This week on Visions, I celebrate two greats we lost last week. One of them is Detroit’s very own trumpeter, Rayse Biggs. The other is South African pianist, Abdullah Ibrahim.

In addition to several selections by them, I play the Helen Sung Big Band, sparklmami, Freddie Hubbard & Woody Shaw, Charles Mingus, Detroit’s Pamela Wise, Elsa Nilsson, Sullivan Fortner, Grant Green, and more.

This episode spans seven decades of music from the late 50’s to the 2020’s. Happy listening!

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 22, 2026

• “Calling Miss Khadija” – Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw
• “Tintinyana” – Abdullah Ibrahim
• “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – Charles Lloyd
• “Night Mist” – Rayse Biggs*
• “Convergence” – Helen Sung Big Band
• “fajas” – sparklmami
• “Blues for a Hip King” – Abdullah Ibrahim
• “Khalil’s Promise” – Pamela Wise*
• “Organ Grinder” – Sullivan Fortner
• “Reincarnation of a Lovebird” – Charles Mingus
• “Walk On By (Live)” – Grant Green
• “Little Waltz” – Thad Jones* & Pepper Adams* Quintet
• “Piece of Heaven” – Rayse Biggs
• “No Pidas Imposibles” – Melissa Aldana
• “Encounter” – Trio 3
• “Yesterday’s Promise” – Elsa Nilsson
• “Hymn to Freedom” – Oscar Peterson

* indicates Detroit artist

This week on Visions, I play disparate parts of what I’ve been listening to lately, discovering, and revisiting. I’ve got classics from Thelonious Monk, Gary Bartz, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, Donald Byrd, and Clifford Jordan.

I play my new music discovery from Dana and Alden featuring Mei Semones. I also include new releases from Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown, Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, Tyshawn Sorey, and fairly new tracks from Jeff Parker’s ETA Quartet and 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 June 15, 2026

• “Oska T. (Live)” – Thelonious Monk
• “Lee’s Greenhouse (feat. Mei Semones)” – Dana and Alden
• “Resolution” – Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown
• “Congregation (with. Julian Lage, Asante Santi Debriano & Will Calhoun)” – Joe Lovano
• “When Will the Blues Leave?” – Ornette Coleman
• “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” – Sonny Rollins
• “Chant” – Donald Byrd*
• “Libra” – Tyshawn Sorey
• “Like Swimwear (part two) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” – Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet
• “On A Misty Night (Live)” – Gary Bartz
• “Jazzonia (feat. Mark Lockheart & Nikki Iles)” – Dave Holland, Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler & London Vocal Project
• “Shoulders” – Clifford Jordan
• “Truth Revealed (With Intro)” – Robert Hurst*

* indicates Detroit artists

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 late Sonny Rollins who passed just last week at the age of 95. I play several selections by him as a bandleader and a couple selections with him as a sideman. Mostly, I play his compositions that were recorded by other people to show the breadth of Sonny’s musical legacy.

I play “Sonnymoon for Two”, “Three Little Words”, and “Blessing in Disguise” by Sonny Rollins. I play his compositions “Oleo”, “Doxy”, “St. Thomas”, and “Airegin” performed by Miles Davis, Branford Marsalis, Ron Carter and Jim Hall, and Toots Thielemans, respectively. I also feature new music from Nite Bjuti and Tyshawn Sorey, plus selections from Jessica Jones, Tomeka Reid, and Max Roach.

Happy listening, and rest in power to the great Sonny Rollins.

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 1, 2026

• “Sonnymoon for Two (Live At The Village Vanguard, 1957 / Evening Take)” – Sonny Rollins
• “a(ways) For CC and CeCe [feat. Jason Roebke, Mary Halvorson & Tomas Fujiwara]” – Tomeka Reid
• “Brilliant Corners” – Thelonious Monk
• “Oleo (feat. Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Kenny Clarke & Percy Heath)” – Miles Davis
• “St. Thomas” – Jim Hall & Ron Carter Duo
• “Piezoelectricity Girl (Live)” – Nite Bjuti
• “Doxy” – Branford Marsalis
• “Airegin” – Toots Thielemans
• “Blessing In Disguise” – Sonny Rollins
• “Absolutions” – Max Roach
• “Equipoise, Pt. 1” – Tyshawn Sorey
• Sumphin'” – Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie & Sonny Stitt
• “Three Little Words” – Sonny Rollins

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 play classics from from Idris Muhammad, Max Roach, Leroy Vinnegar, Betty Carter, Carla Bley, Gil Evans who interprets the music of Jimi Hendrix, 24-Carat Black, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Jackie McLean, Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell, and another cut from the recently released Oscar Peterson Trio live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge.

I also play more recent selections from Jane Ira Bloom, my teacher, Andrew Bishop, and a brand new single from Mary Halvorson and Ambrose Akinmusire’s upcoming album.

This music comes from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 2000s and 2026, spanning fusion, hard bop, big band, avant-garde, funk, soul and more.

