JAZZFEST DETROIT with JOHN PENNEY Saturdays 7pm - 9pm

John Penney was born and raised in Ithaca, New York, and began hosting and programming weekly jazz and folk music programs on student owned commercial radio station WVBR-FM at the age of 15.

In 1967 WVBR became one of the first FM radio stations in the country to program “progressive rock.”  John was instrumental in the creation of the format and became one of WVBR’s most popular on-air personalities, frequently featuring live studio performances on his show. He served as Music Director beginning in 1970, and continued to program jazz, folk, and rock programs through 1971. 
 
In 1978, at the age of 25, John became the National Promotion Director of Amherst Records in Buffalo, New York, where he was instrumental in establishing the career of the platinum selling band Spyro Gyra. He also became the most popular jazz host on public radio WBFO, as measured by Arbitron and listener donations.

In 1984 John moved to Detroit as the Michigan Regional Representative for Action, and in 1989 was hired by Warner Elektra Atlantic as a sales rep. During his 15 year career with WEA John gained a national reputation as a creative and innovative marketer, among other things designing and executing the company’s first regional catalog promotion with Wal-Mart, which was used to leverage the first national event.

John joined the air staff of public radio WDET-FM in Detroit in 1986 as host of a music variety program. John pioneered the concept of presenting “all the varieties of music” in such a way as to demonstrate the continuity between diverse musical forms by making the connection between current and historic recordings. His program became one of the most popular on the air.

John is a popular and sought after MC for live events, and for years was a fixture on stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza. He helped to create an innovative format for radio broadcasts of the festival, and served as national co-anchor for five years.  John began his association with the AMRF in 2004 when Ron Harwood asked him to MC the 6th Annual Motor City Boogie Woogie and Blues Festival. He became consultant/Director in September of 2005. John is also collaborating with Ron on a book about the life and times of classic blues singer Sippie Wallace and her siblings.

PUBJAZZ with TONY MOWOD Weekdays 7pm - 11pm 

For Playlists Click Here

Tony Mowod, is also the President and Founder of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society, and has been one of Pittsburgh's most enduring champions of jazz for over four decades. Even as a teenager, Tony dazzled by the tremendous number of jazz greats from his native Pittsburgh, responded to them not only as a fan does, but as a young musician himself. (The vibraphone was his instrument of choice after studying classical piano as a youngster.)

While attending Duquesne University, Tony embarked on his broadcasting career at WDUQ. Since then, he has been associated with WAZZ, WTAE, WKPA, WYDD, WAMO, to WDUQ, and now The Pittsburgh Jazz Channel.

Tony has also been involved in theater. Appearing off-Broadway and on TV, as well as local pursuits in professional summer stock, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh Children's Theater, and Duquesne University's Red Masquers, among others.

Tony has written album/c.d. liner notes for nationally and locally known artists such as Houston Person, Chris Vadala, Jimmy Ponder, Hendrik Meurkens, Lori Russo, Frank Cunimondo, Al Dowe/Etta Cox, Joe Negri, Don Aliquo, to name a few.

Achievements include:

"Radio Personality of the Year" for three consecutive years, 1967 to 1969.

California University of Pennsylvania awarded Tony the "Excellence in Jazz Promotion Award" for both 1989 and 1990.

Nominated one of Pittsburgh's Top Five D.J.'s by the readers of In Pittsburgh magazine in 1989 and 1990.

Mowod also serves on the board of the American Federation of Jazz Societies. Tony's ongoing love affair with jazz music is rekindled each night as he reminds listeners to "...keep a bit of love in your heart, and a taste of jazz in your soul." More than words to Tony Mowod, they are the man's philosophy.

JAZZ with BOB PARLOCHA Nightly, 11pm - 5am  For Playlists Click Here

Bob Parlocha's rich, elegant voice is familiar to jazz audiences as host of the highly rated "Dinner Jazz Show" at the former KJAZ. 

