Rhonda Hamilton

The National Endowment for the Arts will honor the 2026 NEA Jazz Masters with a tribute concert in Los Angeles. Watch a livestream at wrti.org on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 11 p.m. ET.

Jazz radio has never had a better friend than Rhonda Hamilton, who's spent the last 50 years broadcasting with her trademark warmth, integrity and composure. As she receives the 2026 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy, she joined us for a conversation brimming with insights

The 2026 NEA Jazz Masters are singer Carmen Lundy, keyboardist Patrice Rushen, percussionist Airto Moreira, and broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton. They'll be honored with a concert in April.