David Brent Johnson
@davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social
WFIU-Bloomington, IN jazz director, host of the thematic historical jazz program Night Lights (wfiu.org/nightlights). Writer when I write.
Pinned
Here’s a jazz starter pack, with a V. 2 to follow as more artists, media outlets, writers, fans and others continue to fly the Bluesky way (suggestions welcome in the comments). #Jazzsky
go.bsky.app/5cak61Z
go.bsky.app/5cak61Z
Evening spins: saw this trio at the Village Vanguard in January w/Johnathan Blake esp on fire in spite of battling a massive cold—a performance I got to witness from a back-wall table distance of about six feet.
Run the Gauntlet, by The Kris Davis Trio
11 track album
krisdavis.bandcamp.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Evening spins: saw this trio at the Village Vanguard in January w/Johnathan Blake esp on fire in spite of battling a massive cold—a performance I got to witness from a back-wall table distance of about six feet.
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani taps Duke Ellington’s 1937 recording of “Caravan” as a music bed for one of his closing messages.
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 5: Vito Marcantonio
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
November 4, 2025 at 3:11 PM
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani taps Duke Ellington’s 1937 recording of “Caravan” as a music bed for one of his closing messages.
An expanded version of Nina Simone’s final album A Single Woman (1993) out next week. I’ve actually never heard it before & will pick this up because well, it’s Nina Simone, and because it’s from the wilderness years of her discography.
Deluxe version of Nina Simone's final studio album coming
September 23, 2025: Today, Omnivore Recordings announced A Single Woman: The Complete Elektra Recordings, the definitive version of Nina Simone’s final studio album, out November 7 on CD and Double-LP...
soultracks.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:10 PM
An expanded version of Nina Simone’s final album A Single Woman (1993) out next week. I’ve actually never heard it before & will pick this up because well, it’s Nina Simone, and because it’s from the wilderness years of her discography.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
A few more thoughts about Jack DeJohnette, who left us this week (but is still with us in many ways)
For Jack DeJohnette
Tributes and tributaries, on the passing of a titan
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:28 AM
A few more thoughts about Jack DeJohnette, who left us this week (but is still with us in many ways)
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
For DeJohnette
iverson.substack.com/p/tt-555-jac...
iverson.substack.com/p/tt-555-jac...
TT 555: Jack DeJohnette
The drumming great has passed away at 83
iverson.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
For DeJohnette
iverson.substack.com/p/tt-555-jac...
iverson.substack.com/p/tt-555-jac...
A sad start to the week.
Jack DeJohnette, just one of the deepest musicians ever, and a personal hero. Here is my obituary for NPR Music.
Jack DeJohnette, dynamic and instantly recognizable jazz drummer, dies at 83
Jack DeJohnette, of the most daring and singular jazz drummers of the last 60 years, died on Sunday.
www.npr.org
October 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A sad start to the week.
In honor of jazz promoter & pianist George Wein, we’re re-airing “Jazz From Storyville” this week, w/commentary from Boston jazz historian Richard Vacca & live performances by Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and others.
Jazz From Storyville
Throughout the 1950s jazz promoter George Wein ran a Boston nightclub that showcased some of the music’s most notable performers.
www.ipm.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
In honor of jazz promoter & pianist George Wein, we’re re-airing “Jazz From Storyville” this week, w/commentary from Boston jazz historian Richard Vacca & live performances by Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and others.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
Happy 100 to a real one. I loved this man, and whether you know it or not, you love the musical reality he helped bring into being.
George Wein at 100
To a mentor, and a memory (one of many)
open.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Happy 100 to a real one. I loved this man, and whether you know it or not, you love the musical reality he helped bring into being.
R.I.P. to pianist Jim McNeely, one of the preeminent composers of his generation.
#JimMcNeely
#JimMcNeely
Jim McNeely | Pianist, Composer
Jim McNeely was born in Chicago into a musical family. He started piano lessons at the age of six. When he was eight he started lessons with Bruno Michelotti, who taught him basic music theory as well...
jim-mcneely.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
R.I.P. to pianist Jim McNeely, one of the preeminent composers of his generation.
#JimMcNeely
#JimMcNeely
The winds of musical & cultural change were blowing through the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. We'll hear background stories & live performances from Don Ellis, Charles Lloyd w/a young Keith Jarrett & Jack DeJohnette, Randy Weston, Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderley, & Bola Sete.
#MontereyJazzFestival
#MontereyJazzFestival
Jazz From Monterey: 1966
By 1966 the Monterey Jazz Festival was an established institution—but the decade’s winds of change were already starting to blow from the festival’s stage.
www.ipm.org
September 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The winds of musical & cultural change were blowing through the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. We'll hear background stories & live performances from Don Ellis, Charles Lloyd w/a young Keith Jarrett & Jack DeJohnette, Randy Weston, Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderley, & Bola Sete.
#MontereyJazzFestival
#MontereyJazzFestival
One for John Coltrane on the 99th anniversary of his birth.
#JohnColtrane
#JohnColtrane
Trane '62: The Classic Coltrane Quartet Begins
In 1962 John Coltrane collaborated with Duke Ellington, recorded an all-ballads LP, and established the group now known as the Classic Quartet.
www.ipm.org
September 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
One for John Coltrane on the 99th anniversary of his birth.
#JohnColtrane
#JohnColtrane
Ahead of this year's Monterey Jazz Festival, a look back at some early ones starting with 1963, which featured the festival debuts of Miles Davis & Thelonious Monk, a swan song from Jack Teagarden, a Modern Jazz Quartet homage to MLK, & Dizzy Gillespie's presidential campaign. #MontereyJazzFestival
Jazz From Monterey, 1963: Dizzy For President!