Born and reared in Vallejo, California, Bob learned about jazz from his mother's Count Basie and Duke Ellington records. He grew up listening to former KJAZ owner Pat Henry, broadcasting at that time on KROW, and to Jerry Dean, who used to do a weekly KJAZ show from Vallejo. In high school Bob played tenor and soprano saxophones and flute and sang in road bands.

For 10 years jazz remained a hobby while he worked in psychiatric nursing at UCSF, developing interpersonal skills that would serve him well in the music business. After one routine day at the hospital, he heard Pat Henry inviting prospective deejays to submit audition tapes to KJAZ. Bob sent in his tape and Henry ultimately hired him to program Saturday evenings, which eventually led to the Dinner Jazz shift.

A sensitive programmer, articulate spokesman for jazz, and astute analyst of the music scene, Bob's master of ceremonies style has enhanced many jazz concerts and fundraisers. His credits include the Gil Evans Orchestra's concert at the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival, the UC Berkeley Jazz Festival, Oakland Arts Explosion, Jazz at the Palace, Bay Area Jazz Awards, the San Francisco International KJAZ Festival, and KJAZ host on the SS Norway Jazz Cruises.

 Besides his on-air duties at KJAZ, Bob was music director, auditioning new releases and determining which albums and cuts fit the KJAZ mold. Because KJAZ was one of only a handful of jazz stations nationally reporting airplay to the prestigious "Radio and Records" publication, which influences programming at hundreds of smaller stations and, ultimately, record sales, he performed an extremely important function.

A highly creative producer, he has developed many interesting specialty shows. His catalog includes the "Black Masters" series, "Latin Jazz," "On The Scene," spotlighting Bay Area musicians in live performance, and "What's New," reviewing album releases with a Bay Area panel of experts.

Parlocha has also produced a number of albums for artists. His first was for singer Laurie Antonioli's "Soul Eyes" on Catero Records. He engineered the late Martha Young's "Live at Bajone's" album on the Carnelian label and an album for pianist Steve Cohn.

Bob generously donates his time to jazz causes, especially those aiding Bay Area musicians. He also delights in identifying and developing younger air talent. Bob still enjoys playing saxophone, sharing his talents with Bay Area audiences.

PUBJAZZ with BILL HILLGROVE Saturday 9pm - 11pm  For Playlists Click Here

Bill Hillgrove worked as a student sports broadcaster for Duquesne basketball games while in college. He graduated from Duquesne in 1962 with a degree in journalism.  His first job was as a disk jockey with WKJF. He later worked as a DJ for WTAE-AM. In 1969 he was hired as a road game broadcaster for the Pitt Panthers basketball team.

The following year, he became the regular color announcer for Pitt football play-by-play man Ed Conway. Following Conway's death in 1974, he assumed the play-by-play announcer duties. He was the 2007 winner of the Chris Schenkel Award, presented by the National Football Foundation, for his work as Pitt's football broadcaster. 

Hillgrove was named the sports director for WTAE-TV in 1978 and acted as sports anchor for WTAE News. In 1994, he was handpicked by Steeler owner Dan Rooney to replace the retiring Jack Fleming as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

PUBJAZZ with SCOTT HANLEY Sunday 7:30pm - 11pm  For Playlists Click Here

Scott Hanley has experience in most aspects of broadcasting, especially public radio, in a twenty-plus year career. A former reporter, arts producer, music director, news director and program director, he is active with a number of influential public broadcasting organizations and is a regular leader or panelist at national conferences. In a recent addition to his busy schedule, he has been appointed to an advisory committee for future internet activities of National Public Radio. Scott has a special affinity for jazz-oriented radio. He has been a session leader or panelist for many national conferences specifically related to jazz music and has experience as a concert and festival producer/promoter. Mr. Hanley also serves as volunteer coordinator of the Jazz Radio Consortium, an ongoing collaboration between public radio stations intent on improving jazz programming nationwide.

A trained musician, Hanley had an active performing career in years past, including vocal work in choral, operatic, musical theater and jazz combo settings, plus instrumental work as a trombonist. Although he performs infrequently, he is most likely to be heard these days singing jazz in a small group setting.