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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Mark Stryker reviews the forthcoming John Coltrane Tiberi Tapes set. Make haste, November 6!

Reposted by David Brent Johnson

NPR @npr.org · 03/09/2026

Wilson, who's deep, dark contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, died on Wednesday in her hometown of Jackson, Miss. n.pr/4gN06Y6

n.pr

Cassandra Wilson, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist, dies at 70

Wilson, who's deep, dark contralto was one of the most distinctive voices in jazz, died on Wednesday in her hometown of Jackson, Miss.

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Reposted by David Brent Johnson

Nate Chinen @natechinen.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A meditation on Cassandra Wilson, in the immediate void left by her passing. This gets to some places I couldn’t reach with the obit.

thegig.substack.com

Cassandra Wilson, The Conjurer

Parting thoughts on a singular voice and incredible artist

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Louis Armstrong in New York 1924-24 six-CD Mosaic coming in August/September, via Armstrong biographer Ricky Riccardi.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

New Louis Armstrong box set announced by Archeophone Records today: “Louis in Chicago, 1925-26: The Complete *Acoustic* Hot Five and Sideman Tracks.” Album notes by our fellow GRAMMY winner Ricky Riccardi. Stay tuned for more details!" Should be a great follow-up to their 2024 Centennial set.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins was on a hot streak in the mid-to-late 1950s. Last week's Night Lights show highlights his 1957 chapter, including a brief stint with Miles Davis, Rollins' historic live Village Vanguard date, and music from albums such as Way Out West & The Sound of Sonny.

ipm.org

Rollins '57: Sonny Rollins Takes The Lead

In 1957 tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins was at the peak of his first great period, playing with a confident, swinging, and radical abandon both as a leader and with Max Roach and Miles Davis.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Finishing up a new Night Lights about the amazing and still-undersung artist Jeanne Lee. Here she is in Carla Bley's 1971 opus Escalator Over the Hill...more to come soon. #JeanneLee

youtube.com

Jeanne Lee in "Escalator Over The Hill" 1971

YouTube video by symbolkid

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Hank Shteamer on Flea's new jazz album. Proud of the involvement of two Indiana University jazz alums (Josh Johnson and Anna Butterss) in this project. Also check out Flea's role as a trumpeter and addict in the vastly underrated 2014 Joe Albany biopic LOW DOWN.

nytimes.com

How Did Flea Make a Jazz Album? Practice, Practice, Practice.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Fascinating article about Claire Douglas, who was married to J.D. Salinger at the height of his literary fame and who served as the model for his character Franny Glass. After their divorce in 1967, she eventually became a highly-respected Jungian analyst and scholar.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

There’s a big trove of early-1960s live recordings of the John Coltrane quartet on the way. The Frank Tiberi tapes have long been a grail quest for Trane fans.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Jazz writer @markstryker.bsk.social joins me today to discuss “Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit,” the documentary film adaptation of his book about Detroit jazz. We’ll be playing lots of Detroit jazz as well by Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, Ron Carter, Geri Allen & more. On wfiu.org from 3-5 pm.

wfiu.org

Radio

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

This was and is real presidential leadership—not the current narcissistic, hate-driven clown-car show that’s destroying our constitutional republic.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

I sure do miss this beautiful First Couple. They continue to represent the best of what this country is and what it could be.

youtube.com

The OBAMAS, 14 questions, Michelle & Barack #michelleobama #barackobama

YouTube video by TSC Celebrity Focus

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

This is a BFD: the Tiberi tapes are coming! Saxophonist Frank Tiberi frequently taped John Coltrane's performances in the early 1960s, rumored to amount to 115 hours. For Coltrane fans this stash is akin to Dean Benedetti's trove of Charlie Parker recordings, & some of it is finally coming out now.

recordstoreday.com

RSD '26 Special Release: John Coltrane - The Tiberi Tapes: A Preview of the Mythic Recordings

Among the most fabled and mythologized recordings of the last 65 years, the private recordings of John Coltrane’s group made by musician Frank Tiberi in the early 1960s have long been the subject of j...

