Since 1982, Tom Pethic has been an integral part of the Rochester jazz scene. Here is the story of how Tom discovered his love for jazz. At age 20, he heard Joe Romano, the late legendary Rochester jazz saxophonist. Romano was performing at The Portside, a local jazz hang-out that was located at the southern end of Irondequoit Bay. Night after night, great jazz music filled the air. As Tom was taking in the strong emotion that was coming from the horn of Joe Romano, his life as he once knew it, had changed. Eventually he needed an outlet for his new found love, jazz music. Pethic ended up seeking out his own jazz radio program. His dream of doing radio became reality, as his first Artistry in Jazz program aired on October 18, 1982, on the air waves of WGMC. Pethic had often relayed to Joe Romano, his musical mentor, that he most likely would not have experienced a strong love for jazz, not to mention landing his own radio show, were it not for hearing many times at The Portside on Empire Blvd. in 1977. 

Over the years, Pethic has interviewed many of the world's finest jazz musicians. They include Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubeck, James Moody, Chick Corea, Les Paul, Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Freddy Cole, Pete LaRoca, Cedar Walton, Joe Romano, David 'Fathead' Newman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Larry Willis, Ravi Coltrane, Dena DeRose, Jon Hendricks, Joey DeFrancesco, and Kenny Washington. 

Pethic is currently in his 35th year in radio. Artistry in Jazz with Tom Pethic airs Saturdays from 4:00 - 7:00 pm/et on Jazz 90.1 FM, streaming to the jazz world @ Jazz901.org.   

Joe Romano