https://www.wmpg.org/show/the-blue-note-groove/

The Blue Note Groove, Portland, ME (2025)

02/23/2025

In ten days Ron Jovi and this Blue Note Groove page will go away on Facebook. If you want to Follow me on Bluesky you can find me .bsky.social . Hope to see you there.

As you may have heard me say On the Air on January 21st, one form of Doing something to fight the billionaires taking over our government is to launch a Consumer Revolution. I invite you to join me by eliminating or at least significantly reducing your purchasing or using technology associated with Elon Musk ( Tesla and X), Facebook, Amazon and Google. Here are my suggestions. You can browse and search the internet with DuckDuckGo’s browser and search engine. You can avoid Amazon.. there are many alternatives online. You can delete your Facebook, Instagram and X accounts and move to Bluesky. This movement simply needs participation to build into real change. Please join me and pass it on. Thanks!
The Revolution will Not be Televised.

Photo courtesy of Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash

12/29/2024

On Dec 31st on The Blue Note Groove (2:30- 4:00 PM), I will be celebrating great new music from 2024. To give you a flavor for the artists, I will be playing Luther Allison, Vanisha Gould and Alex Tremblay, Melody Gardot, Parlor Greens, The Fearless Flyers, Muriel Grossmann, Samara Joy and more. It will be tasty!

I have posted two of my own photos from magical 2024 celestial moments: the April Eclipse and the October Northern Lights. May All Your Happiness and Joy be fulfilled in the new year.

Please tune in on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app… It is worth downloading the app to your phone!

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

10/28/2024

Tomorrow, October 29th, on The Blue Note Groove (2:30- 4:00 PM) I will be interviewing Guitarist and Ukulele player Del Ray. This show will feature Roots and Blues music and of course the music of Del Ray. Please tune in to get to know her and hear her music.

This is also the last day of BEGATHON! I will be asking you to support WMPG during my show so we can keep broadcasting and bringing you this kind of unique programming.

Del Ray has been dubbed “one of the greatest modern players of the metal-bodied resonator guitar” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Del Rey started playing guitar when she was four years old. At 13, she was immersed in the world of folk music, via the San Diego Folk Festival. She has tried to get a whole band out of her solo instrument from the beginning. Rags, blues and tunes of the early 20th century are her specialty, even as she writes new music to add to the tradition. Del Rey has taught and played all over the world, and brings her distinctive finger-style approach to guitar and ukulele.
Del Ray and Samuel James will play at SPACE (534- 538 Congress Street, Portland) on Tuesday October 29th at 8 PM (doors open at 7:30 pm)
Please tune in on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

10/22/2024

Today, October 22nd, on the Blue Note Groove I will be interviewing trumpet player and bandleader Marc Chillemi from Raging Brass. Marc also plays in a Local Quintet and the band Primo Cubano.

Raging Brass is a 7-piece band collectively creating Afro-Caribbean music. They are a brass-roots dance band following the musical migration from West Africa to Cuba, Jamaica, and Brazil with the spirit of New Orleans. The band was established in 2014 by Marc. Raging Brass explores roots music fueled by the rhythmic and melodic intuition of each player in the styles of Afro-Beat, Ska, Soukous, Highlife, Rocksteady, Roots Reggae, Samba, Cumbia, and Salsa.
Raging Brass will play at One Longfellow (181 State Street, Portland) on Saturday October 26th at 8 PM (doors open at 7pm)
Please tune in on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

09/20/2024

WMPG JAM (Jazz at The Movies) is BACK. Our Fall movie series kicks off SATURDAY, September 21st. WMPG’s Jazz At The Movies and the Portland Conservatory of Music are pleased to present CESARIA EVORA.

CESARIA EVORA, draws an empowering portrait of the legendary singer, Cesaria Evora, a woman born into poverty in Colonial Cape Verde and later in life scaled the music world’s heights garnering multiple gold records, a Grammy and selling out the most prestigious performance venues throughout the world. CESARIA EVORA traces the diverse political and social contexts of Evora’s life and the universal themes of freedom as well as gender and racial inequality, illustrated by never before seen archival footage, original recordings and unique perspectives from the people who knew the woman behind the legend.

We are also very excited to have Kalu Monteiro, a former band member, as our guest speaker to introduce the movie!

Please join WMPG’s Jazz at the Movies for the Portland Maine Premiere of CESARIA EVORA, at Portland Conservatory of Music, 28 Neal Street, Portland on September 21 at 7PM. Admission is FREE.

