Jazz Stories

Jazz organist, pianist, and vocalist Trudy Pitts passed away on December 19, 2010 at Chestnut Hill Hospital at age 78. A Philadelphia legend, who trained as a classical pianist and blossomed into a jazz great, she played with the best of the best, including her husband, Mr. C. WRTI mourns her passing and celebrates her life.

The virtuoso jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody died on December 9, 2010 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 85. Moody (as he liked to be called) was best known, in general, for the song, "Moody's Mood for Love," a vocal version of Moody's instrumental interpretation of the vintage standard, "I'm in the Mood for Love."

The virtuoso jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody died Thursday, December 9th, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 85. Read More...

Moody is best known for "I'm in the Mood for Love," but will be forever remembered for his inventive, earthy tone, humorous take on
life, and his solos that critic Gary Giddins called "mini-epics in which impassioned oracles, comic relief, suspense and song vie for
chorus time."

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Count Basie Swings/Joe Williams Sings

Our "BP with the GM" brings his knowledge and charm to another must-read CD review!

Singer Joe Williams bounced around for quite a number of years before he became a recognized entertainer. He was thus familiar with hard times - once having to undergo electric-shock treatment for an emotional disorder, perhaps brought on by the frustrations of trying to obtain recognition. Read More...

Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

The Great Summit: The Master Takes

WRTI's legendary jazz host "BP with the GM" shares his excellent taste in music, once again, with his latest CD review. As BP says, "your finely tuned ears" won't be disappointed.

WRTI honors the man who taught the world to swing with special programming, a unique event, on-demand audio, articles, and videos.

"I never tried to prove nothing, just always wanted to give a good show. My life has been my music; it's always come first. But the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people." --Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong: The Quintessential Man with the Horn by Bob Perkins

by Bob Perkins

Louis Armstrong was to jazz what Einstein was to physics, King to Civil Rights, Shakespeare to comedy and tragedy, and Oprah to televised entertainment. He taught the trumpet to do things the instrument didn't know it was capable of doing, and he could turn a song upside down with that deep, gravelly voice; Armstrong's contributions to the advancement of jazz as an art form are inestimable. All this, accomplished by a man who was born into abject poverty at Liberty and Perdido streets in New Orleans' Third Ward - better known as "Storyville."

Cintron: Thursday, July 22

Hosted by Jeff Duperon

7 to 8:30 pm

What do you get when you combine a beautiful arboretum, a summer night, and amazing music? Throw in a blanket, a picnic dinner, maybe a bottle of wine? It's Groovin' in the Garden at the Morris Arboretum. Take a drive to Chestnut Hill and join WRTI jazz host Jeff Duperon for a delightful musical evening.

BP reflects on the master pianist's impact on the jazz world.

Tuesday, December 15

6 pm until 6 am


In 1959, Kind of Blue, Time Out, Giant Steps, and The Shape of Jazz to Come were just a few of the recordings that changed the face of jazz as we know it. On December 15th, WRTI honors the jazz giants of 1959 with 12 hours of great music! Join us as we feature the songs and musicians who revolutionized the jazz sound, including Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, and Ornette Coleman.