WPRB Princeton 103.3 FM

New Jersey's Only Radio Station

WPRB is a community-supported, freeform radio station. Our FM signal (103.3) serves central New Jersey, Philadelphia, eastern PA and the northern tip of Delaware. We reach a global audience at wprb.com.

Serenade to a Cuckoo

Feb 27, 2026 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Music

With Jerry Gordon

Serenade to a Cuckoo & Jerry's Room: first a two hour jazz show featuring new, modern jazz releases or special jazz features, followed by a one hour show of various themes that are non-jazz, including pop, r&b, rock, and blues from the forties thru the seventies! You will love it!

2.27.26 Ellington & Traffic

we celebrate black history month with 2 hours of the compositions of Duke Ellington performed by others. We follow that with 1 hour of the music of the band Traffic.

12:20 PM		Earl "Fatha" Hines Black and Tan Fantasy Once Upon a Time Verve 1966
12:20 PM		Eric Alexander Serenade To A Cuckoo Timing Is Everything Cellar Live 2024
12:20 PM		James Carter Quartet Caravan JC On the Set
12:26 PM		Sun Ra Drop Me Off In Harlem Celestial Love Modern Harmonic 1981
12:31 PM		Al Hibbler & Roland Kirk Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me A Meeting of the Times Rhino Atlantic 1972
12:37 PM		Mose Allison I Ain't Got Nothing but the Blues Swingin' Machine Rhino Atlantic 1962
12:43 PM		Cal Tjader & Mary Stallings I Didn't Know About You Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings (Remastered) Original Jazz Classics 1960
12:45 PM		The Ink Spots I'm Beginning to See the Light (feat. Ella Fitzgerald) 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Ink Spots Geffen 1999
12:47 PM		Sarah Vaughan In a Sentimental Mood After Hours (Mono Version) BNF Collection 1962
12:51 PM		McCoy Tyner I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) [1997 "Plays Ellington" Version] McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington GRP 1964
1:10 PM		Emmet Cohen w/Lucy Yeghiazaryan Rocks In My Bed Live From Emmet's Place
1:15 PM		Lambert, Hendricks & Ross In a Mellow Tone (Remastered) Sing Ellington! (Remastered) Sing Ellington 2009
1:20 PM		Andy & The Bey Sisters Squeeze Me (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) 'Round Midnight (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster) Prestige 2007
1:23 PM		Dr. John It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Duke Elegant Parlophone UK 2000
1:38 PM		Archie Shepp Sophisticated Lady The Way Ahead Impulse! 1968
1:41 PM		Tony Scott Satin Doll Tony Scott Verve Reissues 1969
1:45 PM		Russ Lossing Prelude to a Kiss Changes SteepleChase 2019
1:48 PM		Martial Solal In My Solitude Solitude
2:13 PM		Traffic Dear Mr. Fantasy Mr. Fantasy (Deluxe Edition) Universal-Island Records Ltd. 1967
2:14 PM		Traffic Heaven Is In Your Mind Mr. Fantasy (Deluxe Edition) Universal-Island Records Ltd. 1967
2:16 PM		Traffic Hole In My Shoe Mr. Fantasy (Deluxe Edition) Universal-Island Records Ltd. 1967
2:21 PM		Traffic Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring Traffic Universal-Island Records Ltd. 1968
2:34 PM		Traffic Feelin' Good (Live at the Fillmore West) Last Exit Island Records 1968
2:49 PM		Traffic Stranger to Himself (Remastered) John Barleycorn Must Die (Deluxe Edition) UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) 1970
2:51 PM		Traffic Freedom Rider (Remastered) John Barleycorn Must Die (Deluxe Edition) UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) 1970
3:03 PM		Traffic The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Bonus Track) UMC (Universal Music Catalogue) 1971

Chat is archived.

Welcome to Serenade to a Cuckoo!

Ola

Hiya Jerry!

Hey Mike

Hi Roff

Roffle, Mike, how the hell ya doin'?

Happy Friday to Jerry and Mike and Roffle and everybody!

Ok...morning spent trying to diagnose a washer

Hi Rick

Nice sunny day, good stuff.

Hi Rick!

Hey there, Jerry, I have been clicked in. Happy to have you in my digiteria. I hope you have a great show.

BAM! Looks like a great show lined up!

Thanks, Richard. Don't get to clicky or you might get digitized.

Hey Richard and Chef!

Hey Chef, nice to see you! Get I get a "bang"?

Mike, I hope you're using AI

how bout a BAM!!!!!!!!!

Heh...my multimeter and it's acting up

Yes, BAM! Thank you, sir!

That sucks, and keep your multimeter to yourself. Hopefully you can fix yours

Fluke is the way to go Mike C

Mine is a Beckman from about 40 years ago

So good to hear you again jerry. Happy friday everyone enjoy the show

Beckman, Fluke... Are those washing machines? Or multimeters?

Hey Adam!

Adam, thank you, glad you're here. Most definitely!

Now a days they can do both Jerry.