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Always interested to read Ethan's thoughts about the Marsalis effect, but this also includes an excellent writeup about "Jazz: The Experimenters," a 1965 TV program featuring Charles Mingus & Cecil Taylor, w/commentary from Ralph Ellison and Martin Williams.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

This was my first Clifford Brown album, in a time long ago and far away. I still think it’s one of the most gorgeous trumpet records ever made.

music.apple.com

Clifford Brown with Strings by Clifford Brown on Apple Music

Album · 1955 · 12 Songs

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani swinging by the Louis Armstrong House & Museum in Queens to kick off Black History Month. Free admission this Saturday! I visited for the first time in 2024… a religious experience for any Armstrong and jazz fan.

amny.com

What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong House Museum hosts free admission day this month

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the Louis Armstrong House Museum will offer free admission to all visitors on Feb. 7.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Nate Chinen's rundown on last night's jazz Grammy winners.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Observer following ICE in her car & recording with a dash cam gets blocked off & agents leap out of the car, coming at her with guns drawn, then force her to the ground & arrest her. More “f warrants, f legality” talk from these state terrorists.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

A great male role model for boys growing up in the 1970s. Happy birthday, sir!

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Wow! The once and always Boss just dropped a brand-new song about Minneapolis. 🔥 ✊

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Reposted by David Brent Johnson

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 27/01/2026

While independent bookstores are giving out free whistles, hosting protest sign making events, and donating proceeds to mutual aid, Amazon is *checks notes* providing technology that assists ICE in their terrorizing of communities. Independent bookstores deserve your support. Amazon does not.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

“Minnesota National Guard is feeding coffee and donuts to the enemy.” 😂

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

More Louis and more love: always a good remedy for what ails America these days.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

“This is fascism. It is tyranny. It is government criminality.”

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Early Ahmad Jamal for late-night listening. This one’s a longtime favorite.

open.spotify.com

Chamber Music of the New Jazz

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Horrifying. This is not a free America. ICE is arresting and hunting witnesses to the murder this morning of Alex Peretti.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Spread the truth and defy the Ministry of Lies.

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Reposted by David Brent Johnson

Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

As it happens, Alex Pretti apparently had a carry permit. THAT DOESN'T MATTER, because he *didn't draw a gun.* Even had he possessed an illegal gun, this would still be murder. His alleged gun is a DHS red herring; it doesn't matter. We do not need to debate it one way or other.

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Minneapolis was a quiet, safe, and prosperous city until ICE occupied it. Nearly one month into 2026, there have been only three homicides in Minneapolis for the year to date. Two of them have been committed by agents of ICE.

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Reposted by David Brent Johnson

Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

"Just stay cool and don't make trouble until the midterms" is not going to cut it as an opposition response to a murderous regime whose masked thugs are killing people in the streets and then attempting to round up witnesses and destroy evidence.

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Reposted by David Brent Johnson

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22/01/2026

Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

I sense a theme for the next weekday show, which comes like Night Lights from WFIU in Bloomington, Indiana, where a miracle has come to pass--IU's gone from losingest team in college football history to a national title and W-L record matched only by Yale in 1896, and all of this in just two years.

youtube.com

The Champ

YouTube video by Dizzy Gillespie - Topic

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Coming to you straight outta Bloomington, Indiana this evening, home of the newly-minted greatest team in college football history. #HoosierPride #IUfightsong

youtube.com

Indiana, Our Indiana

YouTube video by Visions Jazz Ensemble - Topic

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David Brent Johnson @davidbrentjohnson.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Playing jazz in honor of MLK Day from now to 5 pm EST on WFIU—Grant Green, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Christian McBride, Gregory Porter, Jazzmeia Horn, and more: www.ipm.org/radio

ipm.org

Radio

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