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 11, 2026

• “Jacknife” – Jackie McLean
• “Cleaver’s Loops” – Andrew Bishop
• “Don’t Git Sassy (Live)” – Thad Jones* And Mel Lewis
• “Voodoo Chile” – The Gil Evans Orchestra
• “Rounds” – Marilyn Crispell, Gary Peacock & Paul Motian
• “Tight” – Betty Carter*
• “Mother’s Day” – 24-Carat Black
• “Almost Like Me” – Max Roach
• “I Got Rhythm But No Melody” – Jane Ira Bloom, Fred Hersch, Charlie Haden & Ed Blackwell
• “My Romance” – Leroy Vinnegar
• “Blood & Sand” – Ambrose Akinmusire & Mary Halvorson
• “Short Stuff (Medley)” – Don Cherry & Ed Blackwell
• “Lawns” – Carla Bley
• “Wander” – Idris Muhammad
• “Let There Be Love (Live)” – Oscar Peterson Trio

* 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

On this week’s episode of Visions I play new music from Immanuel Wilkins, Fabiano de Nascimento, and Melissa Aldana. I play fairly recent releases from Sara Serpa, Micah Thomas, and Kalia Vandever. Music from Anna Webber’s Percussive Mechanics, María Grand, and Wynton Marsalis grace the airwaves. Plus classics from Charles Mingus, Les McCann and Joe Henderson.

I also play two previously unreleased live recordings from the Oscar Peterson Trio and Roy Hargrove which just came out over the weekend, the latter for Record Store Day. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, so sit back and enjoy the ride!

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 April 20, 2026

• “Vittor e Fabi” – Fabiano do Nascimento & Vittor Santos e Orquestra
• “Gemini” – Cannonball Adderley Sextet
• “Better Git It In Your Soul” – Charles Mingus
• “Grounds” – Micah Thomas
• “Sometimes I Cry” – Les McCann
• “Caryisms” – Roy Hargrove
• “Ocaso” – Melissa Aldana
• “Chicago (Live)” – Oscar Peterson Trio
• “Tacos Wyoming (feat. James Wylie, Julius Heise, Elias Stemeseder, Igor Spallati, Max Andrzejewski & Martin Kruemmling)” – Anna Webber’s Percussive Mechanics
• “Harriet Tubman” – Wynton Marsalis
• “Pick It Up (and Drop It Again)” – Kalia Vandever
• “TI: Isis” – María Grand
• “Language (feat. Ingrid Laubrock, Angelica Sanchez & Erik Friedlander)” – Sara Serpa
• “CITRINE (Live)” – Immanuel Wilkins

This week on Visions, I play a little bit of a lot of things. Selections span from 1960 to newly dropped singles, with a couple really exciting exclusives in the mix.

I play new music from Mary Halvorson and Ambrose Akinmusire, Yvonne Rogers, the Sean Imboden Large Ensemble, Ingrid Jensen, Flea, and Jeff Parker. I play classics from Herbie Hancock, Gene Ammons, Kirk Lightsey, Larry Young, and Leo Parker.

I play a track from the Oscar Peterson Trio recorded live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in 1960, but previously unreleased. The whole album is coming out this Friday, April 17, on Verve Records.

Along similar lines, I play a track from Buster Williams‘ debut record that is being re-released for Record Store Day, Saturday April 18.

Happy listening!

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 April 13, 2026

• “Number Nine (feat. Marcus Belgrave*, Craig Handy, David Williams & Eddie Gladden)” – Kirk Lightsey*
• “Wave (feat. Ira Coleman & Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez) [Live]” – Joanne Brackeen & Ravi Coltrane
• “Flowing Currents” – Sean Imboden Large Ensemble
• “Ripley” – Kim Cass
• “Triangle” – Herbie Hancock
• “Noble Eagle” – Buster Williams
• “S’Posin’ (Live)” – Oscar Peterson Trio
• “Tastin’ the Jug” – Gene Ammons
• “Bad Girl” – Leo Parker
• “Many Homes, Many Places” – Ingrid Jensen
• “Free As I Want to Be” – Flea
• “Soundcheck” – Ambrose Akinmusire & Mary Halvorson
• “Cloud Chorale” – Yvonne Rogers
• “Like Swimwear (part one) [feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson]” – Jeff Parker & ETA IVtet
• “Tyrone” – Larry Young

* indicates Detroit artists

This week on Visions, I have no theme, just good music. I play artists spanning from the 1960’s through 2026 with classics and new music discovery all in one episode.

You’ll hear classic cuts from Freddie Hubbard, Robert Glasper, Charlie Rouse, and Steps Ahead. I have new music discovery from Nicole McCabe, and Ralph MacDonald. New records from Caroline Davis, Irreversible Entanglements and Immanuel Wilkins. Plus Samara Joy, Walter Smith III, Joel Ross, Walter Bishop, Jr., and more.

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 April 6, 2026

• “Sometimes I’m Happy (Take 1)” – Walter Bishop, Jr.
• “Swingin’ at the Haven” – Walter Smith III
• “Hope” – Nicole McCabe
• “Pools” – Steps Ahead
• “Smoke Rings and Wine” – Ralph MacDonald
• “COMPOSITION II (Live)” – Immanuel Wilkins
• “Reincarnation Of A Lovebird” – Samara Joy
• “Alone Together” – Robert Glasper Trio
• “Hostile” – Joel Ross
• “The Intrepid Fox” – Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter*, Joe Henderson* & Lenny White
• “Bitchin'” – Charlie Rouse
• “Panamanian Fight Song” – Irreversible Entanglements
• “Barbara Allen (for Geri)” – Caroline Davis
• “All Blues” – Ethnic Heritage Ensemble & Kahil El’Zabar

* indicates Detroit artists