Multis....washer is a GE

It' also a desert topping

Walks the dog

Wow, I just pray mine doesn't pass away.

Good luck with that, Mike.

I'm sure they are working on a multimeter for that too.

Thanxx...I'll be happy if I just have to replace the control board

Analog dreams. If only it could fix itself.

Two hours of Duke Ellington! I’m in

I love Jerry's stories

A multimeter reading its own navel.

"There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind". - Ellington

Haha, Adam. I have to hold back. I'm my biggest fan. Glad you like this stuff too. You are the greatest!

Roffle, I love that Duke quote!

My college residency advisor was a music ed major/trumpet player and named his dog Ellington, also the year I started listening to wprb haha

Music from a bari sax makes the world go round!

Hi Zach. What year was that?

Yessir, Rick!

2011

Zach, thanks for tuning in. Appreciated! Are you a musician?

Haha, skronk!

James Carter celebrates the 100th year of John Coltrane’s birth at the Blue Note in New York City on April 21 & 22 with “Trane: A Centennial Supreme” with James Carter on Saxophones, Steve Turre on Trombone, Gerard Gibbs on Piano, Hilliard Greene on Bass and Alex White on drums. https://www.bluenotejazz.com/nyc/tm-event/james-carter-presents-trane-a-centennial-supreme/?h_sid=d0e98f1afe-598105146aa2f8cecd50ef42&h_slt=eyJoaXZlX3VzZXJfaWQiOjExNDQ1NjE4LCJoYXNoIjoiZjI0OWZlNjQ3ODlmYzYzIn0%3D

No no just a listener

Hi Russ!

Cousin Will's show promo had some major skronk in it.

Cuz can skronk it!

rick, here comes some cosmick B15

Oh my!

Jerry, you are really spoiling me!

What the heck, I take care of my buddies

yes let's dance

Yessir, DBG! Schwing!

Rashaan blowing out of two sides of his mouth and his nostril

He had a special sax for his nostril

Serious lung capacity

I couldn't even play one saxophone

It's ok. I gots a nostril too and can't play no saxophone..

I have TWO and can't do a damn thing! It is fun to watch Rahsaan play out of his nose on YouTube

Back when I was living in Philly, I was in Milt Harris's band for a short stint. Milt's schtick was that he was able to play 2 saxes at once. When we played the Cadillac Club in North Philly, I thought I died and went to heaven.

OMG! That's credentials right there! You had arrived, and you are certifiably hip!

Another memorable gig was playing at the Black Elks Lodge in Easton, Md. What a night. So good.

I didn't know about you ?

Impressive, Rick, you old road warrior you!

Schwing!

Jerry, our transportation was sitting in the back of a club van on bench seats with no windows.

Rick, how did you get to your Las Vegas gigs?

yup "In a Sentimental Mood" 1935 ,,

I didn't realize it was that old, DBG

We flew out of Philly. I was amazed when I got off the plane and saw slot machines in the airport.

right next to the water bowl: https://jazzfuel.com/in-a-sentimental-mood/

..spectaculoso ..

Great story, Jerry!

Great ride.

great music does not age

Hey aiffrig, right on!

Roffle, Rick, DBG yessir!

LH&R- always soooooo good!

The Best!

And Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters. Also, sooooooo good!

And this dude, too!

Dr John had a highly skilled haberdasher on retainer I imagine..

Ha! You're right Roffle, he's never seen without a hat!

Check out the Chicago always fun experimental band Tortoise doing their take on Duke's "Didjeridoo" that was originally on the Duke LP "The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse". The Tortoise cover is on the Red Hot + Indigo Duke tribute

Thank you, Brian!

I do like me so Tortoise....havent listened in years.....spect I should dig that CD out.

Hi friends - The Friday Melt... with Jerry Gordon

Like a good tuna melt, except for your head!

I can play 2 Shofars at once - on a good day 3...

The Jewish and New Orleans people's Rashaan Roland Kirk!

What a band, Russ!!!!!!!!!

Irabagon leads a quintet with Jon Irabagon (saxophones) Tim Berne (saxophones) Matt Mitchell (piano) Chris Lightcap (bass) and Dan Weiss (drums) at the Stone tomorrow: http://www.thestonenyc.com/calendar.php?month=0

The Jon Irabagon Quartet with Jon Irabagon (saxophones) Brian Marsella (piano) Luke Stewart (bass) Nasheet Waits (drums) perform at the Stone in Greenwich Village tonight at 8:30 pm: http://www.thestonenyc.com/calendar.php?month=0

It's not just the breadth of your music knowledge, but the way your mind is wired unlike any other DJ I have ever listened to.

yes meatballs, my favorite

Next Thursday, March 5, pianist Amy Williams plays Morton Feldman’s 90 minute Triadic Memories at 8 pm at TRINITY AT 22ND, 2212 Spruce Street in Philadelphia. https://www.bowerbird.org/event/morton-feldman-triadic-memories/

I drew this Pic of Duke Ellington as part of a series of poitraits I did. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151250958660179&set=a.10151071199585179

Wow...that's brilliant Vilda

@Mike - thanks

Yes, excellent sketch Vilda!

