Night Lights Classic Jazz: Specials

Series produced by WFIU

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Enjoy these special editions of Night Lights -- a weekly jazz program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focusing on classic jazz from 1945-1990. Visit our online archives and the producer's jazz blog at: http://nightights.blogs.wfiu.org

Night Lights, WFIU's weekly jazz program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focuses on jazz from the 1945-1990 era - a timespan that, as Johnson notes, "weirdly parallels Miles Davis on record and the Cold War." Covering artists such as Jackie McLean, Charles Mingus, and Nina Simone and themes ranging from jazz recordings of spirituals to avant-garde interpretations of the Great American Songbook, Night Lights also features many lesser-known talents of post-1945 jazz, such as saxophonist J.R. Monterose, trumpeter Freddie Webster, and piano/singer duo Dick and Kiz Harp.

Host David Brent Johnson also maintains a widely read jazz blog and website which contains streaming archives of all past programs at: http://nightights.blogs.wfiu.org.

Stations wishing to carry Night Lights as a weekly program can contact LuAnn Johnson at lujohnso@indiana.edu for subscription and carriage information. Hide full description

Night Lights, WFIU's weekly jazz program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focuses on jazz from the 1945-1990 era - a timespan that, as Johnson notes, "weirdly parallels Miles Davis on record and the Cold War." Covering artists such as Jackie McLean, Charles Mingus, and Nina Simone and themes ranging from jazz recordings of spirituals to avant-garde interpretations of the Great American Songbook, Night Lights also features many lesser-known talents of post-1945 jazz, such as saxophonist J.R. Monterose, trumpeter Freddie Webster, and piano/singer duo Dick and Kiz Harp.Host David Brent Johnson also maintains a widely read jazz blog and website which contains streaming archives of all past programs at: http://nightights.blogs.wfiu.org.Stations wishing to carry Night Lights as a weekly program... Show full description


Additional Files

48 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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A "frighteningly" awesome Halloween special! Paranormal jazz encounters...with music from Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Red Norvo, and more.

Bought by WNMU-FM, WNMU-FM, WLVT, KLCC, Delmarva Public Media and more


  • Added: Oct 20, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Andrew Hill's Black Fire LP
An hour-long jazz special: It was a year of raised hopes and devastating tragedy, and the world of jazz continued to reflect both the growing uneas...

Bought by KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., WWNO, WRGY, Troy Public Radio, KAAD-LP and more


  • Added: Jan 02, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 24
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, exploring the orgins of "hip."

Bought by South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, KHNS, and Radio New Zealand


  • Added: Jun 09, 2014
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring women instrumentalists who thrived in the upside-down jazz world of wartime America.

Bought by WNMU-FM, WJCT, WGBH Radio Boston, High Plains Public Radio, Northeast Indiana Public Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 01, 2023
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 15
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Night Lights pays tribute to the holidays in the mellowest of moods, with music from Joe Pass, Dave Brubeck, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and more. Joi...

Bought by KCME, WJAB, WVAS, WCQS, WVAS and more


  • Added: Dec 18, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Perfect for the Fourth of July or other celebratory national holidays! “Freedom Jazz!” offers an hour-long, uniquely jazzy tribute to the spirit o...

Bought by WNMU-FM, Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, KSLU, WITF, WRGY and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 35
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring the recordings of Mary Osborne, a pioneer for women jazz instrumentalists. Celebrate Women's Histo...

Bought by KTSW 89.9, High Plains Public Radio, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, KAZU Seaside, Calif., Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 10
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An hour-long program of classic jazz featuring female jazz performers and composers of the 1960s.

Bought by WNMU-FM, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., WNMU-FM, KMUN, WNMU-FM and more


  • Added: Mar 01, 2023
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 39
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An hour-long program featuring performances of songs with lyrics by author Langston Hughes, including recordings by Nina Simone, June Christy, Jame...

Bought by WNMU-FM, KVNF, WCPN, WMOT, Northeast Indiana Public Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 11
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An hour-long program of classic jazz. Come along for a jzz sleigh ride with music from Shirley Horn, Paul Bley, Duke Ellington, and more...

Bought by WVIA, WHRV, KUAT, WNMU-FM, High Plains Public Radio and more


  • Added: Dec 01, 2021
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 26
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Jazz with an autumnal theme, from Nat King Cole, Kenny Dorham, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington with Frank Sinatra, Sonny Rollins, and more.

Bought by WCVE, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, Radio Catskill and more


  • Added: Aug 25, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 20
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Jazz for the Labor Day holiday, with special guest jazz historian Ted Gioia (author of the book WORK SONGS). Featured artists include Duke Ellingt...

Bought by KAZU Seaside, Calif., WNMU-FM, South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, WRGY, KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Aug 25, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 40
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An hourlong program of classic jazz, highlighting end-period performances from Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, and others.

Bought by WVIA, KPIP-LP, KAZU Seaside, Calif., WPTC, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 5
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, celebrating Father's Day with an exploration of father-and-son teams, featuring music from Von and Chico Free...

Bought by KMUW, Louisville Public Media, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, WNMU-FM, WESM 91.3 FM and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 16
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An hourlong program of classic jazz, exploring a collection of influential jazz material know as "The Birth of the Cool" recorded by a circle of mu...

Bought by Radio New Zealand


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, featuring musical tributes to the so-called “Black Metropolis,” including Duke Ellington’s “Harlem,” Roy Eldr...

Bought by Radio New Zealand, 90.5 WSNC, WUCF, and WCPN


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 4
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, presenting the second of a two-part program exploring the life and music of Thelonious Monk, with special gue...

Bought by KMUW, South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, and KGLT


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 3
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An hourlong program of classic jazz, presenting the first of a two-part program exploring the life and music of Thelonious Monk, with special guest...

Bought by KMUW, South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, and KGLT


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 3
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A one-hour program focusing on the work of female jazz guitarist Emily Remler. Great for Women's History Month!

Bought by WNMU-FM, WKMS, KMUW, WCPN, WNMU-FM and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 15
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From the 1940s to the 1990s, several jazz composers undertook several large-scale orchestral compositions that portrayed the journey of black peopl...

Bought by High Plains Public Radio, WSLR, KCSM, Morehead State Public Radio, WLRH and more


  • Added: Feb 08, 2024
  • Length: 59:03
  • Purchases: 20