Hope to see you there!
Ron Jovi

07/16/2024

Today, July 16th on the Blue Note Groove I will feature Stanton Moore, one of the most talented drummers on the planet. He is just awesome and today you can get an earful on WMPG between 2:30 and 4:00 PM. He started out with and remains with Galactic and has also released nine solo albums. The best thing about great drummers is that the best musicians want to play with them or be in their band. Stanton Moore has that kind of wide spectrum of music based on who he is playing with.

That is what you will hear today from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

06/10/2024

All month and particularly this week WMPG will be focused on celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. On Tuesday June 11th on The Blue Note Groove we will feature music and artists that represent and support the individuals who make up this community. WMPG aims to educate, inspire, and foster a sense of belonging for all individuals regardless of their gender, identity, sexual orientation, or background. We are all living on the only planet that supports life and every life should have equal opportunity for love, joy and happiness. Let’s celebrate our diversity as well as everything we have in common.
Please join me on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/
Photo Courtesy of Jas Min on Unsplash

04/26/2024

Hey Jazz Fans,

WMPG’s Jazz At The Movies and the Portland Conservatory of Music are pleased to present the documentary “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” an eye opening look at one of the 20th century’s most beloved celebrities, the world famous trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong, as drawn from his decades of personal scrapbooks, tapes and private journals. You know his voice and you know his music, but do you really know the man himself?

Come join us TOMORROW NIGHT, Saturday, April 27th at 6:45 pm for a short introductory talk and Sacha Jenkins Jammie’s illuminating film about the celebrated jazz trumpeter Satchmo. “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” is a revealing, behind the scenes portrait of an artist whose public persona as a cultural ambassador often conflicted with his painful struggle as a black man in the racially segregated United States. “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” tells us the true story of this great jazz man in his very own words.

Tickets are FREE and no reservations are necessary. Saturday, April 27th, 6:45 pm, at The Portland Conservatory of Music, 28 Neal St., Portland

Hope to see you there!
Ron Jovi

04/02/2024

Tuesday April 2nd will be the day after April Fools Day and six days before the Total Solar Eclipse in Maine (April 8th). So let’s have some fun with it all 😊. I will be playing an excellent set of music that is all about the Sun and the Moon and the Eclipse. It will be Out of this World!
Please join me on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/
Photo courtesy of Bryan Goff on Unsplash

03/26/2024

Our Begathon was slowed down over the weekend by THE Storm but the WMPG over the Air transmitter is back on line. We hope you have your power back and are warm again. Today is the LAST DAY of the WMPG Begathon and we are a long way from our goal. We need YOU! Please call 207-874-3000 to donate OR make your donation online by going to WMPG.org and clicking the Donate button. If you do make a donation, Thank You! It will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling because community radio is about All of Us.
Please SHARE or LIKE this post on Facebook to help get the Begathon message out!
Today (Tuesday, March 26th) I will be playing a mix of great songs about Friendship and Community, Giving and Gratitude. Please tune in to WMPG FM 90.9 FM between 2:30 and 4:00 PM. If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, you can live stream the broadcast from www.WMPG.org or use the WMPG smartphone app. Hope to see you on the radio!
Remember to Be Kind out there.
Ron Jovi

03/19/2024

Happy Spring Everyone! The Vernal equinox - March 19th is when Night and Day are equally balanced. The Sun's energy is in balance between the northern and southern hemispheres. I'll try to deliver some balance on today's Blue Note Groove show :) .

Looking ahead, Begathon starts tomorrow! It's always fun so come and join in the WMPG energy and help us raise our goal of $60K.

On March 30th at 7PM WMPG Jazz at the Movies will present the movie "Mary Lou Williams: The Lady who Swings the Band" . It is Free and will be at Portland Conservatory of Music (28 Neal Street). No tickets required, just show up!

Please join me on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

03/04/2024

It has been a month since I have been in the WMPG studio and I am happy to be back on my musical adventure with you. March is Woman’s History Month and this Tuesday March 5th I will be playing all woman artist. I will cover a wider range of genres than I usually do and feature music that is new as well as classic cuts. Women have always been featured singers in many types of bands and I will include them in the set . Female instrumentalist Muriel Grossmann will also be highlighted because she is a great musician! I think the music will make your ears smile. Add a little comedy from Karen Morgan and your smile might turn into laughing out loud 😊
Please join me on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting WMPG FM 90.9 FM in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

Image Designed by Freepik

01/21/2024

On my Tuesday January 23rd show I will be interviewing Martha Redbone. Martha is a unique songwriter and her music embodies the many facets of her life experience. These include her African American gospel roots, her Native American heritage, her New York City influence, and her Black Mountain Kentucky upbringing all culminating into an Appalachian folk, blues (with even some Parliament Funkadelic influence) all woven into her magnificent voice and compositions. We will be talking about her Roots Project release which she will performing as part of the Portland Ovations program on Thursday, February 1st @ 7:00PM @ First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 425 Congress St, Portland, ME

Please join me on The Blue Note Groove on Tuesday January 23rd from 2:30 to 4:00 PM and get to know Martha Redbone and her amazing music. You can hear the live show:
• Broadcasting at WMPG FM 90.9 in Portland Maine
• Live streaming from www.WMPG.org
• The WMPG smartphone app.

