On Tuesday, June 2nd at 6 PM, WRTI presented a special live program addressing Black Music as a form of social engagement.
Josh Jackson, Orrin Evans, Joe Patti, and Bob Perkins in the control room of WRTI.
Josh Jackson, WRTI’s associate general manager for programming and content, was host and moderator with legendary Philadelphia/WRTI broadcaster Bob Perkins and pianist Orrin Evans.
Special guests included: Christian McBride, Ralph Peterson, Nicholas Payton, Lenora Helm Hammonds, NEA Jazz Master Reggie Workman, NEA Jazz Master Dorthaan Kirk, Hannibal Lokumbe, and more.
Highlights from the program:
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3:43
WRTI's Bob Perkins talks about his experience living in the '60s, getting into radio, and how music has responded in the past and now today.
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9:10
Bassist composer and arranger Christian McBride speaks with pianist Orrin Evans about empathy and "walking a mile in another person's shoes."
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6:36
2020 NEA Jazz Master Reggie Workman solidifies that the music needs to get to the ears of the people. That's only ever been the mission, by any means necessary.
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3:33
WRTI's Bob Perkins thanks and acknowledges the North Philadelphia Black community.
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7:12
NEA Jazz Master Dorthaan Kirk shares her personal ties to George Floyd and how music responds. She also mentions her experiences in the Jazz industry, her reputation as “Mom” and the future of Jazz.
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16:05
Multi-Instrumentalist Nicholas Payton explains why "Jazz" should be called something else. Nick and Orrin Evans have important conversations about social justice and change.
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11:15
“As long as I’m looking at what my brother needs to do, or what my sister isn’t doing. I’m not taking care of what I need to do myself.” - Drummer Ralph Peterson
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14:15
Jazz vocalist Lenora Helm Hammonds chats on how music responds with pianist Orrin Evans and WRTI Associate General Manager Josh Jackson.
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15:29
Jazz trumpeter and composer Hannibal Lokumbe shares powerful thoughts and words on how music responds. He chats with pianist Orrin Evans and WRTI Associate General Manager Josh Jackson.
During a recent interview, saxophone great Larry Mckenna was right on target when he shared that often in other cities, when people found out he was from Philadelphia, they’d ask him if he knew fellow Philadelphia saxophone great Bootsie Barnes.
When a dynamic figure in any walk of life departs, writers and just plain folks, usually try to recall certain events about the departed in which they may have been involved, or heard about.
December 2, 2019. Art Blakey pased away nearly 30 years, but his old Jazz Messengers are still busy, perhaps none more so than drummer and Pleasantville, NJ native Ralph Peterson. Peterson, much like his legendary mentor, has shown a knack for getting the most out of young talent, a truth revealed on last year’s I Remember Bu and, now once again, on the latest from Peterson and his Gen-Next Big Band, Listen Up!
A 12-year-old mural of John Coltrane near his North Philadelphia house was destroyed in 2014 to make way for real estate development. WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports on a new mural now rising just blocks away, restoring the jazz giant to his old neighborhood.
