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This week at WRTI, gratitude is the attitude. We’re taking time to thank the thousands of listeners and supporters who help ensure that classical music and jazz continue to have a home across our region.

If you’re a supporting member of WRTI, thank you for helping to keep the music playing every day! ❤️

Kenny Garrett played with Miles Davis for years. One lesson he took from the legend: don’t go too hard during soundcheck. 🎷 🎺 🔥
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There are few musicians in the history of jazz that have as deeply and significantly affected the direction of the art form as Miles Davis. To celebrate his centennial on this coming Tuesday — May 26 — WRTI will present 24 hours of programming devoted entirely to his music. Hear Kenny Garrett with Miles, and so much more this Tuesday on WRTI.

Interview filmed by: @blackbirchrecording
Archival source: Miles in Paris (recorded in 1989, released in 1991)

#milesdavis #wrtimusic #jazz #trumpet #kennygarrett

The Miles Davis centennial falls on Tuesday, May 26, and WRTI is celebrating with 24 hours of his music. As part of the celebration we checked in with two of our jazz hosts, Bob Craig and Bobbi Booker, who shared some Miles memories with @natechinen .

Link in bio 🎺

He was one of the most famous musicians in the United States in the first half of the 19th century. But Francis Johnson, a Black, native-born Philadelphian, was almost swallowed by history.

Composer and Boyer College of Music professor Jay Krush, an expert on the subject, tells us how it happened, and how it's being redressed, in our latest Let Freedom Ring essay. Link in bio!

Drummer Billy Cobham was with Miles and playing between takes, Miles kept the tape rolling. 🥁 🎺 🔥
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WRTI dug up this archival interview from 2008 when the legendary drummer Billy Cobham dropped by the studio to share this wild story with host J. Michael Harrison on the Miles Davis ‘A Tribute to Jack Johnson’ sessions in 1970.

You can hear Billy Cobham with Miles, and so much more Miles Davis, this coming Tuesday 5/26 as WRTI celebrates his centennial with 24 hours of programming.

Is there a favorite piece from Miles’ catalog that YOU want to hear? Put in your request now via the link in our bio or by heading to wrti.org/request.

#milesdavis #BillyCobham #wrtimusic #jazz #publicradio

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Meet Isabella Gilligan, a 17-year-old trumpet player and senior at Lower Merion High School! She plays principal trumpet in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra's brass ensemble, Bravo Brass, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble as first trumpet. She has also loved serving as a mentor to younger students as the co-lead of the Key of She Jazz programming for her school district. 

Her musical achievements include being selected for the PMEA All-State Orchestra after playing first cornet in the All-State Band in 2024 as a sophomore. She looks forward to beginning her collegiate studies next year at Northwestern University and plans to pursue a dual degree in trumpet performance and political science.

When Isabella isn’t playing music, she loves long walks, seasonal baking, and reality TV. Read more about Isabella’s performance opportunities in her Young Artist Spotlight feature through the link in our bio!

#MusicEducation

Trumpeter Bell Thompson on the lasting goodness of a Miles Davis trumpet solo.
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Bell Thompson is WRTI’s latest “Philly Made” artist. She stopped by WRTI to share her love of Miles Davis and how she found her love for the trumpet, as well as her way to Temple University, and her new album Most Prized.

To celebrate the upcoming Miles Davis centennial on May 26, WRTI will present 24 hours of programming devoted entirely to his music. If you have a favorite piece from Miles’ catalog that you want to hear, put in your request now via the link in our bio or by heading to wrti.org/request.

And while you’re there, check out our full Q&A with Bell Thompson including a video of an in-studio performance featuring her quintet.

#BellThompson #trumpet #jazztrumpet #milesdavis #wrtimusic

WRTI will celebrate Miles Davis’ centennial with 24 hours of music. Make your request now!
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There are few musicians in the history of jazz that have as deeply and significantly affected the direction of the art form as Miles Davis. To celebrate his centennial on May 26, WRTI will present 24 hours of programming devoted entirely to his music. Is there a favorite piece from Miles’ catalog that you want to hear? Put in your request now via the link in our bio or by heading to wrti.org/request.

#wrtimusic #milesdavis #jazz #trumpet

Scherch for Music | Somewhat of a breather in the schedule...
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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: @pcmsconcerts @gamutbachphl @night_music_ensemble @mbragle @lucy_fitz_gibbon @juliayangcello @amyyangpiano @philasinfonia @pyomusic @pridebandsalliance @philadelphiafreedomband

💌 For more live classical happenings each week, subscribe to Fanfare, WRTI’s guide to concerts around Philly (link in bio).

#classicalmusic #earlymusic #oratorio #chambermusic #pride

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.

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.

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.

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!