Every day, 90.9 broadcasts classical music and jazz through well-curated playlists and programs.

JazzFest Detroit with John Penney

Join John every Saturday night for a 3-hour show that swings with energy along with great stories about the musicians.

See John’s playlists HERE

42 comments

    1. Hello, right before Quincy was Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis doing “Funky Fluke” from the album “Tough Tenors Back Again!” (1984).

  1. I would like to know the songs you played on March 18, 2023 from 8PM to 8:30PM, please. It was a great program!

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Pamela, here are the songs from around that time:
      8:01 Joe Chambers Dance Kohina Dance Kohina Blue Note 2023
      8:07 Quincy Jones-Sammy Nestico Orchestra How Sweet It Is Basie & Beyond Qwest 2000
      8:15 Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis Funky Fluke Tough Tenors Back Again! Storyville 1984
      8:30 Quincy Jones and His Orchestra The Twitch The Quintessence Impulse 1962
      8:34 Count Basie and Joe Williams Every Day I Have the Blues Count Basie Swings Joe Williams Sings Verve 1955

  2. When Bear Mc Cleary used the tune of Skye Boats to create the theme song for the series Outlander did he have to ask for permission from any one to do this. I know of two instances where the recording artists were sued for using songs based on native folk songs

    1. Hi, that was Ron Carter w/ Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron performing “Yes, Indeed” from their album “Where?”. It was on the Prestige label from 1961.

    1. Hello, Here are all the songs from around that time:
      8:29
      Long Come Tutu
      ARTIST:George Benson & Al Jarreau
      ALBUM:Givin’ It Up
      8:36
      Cousin John
      ARTIST:Marcus Miller
      ALBUM:M Squared
      8:40
      They Wore 44
      ARTIST:Steve Davis
      ALBUM:Bluesthetic
      8:49
      Little B’s Poem
      ARTIST:George Cables
      ALBUM:George Cables At Maybeck
      8:55
      Untitled
      ARTIST:George Burton
      ALBUM:Reciprocity
      9:00
      New York Atitude
      ARTIST:Joe Farnsworth
      ALBUM:City Of Sounds
      9:05
      Someday My Prince Will Come
      ARTIST:Bill Evans
      ALBUM:Half Moon Bay
      9:12
      For Deacon Rocky
      ARTIST:Gregory Tardy
      ALBUM:Sufficient Grace
      9:19
      Playboy Club
      ARTIST:Jay Leonhart & Tomoko Ohno
      ALBUM:Don’t You Wish
      9:24
      Family
      ARTIST:Pat Metheny
      ALBUM:A Map Of The World
      9:26
      You Fascinate Me So
      ARTIST:Roberta Donnay
      ALBUM:Blossom-ing!

  3. What was the song with the food in the last 1.5 hours … I’m pretty sure I watched a Flinstones show where Fred turned super cool jazz hipster and sang that song! In the late sixties or early seventies.

  4. What songs have you played from 9-9:15pm I’m trying to find one that was absolutely beautiful. It was mostly saxophone and there was some vocals and piano

    1. Hi Daniel, here you go:
      Start Time Duration Artist Title Album Label/Year
      8:52 PM 4:51 Kenny Barron Quintet DPW Concentric Circles Blue Note/2018
      9:00 PM 13:46 Buck Clayton Kansas City Style Jam Sessions v3 Chiarusco/1976
      9:16 PM 2:49 Count Basie/Jimmy Rushing Boogie Woogie Swingsation(GRP) Vocalion/1936
      9:20 PM 6:11 Jay McShann Doggin’ Around Going To Kansas City New World/1972
      9:27 PM 8:15 Miles Davis If I Were A Bell Relaxin’ Prestige/1958

  5. As always dig the fusion Jazz especially going back to 1959 & that era why do I say that because 59′ was the year I was hatched but I will leave the popsicle toes to you John and yours only not my bag but keeping it realistic is the Penny twist!