Thanks - It is a series called Living Through Prohibition - scroll through to see Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and

Haha, thanks Dennis. We're working on it, trying to make a comeback!

Yes, DBG!

This about Louis Armstrong: Louis Armstrong Daily User - On FBI ‘Anslinger’ list of musicians to be rounded up during a planned, yet never exercised, mass arrest of the Jazz pot smokers.

My wife and I asked the band at our wedding reception to play Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.

Russ - Nice - did they do a good version

Vilda/benny, you are a true renaissance man. Next week we want to see some of your sculptures.

Yep, they learned it especially for us.

Russ, did you surprise them or were they prepared?

First heard Low Spark laying in the back seat of a Plymouth Satelite after smoing and drinking Drambuie at a house in New Hope, Summer of 72

Stevie Winwood's voice is in the realm of angels.

Hey Bud!

A good friend of mine from LA told me Louis Armstrong and his Dad, a carpet-layer, used to smoke pot together and play cards at his house. I refused to believe it and set get out of here. My friend left the room and came back with a framed photo. It was a picture of my friend as a child with his fingers in his ears as Louis blew the trumpet into them!

Amazing

Wow!

Yep!

Loving this Mellotron

Traffic doesn't get their due. Thanks Jerry!

love this vibe 🎵

stevie winwood genius

Thanks very much, Vin. Glad to know you're still out there! Thank you!

Yo Riley...what's p with the Aliens these days

they are watching us

Riley, thank you very much, you know it!

Indeed

love winwoods work on the blind faith album

Perfection

Dave Mason was a favorite.. I loved Alone Together as a solo.

Yep....still have my original marble vinyl

very prolific career winwood had

And was just a kid when he started

from the spencer davis days to the Arc of a Diver era

epic

Alone Together - multicolored vinyl, CLASSIC

Just popped on to say, groovy w/o irony

Groovy!

great set Jerry. Traffic was greast especially when they moved into jazz fusion.

Hey Ears! Said in an appropriate and timely way!

Right on, Jack! As my mother would say, "What's not to like?"

this is good one as it shows the improvisation that wasn't as evident on the studio stuff.

One of my biggest regrets is missing seeing Traffic live. I don't know why I did not go to this concert in 1970: https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/traffic--7868866?photo=1395283

The mi on this album has allways struck me a Winwood heave

Ugh...my keyboard is going south

What's happening, Mike?

Please play the theme song from Beatles biographer Hunter Davies’ 1968 movie “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” starring Barry Evans, later of the “Doctor in the House” sitcoms. (There are 2 other Traffic songs in the soundtrack, and a lot by the Spencer Davis Group.)

Missing characters.....washing machines now computers....where does it end?

i'm sure you caught them at the Spectrum back in '73, i believe. I wish I could remember more of it but there seems to have been a lot of smoke in the air, haha.

Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush is on the deluxe Magical Mystery Tour

Sucks. Too bad you can't hold out until your personal AI Robot is available.

Jack, you are too be applauded for not remembering!

John Barleycorn was one of my faves. Saw Traffic with the Dead at Giants stadium. It was good but in such a big venue it was mostly about a party, not a nuanced listening

David S, sorry but I won't be able to get your request. Good choice!

Russ, you may have been out of dough that month.

When I first heard Glad I had to buy Barleycorn

Thanks for this Jerry - Such a joyful way to spend Friday afternoon

Thanks, Benny!

Nope, Jack. I missed that one too. I was an idiot!

Jim Capaldi was the shit

Ha, love that!

If John Barleycorn was real, Traffic might've gotten into a heap of trouble. Then again, Mojo Nixon got away with his song "Don Henley Must Die".

Mojo Nixon called it on Elvis

Mojo wasn't wrong

Yes, thanks Jer! What a Great Band, Classic ! I became a fan of Dave Mason's, and of course Clapton n Winwood.. Had seen n met Dave Mason in the late 70's...yikes that was awhile ago..Thanks for the Music, Great show!!

..thank you for your service

But did Michael J. Fox deserve that?

If you see something that looks like a star and it's shooting up from the ground....I wonder what that is

Thanks, Sheila. I know Dave Mason was pleased and became a fan of yours! Thanks for listening and of course, your exceptional music taste!

Jerry, 2 hours of the Duke's music speaks for itself. And this was another 3 hour very pleasurable listening experience. You set a high bar for your compatriots in the radio scene! Everybody have a great weekend!

Mojo sang that song on Joan Rivers' talk show (guest hosted by Arsenio). He changed the anti-Joan lyric.

Exceptional show, Jerry! Thanks!

Rebop!

Yes, have an Awesome wkend everyone!!

We even get some fuzzaphone to go out with. :)

Thx Jerry

You too Sheila the K

Thanks, Rick.You are the coolest. Mike, DBG, Dave, Roffle the wise hipster, Russ, Vilda, Jack, Ears, Riley, Bud, Dennis, et.al!

Russ, do you feel like a newlywed?