Hope to see you on the radio!
Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

01/07/2024

If you have not heard, Les McCann passed on from this Earth on December 29th. His unique contributions to Jazz and music in general were profound. Les McCann carved his own way in the world and music. He was mostly a self taught musician and he created music that eventually became known as Soul Jazz. He chose not to fit into the Jazz bebop popularity of his early years. Les was outspoken in his music and his life but he was always coming from a place of lifting up the world to a better place.

Please join me on The Blue Note Groove in celebrating the life of Les McCann on Tuesday January 9th from 2:30 to 4:00 PM. Your body will want to move to the beat… so tune in and groove!
You can hear the show at WMPG FM 90.9 . Hope to see you on the radio!

Ron Jovi
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, you can live stream the broadcast from www.WMPG.org or use the WMPG smartphone app. If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

11/27/2023

This Tuesday November 28, The Blue Note Groove will go from 1:00 to 4:00 PM ( I am subbing for the Blues Doctor in the 1:00 to 2:30 slot). I decided to make it a Blues afternoon with the help of my friend Teddy Rasch. We will cover the early Black Blues artists and their influence on British bands of the 60’s and 70’s. Often the relationships that were born out of the Blues were mutually beneficial to the original artists and the British musician who discovered the Blues. Hope you can Tune In at WMPG FM 90.9,
Ron Jovi.
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, you can live stream the broadcast from www.WMPG.org or use the WMPG smartphone app. If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

11/05/2023

This Tuesday November 7, I will be spinning some Funk and Soul on The Blue Note Groove to help you get your ballot cast. I will be doing a special show featuring Maceo Parker. Maceo has been a pillar of Funk and Soul since he was a youngster. He is 80 years old now and his saxophone has certainly made your body move for decades. He was in James Brown’s band (on and off) for many years. He played with Parliament-Funkadelic, The J.B. Horns, and has had a solo career from 1990 to present. PS: he was also a member of Prince’s band for several tours in the 2000’s.
Check it out WMPG FM 90.9, Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00PM. Hope to see you there!
Ron Jovi.
If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, you can live stream the broadcast from www.WMPG.org or use the WMPG smartphone app. If you can’t listen live, you can hear 5 weeks of archives of The Blue Note Groove here: https://www.wmpg.org/show/blue-note-groove/

10/24/2023

If you want to hear music that you never heard before, you will find it at WMPG. If you want to hear the best of the best in a musical genre, it will be happening everyday at WMPG. BUT TODAY is the LAST DAY of the WMPG Begathon and we have not reached our goal. We need YOU! Our listeners have always come through to help make it to our goal. Please call 207-874-3000 to donate or make your donation online by going to WMPG.org and click the Donate button. Thanks! It will feel good because community radio is about All of Us. Please SHARE or LIKE this post on Facebook to help get the WMPG FM Begathon message out!
I will be playing some sweet Soul and R&B today to help you write that check. Please Tune in to hear the music between 2:30 and 4:00 PM. If you can’t get WMPG over the Air, you can live stream the broadcast from www.WMPG.org or use the WMPG smartphone app. Hope to see you on the radio!
Remember to Be Kind out there.
Ron Jovi

10/02/2023

Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:00 PM on WMPG, the Blue Note Groove will be featuring music from The Buena Vista Social Club Live at Carnegie Hall as well as other Hispanic musicians.
This show will tie into our WMPG's Jazz At The Movies feature at The Portland Conservatory of Music. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we invite you to join us for a free screening of “Buena Vista Social Club” on Saturday, Oct. 7th, at 7:00 PM,

This is a documentary film that takes us along on a joyful musical journey with American guitarist Ry Cooder and a few extremely talented, aging and almost forgotten Cuban musicians down the weathered streets of Havana and eventually all the way to Carnegie Hall.

The film will be introduced by Cuban music officianado and local artist, Marc Chillemi ! Plenty of great music in this uplifting movie.(The soundtrack later went on to win a Grammy).

Tickets for this film are free but seating is limited and reservations are recommended. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buena-vista-social-club-jazz-at-the-movies-with-wmpg-tickets-710272583417?aff=oddtdtcreator

You can tune into the Blue Note Groove for a audible sneak preview and hope to see you at the movie!
Ron Jovi

The Blue Note Groove