Night Lights Classic Jazz

Series produced by WFIU

Series image

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 cboyce@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... Show full description


Additional Files

133 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz featuring the 1960s recordings of Gil Evans-—the arranger who worked in the late 1950s with Miles Davis on albu...

  • Added: Oct 21, 2010
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
An hourlong program of jazz for the fall season from Nat King Cole, Kenny Dorham, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington with Frank Sinatra, Sonny Rollins, ...

Bought by Mississippi Public Broadcasting, KDRP Community Radio, WYSO, KMXT, KDUR and more


  • Added: Oct 06, 2010
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
An hourlong program of jazz music from three trios of brothers—Wes, Buddy and Monk Montgomery; Hank, Elvin and Thad Jones; and Jimmy, Percy, and To...

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Sep 28, 2010
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Looking for something a little different? Try something "Far Out," but not too far out... An hourlong program of music from the late 1950s and ear...

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Sep 27, 2010
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hourlong program of music from the very first Monterey Jazz Festival. Featured artists include Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Gerry Mullligan...

Bought by WGBH Radio Boston


  • Added: Sep 27, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, featuring Charlie Parker tunes played at concerts held in remembrance of him in the years following his death ...

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Sep 02, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hourlong program for the Labor Day holiday, with special guest jazz historian Ted Gioia (author of the book WORK SONGS). Featured artists inclu...

Bought by KHNS, WESM 91.3 FM, WRNC-LP, KMUN, KMUW and more


  • Added: Aug 27, 2010
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, featuring instrumental jazz odes to the evening from Oliver Nelson, Artie Shaw, Howard McGhee, Eric Dolphy, an...

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Aug 24, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hour-long program featuring the late-1950s recordings of alto saxophonist Lee Konitz.

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Aug 11, 2010
  • Length: 59:28
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
A program featuring the early 1980s recordings of trumpeter Miles Davis, made after he came back from a five-year retirement.

  • Added: Jul 19, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
Piece image
Hour-long program of classic jazz exploring the late 1950s and early 1960s small-group recordings of tenor saxophonist and Duke Ellington orchestra...

Bought by WCPN


  • Added: Jul 12, 2010
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, focusing on Louis Armstrong’s mid-career years, in which he led the small-group All-Stars, scored chart hits w...

Bought by South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio and Mississippi Public Broadcasting


  • Added: Jul 05, 2010
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz featuring Benny Golson's work from the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Jul 05, 2010
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
One-hour program of classic jazz. Ted Gioia, author of THE BIRTH AND THE DEATH OF THE COOL, joins the program for a look at the relationship betwee...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, KVLU, and WPTC


  • Added: Jun 10, 2010
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
An hour-long tribute program featuring the final recordings of clarinetist and bandleader Artie Shaw.

Bought by WPTC


  • Added: Jun 01, 2010
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, highlighting end-period performances from Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, and others.

Bought by WPTC and South Dakota Public Broadcasting - Radio


  • Added: Jun 01, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
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 WPTC, Marfa Public Radio, WNMU-FM, 90.5 WSNC, WCAI / WNAN and more


  • Added: May 17, 2010
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 7
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, featuring jazz recordings from the late 1950s and early 1960s by lesser-known Chicago jazz artists such as the...

  • Added: May 11, 2010
  • Length: 59:01
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, featuring jazz recordings from the year 1960, by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, Ornette Coleman,...

Bought by WPTC and KVMR


  • Added: May 04, 2010
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
An hourlong program of classic jazz, focusing on jazz interpretations of the many songs written about Paris!

  • Added: Apr 28, 2010
  • Length: 58:59