JAZZ.FM91 — CJRT-FM

Based in Toronto, Ontario, JAZZ.FM91 (call sign CJRT-FM) is a non-profit, listener-supported community radio station operating on 91.1 FM from the CN Tower. Owned by CJRT-FM Inc. and governed by an independent board of directors, this registered charity has broadcast continuously since November 1, 1949. While its 40 kW FM transmitter serves the Greater Toronto Area, the station streams nationwide and internationally. Broadcasting exclusively in English, JAZZ.FM91 is Canada’s premier 24/7 jazz station, offering a rich blend of swing, bebop, latin, fusion, smooth jazz, and vocal arrangements aimed at sophisticated music lovers.

Most of the week is driven by real hosts who actually know their music. Evening presenter John Devenish (Dinner Jazz) stands out with his calm voice and thoughtful track picks. As Devenish put it during one broadcast: "In Coltrane's music, there is a desire to free humanity from its complexes and pain... And that is something always worth talking about on air." You also hear seasoned regulars like Danny Marks (BLUZ.FM), Brad Barker, and Dani Elwell (Voice Tracks), plus live sessions straight from their Allan Slaight Studio.

The music mix bridges classic records and Canadian talent. Daily spins range from Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald to local names like Diana Krall and Caity Gyorgy. Mornings start with easy tracks like Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon," turning into heavier hard bop and vocal jazz by evening.

Ratings from Numeris and the JAZZ.FM91 Annual Report place their audience at 1.9 million local and 2.9 million national listeners a year. Web streams pull over 5.1 million sessions annually, with daily Toronto reach around 80,000 to 120,000. It mostly attracts educated adults aged 35–65 who prefer actual human selection over rigid streaming algorithms.

Industry awards back up the station's work. They took Gold and Silver at the 2017 New York Festivals, followed by a 2020 Gold Award for the documentary The Journey to Jazz and Human Rights. They were named 2021 Station of the Year at the Canadian Radio Awards, won the NOW Magazine Readers' Choice Poll, and earned another New York Festivals Gold in 2022, as shown in their awards archive, alongside a Toronto Star Readers' Choice Award.

Instead of commercial ad breaks, JAZZ.FM91 runs brief sponsor credits and pledge drives. Unlike strict traditional jazz stations like New York's WBGO 88.3 FM, JAZZ.FM91 mixes in accessible smooth jazz during the day to keep things open for casual listeners.

Quick Facts

Frequency: 91.1 FM