On this episode of Visions, I expand how I usually think about jazz to include cuts I don’t typically play on the show. I venture into soul with artists like Tower of Power, Aretha Franklin, and Roberta Flack.

I also play a classic blues cut from Lightnin’ Hopkins, plus incredible organ players Charles Earlund and Richard “Groove” Holmes.

To me and many others, these artists are part of the same continuum that jazz falls on, which is Black Music. I’m hoping to continue expanding beyond just playing “jazz” and include Black Music more broadly!

On the more straight-ahead end of the jazz spectrum, I include cuts from Herbie Hancock, the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Hutcherson, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Rouse, Miles Davis, Larry Young, and a few others.

I hope you like the twists and turns this episode takes!

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 Nov. 24, 2025

• “Biafra” – Nat Adderely
• “Beyond All Limits” – Larry Young
• “Hey Harold (feat. Billy Hart)” – Bobby Hutcherson
• “Soul Vaccination” – Tower of Power
• “Bitchin'” – Charlie Rouse
• “Rock Steady” – Aretha Franklin*
• “Ostinato (Suite for Angela)” – Herbie Hancock
• “Yes Lord” – The Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd.*
• “To Love Somebody” – Roberta Flack
• “The Shadow of Your Smile” – Oscar Peterson
• “Misty” – Richard “Groove” Holmes
• “More Today Than Yesterday” – Charles Earlund
• “Woke Up This Morning” – Lightnin’ Hopkins
• “Compensation (Live at the Village Vanguard)” – The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra
• “Freedom Jazz Dance (Evolution of the Groove)” – Miles Davis

*indicates Detroit artists

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, “Double Fantasy” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono turned 45 this week, plus a look at the upcoming Ann Arbor Folk Festival—happening Jan. 30-31!

Also, we’ll remember the late songwriter Todd Snider with some neat in-studio performances from Acoustic Cafe.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 22, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Bitter Rivals” – Sleigh Bells
• “Piranhanana” – Shovels & Rope
• “By The End Of The Night” – Amber Mark
• “Heartbreaker” – Indigo De Souza
  
• “Wildfire Skies” – The City Lines
  
• “Talkin’ Seattle Blues” – Todd Snider
  
• “Dearborn” – Bahamas
  
• “Godspeed” – Mavis Staples
  
• “Celeste” – GoldFord
• “Witch Dance” – Florence & The Machine
• “Honeydew (No Light)” – Josh Ritter
  
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen (Night At The Opera turning 50)

• “Monument” – Greensky Bluegrass (A2FF, January 30)
• “Hold On Tight” – Amos Lee (A2FF, January 31)
• “Shake Shake” – Jon Muq (A2FF, January 31)
• “A Little Bit Of Everything” – Dawes (A2FF, January 31)
• “The Well” – The Crane Wives (A2FF, January 31)
• “My Generation, Pt. 2” – Todd Snider (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Black Myself” – Amythyst Kiah
• “I’m Losing You” – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Double Fantasy is now 45 y/o)
• “Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)” – John Lennon
  
• “Everybody Knows” – The Legal Matters
  
• “Long Haired Country Boy” – Todd Snider (Acoustic Cafe performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a new month means a new look back in history with October releases from 1965-2005.

Also, brand new Detroit music from Peter Litvin, Masha Marjieh and Joe Jaber, plus TuneYards, Trombone Shorty’s deep dive into Second Line music, John Batiste (coming to The Fox on October 24) and tons more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for October 4, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Siren” – Tune Yards
• “Man On A Mission” – The Black Keys
• “Circle Of The Seasons” – Moonrisers (Acoustic Cafe preview)
• “Secret Island” – Jon Muq
  
• “Okay Alright” – Peter Litvin
  
• “Slave To The Rhythm” – Grace Jones (October 1985)
• “Mr DJ (5 For The DJ)” – Aretha Franklin (October 1975)
• “Don’t Look Back in Anger” – Oasis (October 1995)
• “Here We Go Again” – Sloan
  
• “Heartbreak” – IVY
• “Parting Gift” – Fiona Apple (October 2005)
• “Science Fiction/Double Feature” – Richard O’Brien, 50th Anniversary of Rocky Horror Picture Show
  

• “Street Music” – Trombone Shorty
  
• “Children Of The Baked Potato” – Thundercat
• “Get Down” – Masha Marjieh
• “Pinnacle” – Jon Batiste
• “I Found Home When I Found You” – Joe Jaber
  
• “If I Were You” – k.d. lang (October 1995)
• “All The Things She Said” – Simple Minds (October 1985)
• “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” – Paul Simon (October 1975)
• “Mack The Knife” – Rufus Wainright
• “I Believe In You” – Count Basie & Frank Sinatra
• “Better Broken” – Sarah McLachlan
• “Tonight Tonight” – Smashing Pumpkins (October 1995)
• “You Send Me” – Sam Cooke (October 1965)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, as a HUGE “thank you” to all who supported us during the fundraiser, we’re getting back to “normal” this week with SONGS… In fact, 2 hours of Songs About Songs (and songwriting)! From Aretha to Weezer, EWF to Shaboozey and lots more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 27, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Sing A Song” – Earth Wind & Fire
• “Rap Song” – Black Eyed Peas
• “Wrote A Song For Everyone” – John Fogerty
• “I Wrote This Song For You” – Willie Nelson
  
