J. Michael Harrison
Jazz HostJ. Michael Harrison’s first radio show, WPEB’s “Is That Jazz” launched in June of 1993. In 1994 he began volunteering with WRTI as a production assistant. In 1996, J. Michael debuted his own program, The Bridge, which continues to air Friday evenings on WRTI.
The Bridge was selected as Philadelphia Magazine’s "Best Radio Program” in 2002, and in 2007, the Philadelphia City Paper called it the “Best On-Air Reminder That Jazz Didn’t Die in 1965.”
The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and the Performing Arts made him a Stakeholder in 2016, and invited him to participate on their Advisory Board. In October of 2022, J. Michael was hired as an Education Coordinator by the Clef Club. J. Michael has also recently joined the Rosenbach Museum’s Programming Committee. He was presented the Above & Beyond award for Outstanding Contributions to Arts & Culture by the People’s Emergency Center in 2017, that same year the Jazz Journalist Association named him a "Jazz Hero."
Since 2008 he has taught a music journalism class at the University of the Arts and recently developed and premiered a new class, Philadelphia’s Musical Sound, as an undergraduate offering.
He’s presented lectures to students in the Philadelphia School District, Temple University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Pennsylvania. He has written liner notes, has sat on and moderated panels, has curated series, produced events, and hosted concerts in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City, and New Orleans. He was executive producer on Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s 1999 CD BrotherZone. He’s worked closely with the Philadelphia Jazz Project, Jazz Philadelphia, Jazz Bridge, Jazz Near You, The Painted Bride Art Center, The Producers Guild, The Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts, The Rosenbach Museum, and other organizations.
Additionally, Mike has curated and produced much of WRTI's jazz video content for the NPR Live Sessions platform since 2017.
“Music is truly my sanctuary, a reason to live, and a bright moment”—J. Michael Harrison
J. Michael can be heard on Fridays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. as host of The Bridge.
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Alto saxophonist and bandleader Marshall Allen has made 100 trips around the sun — and for most of that time, he's been inseparable from the Sun Ra Arkestra. WRTI is honored to share this recent birthday concert, as we celebrate a big one. -
April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and we’re celebrating by sharing some exclusive video footage from the 2023 Center City Jazz Festival. -
We asked our jazz hosts to give us their five favorite tracks of 2023, for WRTI's Hot Fives. Here are picks for J. Michael Harrison, host of The Bridge. -
Percussionist Pablo Batista has worked with everyone from Alicia Keys to Grover Washington, Jr. During an in-studio session with WRTI's J. Michael Harrison, he reflects on his journey and much more. -
A few years ago, two generations of great Philadelphia bassists, Christian McBride and Lee Smith, sat down with J. Michael Harrison at WRTI to talk shop and catch up. We're sharing it now as a Father's Day treat. -
The beloved Philly brass band Snacktime brought the party to our studio, with a foot-stomping, head-bobbing tune called "Sweet Treat" — WRTI's Video of the Week, as we continue to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. -
For every week of Jazz Appreciation Month, WRTI will release an exclusive video from our performance studio — starting with the Venezuelan folk-jazz of Caracas Trio. -
In addition to an all-star group called Sanity, bassist Anthony Tidd presented guests like poet Ursula Rucker and a group of dedicated students in this special WRTI concert at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. -
Nasir Dickerson’s Life Light Empowerment Ensemble celebrated the release of a new album, 'Let It Shine,' at WRTI. We're proud to share the concert as our kickoff to a Black History Month video series, Sankofa Sounds. -
WRTI's new Video of the Week finds the progressive jazz-rock band Soften the Glare performing "Above Ground," from a studio in North Carolina.
