This week on Visions, I celebrate the life and legacy of Malcolm X, whose birthday is May 19. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” was one of the most important books I ever read. And the fact that there are jazz songs about Malcolm X means many others were impacted by him, too.

You’ll hear Malcolm X related music from Philip Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Terence Blanchard, Archie Shepp, Leon Thomas, Billy Brooks, and Christian McBride.

I also play music from Makaya McCraven, Alice Coltrane, Mal Waldron, Yusef Lateef, Geri Allen & The Mary Lou Williams Collective, Cecil McBee, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, and Abbey Lincoln.

The music about Malcolm in this episode is powerful, political, deeply spiritual, and raw. He may have been a controversial figure to some, but his impact is still present today.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for May 18, 2026

• “Malcolm X” – Philip Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble
• “Black Rhythm Happening” – Makaya McCraven
• “Malcolm Makes Hajj” – Terence Blanchard
• “Retribution” – Abbey Lincoln
• “A Love Supreme” – Alice Coltrane*
• “Elmina” – Donald Byrd*
• “Taurus” – Geri Allen* & The Mary Lou Williams Collective
• “Brother Malcolm” – Christian McBride
• “Symbiosis” – Mike Nock, Bennie Maupin*, Cecil McBee & Eddie Marshall
• “Al Hajj Malik Al Shabazz – For Malcolm X (Live)” – Billy Brooks
• “Malcolm’s Theme” – Terence Blanchard
• “Warp And Woof (feat. Eric Dolphy & Booker Ervin)” – Mal Waldron
• “Malcolm’s Gone” – Leon Thomas
• “Port Of Call” – Cecil Taylor
• “Malcolm, Malcolm – Semper Malcolm” – Archie Shepp
• “Love Theme From Spartacus” – Yusef Lateef*
• “Springtime Again” –  Sun Ra

* indicates Detroit artists

This week on Visions I visit more classic cuts, this time spanning the early 1960s to the late 1980s. It’s a piano-heavy episode where you’ll hear Mary Lou Williams, Keith Jarrett, Elmo Hope, Kenny Barron, and Stanley Cowell.

I also play music from Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Steps Ahead, Tania Maria, Wes Montgomery, Ron Carter, Miles Davis, and Toots Thielemans. I have three songs that break the mold of classics with new tracks from Flea and Elsa Nilsson’s Band of Pulses, plus a 2008 release from Dave Holland.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for May 4, 2026

• “Fancy Free” – Donald Byrd*
• “Firm Roots” – Clifford Jordan
• “Come With Me” – Tania Maria
• “In a Sentimental Mood” – Steps Ahead
• “Morning Cry” – Flea
• “Nothing Like You (feat. Wayne Shorter, Frank Rehak, Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb)” – Miles Davis
• “Bluesette” – Toots Thielemans
• “Green Chimneys” – Kenny Barron Trio
• “Tourist Point of View” – Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra
• “A Night in Tunisia” – Elmo Hope
• “Lalene” – Keith Jarrett
• “Fast Track” – Dave Holland Sextet
• “Mourning For Two” – Elsa Nilsson
• “Equipoise” – Stanley Cowell
• “Holy Ghost” – Mary Lou Williams
• “Up and at It” – Wes Montgomery
• “Yes, Indeed (feat. Eric Dolphy & Mal Waldron)” – Ron Carter*

* indicates Detroit artists