  6. Good Saturday evening to you tonight John I am really enjoying your show it is really digging down deep into my senses of my soul New Orleans style!

  7. Great Job engineer Scott reuniting John with the long lost cd a little spring cleaning brings a little blue skies very cool 😎 👌

  8. Car 54 🚨 where are you Broderick Crawford right hear at WRCJ 90.9 we have Mr. John Penny in Jazz custody!

  9. 1- ADAM 12 see the man at radio station WRCJ 90.9 Detroit, Mi. we have an APB out on a one Mr. John Penney for too much JAZZ OVERLOAD and disturbing the peace!

  10. What an absolute pleasure 🙏 to have you Linda & John together within the same studio and my huge shout out to my Mizz Maxine Michaels I so appreciate you all!

  11. John Washburn Mandolin a premier instrument indeed and Washburn produces some outstanding guitars as a guitarist myself my AXE of choice is BC RICH oh by the way all my axes live in Texas girls!

  12. I am totally dialed in Mr. John Penny and I know you always dig down deep and bring it totally 👌 oh by the way I pledged on day numeral UNO with Mr. Dave & Mr. Peter now I ask all of Detroit & the surrounding Jazz of the city too do tour and do your part in upholding this phenomenal FM signal going so strong 💪 for 20 years let us step into the 21st together will you join me and be a first time listener like I once was and join our family I welcome 🙏 you all!

  13. The “D” absolutely rules and so does WRCJ hey I was born in Detroit at Holy Cross Hospital in 1959 but I now reside in Howell, Michigan and thanks so much for 90.9 keeping me a part of an attached to the soul essentials of our great city of Detroit and always realizing and recognizing my fellow Michigan music lovers!

  14. I need all the BOOST I can get being situated on the fringe of your FM SIGNAL and I so appreciate when those board levels are increased atmospheric conditions always toy with me receiving FM SIGNAL reception my board levels will be maxed out in support of the KICK A WRCJ!

  15. WRCJ ALWAYS KEEPS ME CONNECTED TO MY BELOVED CITY AND WHAT A SUCH GREAT CITY INDEED YOU ARE DETROIT 90.9 TIMES!

  16. John I’m not confessing I Love You but your delivery through Live Studio broadcast really brings it home of your love for DETROIT!

  17. What a Detroit Finale John kudos too you I just so appreciate your jazz prowess indeed Mr. Mark Anthony

  18. Good evening John and Scott thanks broadcasting live tonight John ans to your special live in studio guest I would like to give big shout out to your dedication and skills Scott to keeping shows such as JazzFest and a whole host of others across the soundboard up and running 🏃‍♂️ 😀 😊 👍 I also enjoy you sharing some of what it takes to keep a current day radio 📻 station in operation! 🎙🎛🎚📟💻🖥📞🎶🎵

  19. I thought that was the Charlie Brown Christmas 🎄 theme absolutely love it John 😀 great show 👍 I would truly like to give more especially during your show but my budget is tight this month but I’m glad to report I am looking forward to my slick embroidered WRCJ zip hoodie to arrive soon 😀

  20. I will melt down and slowly 🐌 take it all in John soft & smoothly as you open up with your program tonight of jazz let the music festivities
    commence!

  21. What was the first tune you played tonight; I think it included Betty Carter, one of my favorite singers.

    1. Here’s the complete 9:00pm segment:
      Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life
      Jimmy Smith – After Hours
      Stevie Wonder – Blowin’ In The Wind
      Paul Vornhagan – Caravan
      Gene Ammons – Here’s That Rainy Day
      Smokey Robinson – Quiet Storm
      Woody Shaw – You And The Night And The Music
      I hope this list helps your search and glad you were touched by the music.
      ~ Maxine Michaels / Maxology

  22. Good evening Mr. Penney as always you are really laying it down on all fronts & eras of jazz and your life experiences & knowledge are very interesting intermixed into the realm of infused learning ultra jazz style indeed thank you so much!

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