WRTI's Jazz Place

Join WRTI Jazz for the sweet swing of yuletide carols and annual specials to lift your spirits, keep you company, and enhance your holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy 2024 from all of your friends at WRTI.

Hitler's Germany banned jazz, which was deemed degenerate music made by Jews and Black people. But NPR host Scott Simon says the Nazis repurposed jazz abroad to weaken British and American resolve.

Pairing a four-voice choir with a host of exploratory Chicago musicians, Angel Bat Dawid's 'Requiem for Jazz' straddles African-American spirituals and so-called spiritual jazz.

Tyler Mitchell, a former sideman in the Arkestra, reconnects with Marshall Allen, its longtime leader, on 'Sun Ra's Journey,' recorded live at Smalls.

Where can you find the perfect jazz soundtrack to add comfort and joy to your holiday season? You guessed it! Check out our schedule here.

WRTI has an exciting new weekend jazz lineup! Starting Friday, Sept. 30, you’ll hear fresh and familiar voices in specially curated shows.

In a first-time collaboration, WRTI and WBGO have created a Fall Preview to cover the field, in a range of sounds and styles.

The Grammy-winning Chicago pianist, composer and radio host died peacefully in his home on Monday morning.

WRTI is committed to celebrating the rich diversity of voices and experiences in classical music and jazz through the production of innovative, multichannel content. We’ve created a new position to lead the station in this effort. It is our pleasure to announce that Nate Chinen is now on board as WRTI’s first editorial director.

DeFrancesco played in Miles Davis's band as a teenager, brought the sound of the Hammond B-3 organ roaring back to the jazz mainstream in the 1990s and remained the instrument's most visible champion.