Night Lights

Night Lights, is a weekly one-hour jazz radio program hosted by David Brent Johnson, focusing 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.

Upcoming Programs

Apr 24th: 'Jazz Changes: The 1970s.'

Jazz critic Nate Chinen, author of the new book Playing Changes: Jazz For The New Century, joins the program to discuss a vital and often-misunderstood decade in jazz history.

Previous Programs

Apr 17th: 'Trane ’63: A Classic, A Challenge, A Change.'

A look at another notable year in the career of jazz giant John Coltrane, including his collaboration with vocalist Johnny Hartman, and newly-discovered recordings as well.

Apr 10th: 'Jukebox Jazz: Jazz On 45.'

We often think of jazz in terms of albums, but mid-20th-century jazz was a popular artform on jukeboxes and singles as well.

Apr 3rd: 'Savoring The Savory Set.'

Selections from Mosaic Records’ long-awaited collection of previously-unreleased late 1930s and early 40s broadcasts from Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie with Lester Young, and other jazz greats.

Mar 27th: 'Jazz Women of the 1990s.'

Night Lights' decade-by-decade story of women in jazz continues with Maria Schneider, Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, Cassandra Wilson and more.