• “A Song” – Apropos
  
• “Life Is A Song Worth Singing” – Teddy Pendergrass
• “Sing A Simple Song” – Sly & The Family Stone
  
• “Sing My Song” – Langhorne Slim
  
• “Border Song” – Aretha Franklin
  
• “Radio Song” – Esperanza Spalding
  
• “Radio Song” – R.E.M.
• “Radio Songs” – Jack Spivey
• “Redemption Song” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
  
• “Love Song” – Lesley Duncan
  

• “A Great Idea For A Song” – Artichoke
• “Same Old Song” – The Lumineers
• “It’s The Same Old Song” – The Four Tops
• “Crappy Love Song” – Theo Katzman
• “Silly Love Songs” – Wings
  
• “Love You Like A Love Song” – Selena Gomez
• “Love Song For No One” – John Mayer
• “No More Love Songs” – Bette Smith
• “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey
• “Prison Song” – Graham Nash
• “A Song For You” – Merry Clayton
• “Look What They Done To My Song” – Ray Charles
• “All My Favorite Songs” – Weezer
• “I’ll Write A Song For You” – Earth Wind & Fire

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

A ton of music from Lady Wray, El Michels Affair & Norah Jones, Yeek, Lola Young and Tame Impala, plus throwbacks from Aretha Franklin, Digable Planets and OutKast.

And, for good measure, a preview of this year’s Dally In The Alley and the local music you’ll hear there. The lineup for this year’s event includes dream beach, Bevlove, Delano Smith, Johnstonsons, Oliver Dollar, ADMN, Apropos and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for September 5, 2025

• “Hard Times” – Lady Wray
• “Carry Me Away” – El Michels Affair & Norah Jones
• “Heaven” – Yeek
• “SPIDERS” – Lola Young
• “Valerie (Live, BBC Radio 1 In Lounge, London/2007)” – Amy Winehouse
• “Messy” – Lola Young
• “Dog It” – Digable Planets
• “West Savannah” – OutKast
• “Nobody Knows We Are Fun” – CHAI
• “GOOD LUCK” – KAYTRANADA
• “Never Catch Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” – Flying Lotus
• “Are You Tired? (Keep on Singing)” – DARKSIDE
• “Midnight Train To Memphis” – The SteelDrivers
• “Before You feat. APROPOS (Extended)” – Oliver Dollar
• “What Cha’ Gonna Do (feat. Apropos & Boog Brown)” – Oliver Dollar
• “I Cry” – Johnstonsons
• “Remember Me” – Bevlove
• “Nebula (Original Mix)” – Delano Smith
• “Before You Gotta Go” – Courtney Barnett
• “Trick To Happy” – Bahamas
• “Road To Nowhere” – Rogê
• “So Far to Go (feat. Common & D’Angelo)” – J Dilla
• “Skindo Le-Le (S.U.M.O. Rebounce)” – A Bossa Elétrica
• “Yeah Yeah” – Bubaza
• “Waves” – Ista
• “Loser” – Tame Impala
• “Better” – Sprints
• “Midnight” – Jessie Ware
• “Pullin’” – Aretha Franklin

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, lots of new music from Detroiters Carmel Liburdi, Kate Hinote Trio and Jack Spivey,

Plus, recognizing a couple artists who recently passed, some protest songs for Fourth of July weekend and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for July 5, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews
  
• “We March” – Prince
  
• “If Not For Love” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “If She Could See Me Now” – Lorde
• “Cemetery Road” – Kate Hinote Trio
• “Theme From Mannix” – Lalo Shiffrin (died June 26)
• “Ready For Love” – Mott The Hoople (Mick Ralphs, died June 23)
  
• “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” – Aretha Franklin (released 40 years ago this month)
• “Back In Time” – Huey Lewis & The News (released 40 years ago this week)
• “The Field” – Blood Orange
  
• “Devil I Know” – Kylee Phillips

• “Americans” – Janelle Monae
  
• “America” – Tracy Chapman
• “69” – Carmel Liburdi
• “Amber (11 AM)” – Cautious Clay
• “Forget My Name – Jack Spivey (ft. Sami Ray)
  
• “Cruisin'” – D’Angelo (released 30 years ago this month)
• “Chicago” – Sufjan Stevens (released 20 years ago this month)
• “From” – Bon Iver
• “Who’ll Stand With Us?” – Dropkick Murphys
• “When Will We Be Paid” – The Staple Singers
  
• “Bye Bye 25” – Kim Gordon
• “It Keeps The Lights On” – The Accidentals
• “I Need You” – Jon Batiste

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.