Though it received middling reviews, the 1963 concert series included the festival debuts of Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, the rollout of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Dizzy For President” campaign, one of ja...
www.ipm.org
September 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Ahead of this year's Monterey Jazz Festival, a look back at some early ones starting with 1963, which featured the festival debuts of Miles Davis & Thelonious Monk, a swan song from Jack Teagarden, a Modern Jazz Quartet homage to MLK, & Dizzy Gillespie's presidential campaign. #MontereyJazzFestival
Listening to the latest entry in Jazzman’s outstanding spiritual jazz series, now up to 18 volumes. #spiritualjazz
Various Artists - Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind The Iron Curtain - Part 1 - Jazzman 2LP
Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind The Iron Curtain - Part 1 by Various Artists. DUE LATE OCTOBER 2023
Many artists achieve greatness but very few produce work that is so moving it's considered sacred
jazzmanrecords.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Listening to the latest entry in Jazzman’s outstanding spiritual jazz series, now up to 18 volumes. #spiritualjazz
Duke Ellington on my mind this weekend. The 1943 debut of his Black, Brown and Beige suite at Carnegie Hall includes a beautiful feature for saxophonist Johnny Hodges on “Come Sunday.” To quote the Duke himself, “We, too, sing America.”
Come Sunday (Live)
YouTube video by Duke Ellington - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Duke Ellington on my mind this weekend. The 1943 debut of his Black, Brown and Beige suite at Carnegie Hall includes a beautiful feature for saxophonist Johnny Hodges on “Come Sunday.” To quote the Duke himself, “We, too, sing America.”
Also why I haven’t given up my CDs.
@tnyfrontrow.bsky.social reflects on why DVD owners shouldn’t throw away their collections just yet.
What We Lose When Streaming Companies Choose What We Watch
Maybe don’t throw away all your DVDs just yet.
www.newyorker.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Also why I haven’t given up my CDs.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.
This shop fixes student instruments for free. Now, a music legend is chipping in
Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.
n.pr
September 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.
This weekend WFIU is re-airing my 2004 documentary about Duke Ellington’s 1941 musical revue Jump For Joy, in celebration of the station’s 75th anniversary. Jump For Joy satirized Hollywood’s treatment of race & drew many famous artists into its orbit. You can listen on demand & read more here.
Jump For Joy: Duke Ellington's Celebratory Musical
The inspiration came from a late-night party, a convergence of Hollywood glamour and early civil-rights activism with one of America's greatest jazz orchestras. In the summer of 1941, as Americans war...
www.ipm.org
September 13, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This weekend WFIU is re-airing my 2004 documentary about Duke Ellington’s 1941 musical revue Jump For Joy, in celebration of the station’s 75th anniversary. Jump For Joy satirized Hollywood’s treatment of race & drew many famous artists into its orbit. You can listen on demand & read more here.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
Happy birthday to one of my greatest heroes, Elvin Jones, b. 9/9/27. Here's Jan Hammer's "Thorn of a White Rose" from one of Elvin's best records as a leader: ELVIN JONES IS ON THE MOUNTAIN (1975). Hammer on keyboards, Gene Perla on bass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q65x...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q65x...
Thorn of a White Rose
YouTube video by Elvin Jones - Topic
www.youtube.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Happy birthday to one of my greatest heroes, Elvin Jones, b. 9/9/27. Here's Jan Hammer's "Thorn of a White Rose" from one of Elvin's best records as a leader: ELVIN JONES IS ON THE MOUNTAIN (1975). Hammer on keyboards, Gene Perla on bass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q65x...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q65x...
Feeling the need for some Coltrane today. This favorite is one of the last studio recordings made by the Classic Quartet.
#Coltrane #Love
#Coltrane #Love
Love - John Coltrane
YouTube video by Willie Ellebie
www.youtube.com
August 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a jazz DJ & love jazz, but my 1980s college rock roots are still strong. Lately I’ve been revisiting R.E.M.’s IRS catalogue, albums that arrived like new chapters of an indie-rock bible in the making. They were & remain prophetic.
Welcome To The Occupation
YouTube video by R.E.M. - Topic
www.youtube.com
August 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I’m a jazz DJ & love jazz, but my 1980s college rock roots are still strong. Lately I’ve been revisiting R.E.M.’s IRS catalogue, albums that arrived like new chapters of an indie-rock bible in the making. They were & remain prophetic.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
RIP Sheila Jordan, a jazz-vocal giant and an American original. Here is my tribute, on The Gig.
Sheila's Blues
Flowers for jazz-vocal giant Sheila Jordan, gone at 96
open.substack.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
RIP Sheila Jordan, a jazz-vocal giant and an American original. Here is my tribute, on The Gig.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
Here’s to a great one
Adiós, Eddie Palmieri
Hailing a trailblazing figure in Latin music, and American culture.
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Here’s to a great one
Goodbye to a giant of Latin jazz.
Eddie Palmieri, a trailblazer in Latin music, has died at age 88
The bandleader and pianist was one of the leading Latin musicians of his generation. He won multiple Grammys and was recognized as an NEA Jazz Master.
www.npr.org
August 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Goodbye to a giant of Latin jazz.
Reposted by David Brent Johnson
Congress eliminated public media funding, and the president signed it into law. At a time of deep division, public media brings us together.
Help keep it strong. Join our monthly donors today: n.pr/458sOhq
Help keep it strong. Join our monthly donors today: n.pr/458sOhq
July 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Congress eliminated public media funding, and the president signed it into law. At a time of deep division, public media brings us together.
Help keep it strong. Join our monthly donors today: n.pr/458sOhq
Help keep it strong. Join our monthly donors today: n.pr/458sOhq