era. 🎻
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For more than 25 years, bassist Carlos Henriquez (@henriquez.music ) has been the beating heart in the rhythm section of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and in other bands led by Wynton Marsalis. He’s done more than his share of swinging in those settings. But as a product of the Nuyorican community, Henriquez has also been rooted in clave, the pulse of all folkloric Afro-Latin music.
In this episode, he joins Josh Jackson (@livingwithmusic ) to talk about Monk con Clave, his dynamite new album with the JALC Orchestra, featuring special guests like pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and percussionist Pedrito Martínez. He also reflects on his illustrative path through jazz education, and answers a timely question about succession.
Listen to The Late Set now, wherever you get your podcasts.
#CarlosHenriquez #wrtimusic #thelateset #podcast #phillyjazz
Kresten Osgood traveled to remote Greenland to dig deeper on folkloric drumming.
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On a recent episode of The Late Set, Danish drummer Kresten Osgood (@krestenosgood ) stopped by WRTI so speak with Josh Jackson (@livingwithmusic ). The two touched on a number of topics including Danish jazz history, the present state of the scene and how Kresten goes to the source.
He met — and would eventually collaborate with —Pauline Lumholt a folk hero in Greenland and one of the last original leaders of the Greenlandic shamanism form called InuIt Drum Dance.
Listen to Osgood’s full conversation with WRTI via The Late Set, wherever you get your podcasts.
#KrestenOsgood #GreenlandMusic #jazz #drums #folkloricdrums
New pod drop! Kresten Osgood stops by the WRTI studio for a chat and a solo drum improvisation.
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When we declare music a “universal language,” what space do we save for regional dialects and local customs? How has jazz evolved from a uniquely American export to a music that truly knows no borders? These and other questions hang in the air in the wake of International Jazz Day, at a moment of roiling global tensions.
It feels like a great time to connect with Kresten Osgood (@krestenosgood ) — a Danish drummer, composer and commentator, host of the podcast Dangerous Sounds. He joins us for a far-ranging conversation with Josh Jackson (@livingwithmusic ), sharing his perspective on the music and the mission.
Listen to The Late Set now, wherever you get your podcasts and watch a solo drum improvisation from Kresten inside the WRTI performance studio at the WRTI YouTube channel.
#KrestenOsgood #wrtimusic #thelateset #podcast #phillyjazz
Chicago shines in the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert 🎶🌍
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Last week, the world celebrated International Jazz Day. And Chicago took center stage. WRTI’s Nate Chinen (@natechinen ) was there for this year’s International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert featuring Buddy Guy, Lizz Wright, Béla Fleck, Christian McBride, Bia Ferreira, Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, and Gregory Porter.
Read more at WRTI.org
Photos by: Steve Mundinger / Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Scherch for Music | A packed week!
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WRTI’s John T.K. Scherch (@johntkbass ) is back with another quest for great music recommendations in Philadelphia.
This week, performance by: @philadelphiabachcollective@philorch@philadelphiatempesta@piffarorenaissanceband@pyomusic@bethlehembach@pcmsconcerts
💌 For more live classical happenings each week, subscribe to Fanfare, WRTI’s guide to concerts around Philly (link in bio).
Everything we do is brought to you by WRTI member support, including Scherch For Music. Join in and support our work by donating today at wrti.org or via the link in our bio.
#wrtimusic #bach #PhillyMusic #classicalmusic
Join us on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. as The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert brings you a fabulous concert from the 2025/2026 season, featuring works by Beethoven and Brahms plus a suite by William Grant Still. Yannick Nézet-Séguin is on the podium, and pianist Emanuel Ax is soloist. Your host is Melinda Whiting.
Listen at 90.1 FM, or streaming at wrti.org and the WRTI app. The broadcast will also be available Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2.
Tune in to WRTI’s Sunday Rotation at 8 PM for an exclusive live set from Bill Frisell and Petra Haden.
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Back on March 29, WRTI partnered with the Sellersville Theater (@sellersvilletheater ) to capture an enchanting set from Frisell (@bill.frisell ) and Haden (@petrahaden ) — and this Sunday, May 3, we’re bringing selections from that performance to the air.
Listen on 90.1 FM, at wrti.org, or on the WRTI app.
#wrtimusic #BillFrisell #PetraHaden #livemusic #jazz
