This week on Visions, I celebrate the music of Geri Allen and Marcus Belgrave ahead of their June 12 birthday. I also play a track from Chick Corea who shares the same June 12 birthday.

This episode also features a lot of new music. I play brand new releases from Hannah Marks, Teiku, the James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Kenji Lee’s Fortune Teller Trio, and a never-before released record from the Kenny Barron Trio that will release Friday, June 12.

In the mix I also include the late Sonny Rollins, Robert Glasper, Kelan Phil Cohran & Legacy, and Happy Apple.

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 June 8, 2026

• “Zec” – Marcus Belgrave*
• “500 Miles High” – Chick Corea & Return to Forever
• “Who Is Your Midwest Representation?” – Happy Apple
• “Open-Handed Reach” – Kurt Rosenwinkel & Geri Allen*
• “Three Little Words” – Sonny Rollins
• “Time Was” – Kenny Barron Trio
• “Cohran Blues” – Kelan Phil Cohran & Legacy
• “Feed the Fire” – Geri Allen
• “Two Ships Passing in the Night” – Marcus Belgrave
• “Ki Le Noeh (Krumholz Melody)” – Teiku*
• “Liver Juice” – Kenji Lee’s Fortune Teller Trio*
• “Blue Skies” – Robert Glasper Trio
• “Feed the Fire” – Hannah Marks
• “The Sermon” – James Brandon Lewis, Aruan Ortiz, Brad Jones & Chad Taylor
• “Space Odyssey (feat. Marcus Belgrave)” – Geri Allen
• “The Bridge” – Sonny Rollins

* indicates a Detroit artist

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