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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An hour-long program of "cool-Yule" classic jazz, featuring holiday jazz from Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Horace Silver and more, including poet S...

Bought by WUTC, WJAB, KCME, High Plains Public Radio, Northwest Public Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Nov 18, 2009
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 31
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, celebrating an American holiday marking the formal end of slavery.

Bought by Troy Public Radio, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., WNMU-FM, KAAD-LP and more


  • Added: Jun 11, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 30
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An hour-long program of classic jazz, paying tribute to departed musicians.

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, Radio New Zealand, WPTC, and KUNR


  • Added: May 26, 2009
  • Length: 58:56
  • Purchases: 4
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Black History Special A one-hour program of jazz music, exploring the connection between jazz and civil rights in 20th-century America.

Bought by KALW, WLRH, Morehead State Public Radio, KLCC, KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio and more


  • Added: Jan 31, 2022
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 16
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Black History Special A one-hour program of jazz music, exploring the black-pride movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Perfect for Black Hi...

Bought by WNMU-FM, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, WNMU-FM, KAZU Seaside, Calif., WMOT and more


  • Added: Jan 31, 2022
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 10
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A hour-long program of jazz music, exploring the music of African-American singing ensembles in the decades of the Great Depression and the Second ...

Bought by Radio New Zealand, WEZU, and WNCU


  • Added: Jan 31, 2022
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 3
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A one-hour program focusing on jazz singer and songwriter Peggy Lee. Great for Women's History Month!

Bought by KMUW, WJSU, South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio, Connecticut Public (WNPR), Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
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Perfect for Black History Month (February)or MLK Day (January), Night Lights presents this one-hour program of jazz tributes to Dr. Martin Luther K...

Bought by Northwest Public Broadcasting, Radio Catskill, WVPE, WSLR, WNMU-FM and more


  • Added: Jan 07, 2008
  • Length: 59:04
  • Purchases: 66