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

This week on Visions, I dug through my personal record crates to inspire the episode. Now, I don’t have an extensive collection, but what I found was a lot of 70’s jazz records. This led me to a show of almost entirely selections from the 70’s.

I’ve got Alice Coltrane, Elvin Jones in a couple different contexts, Leon Thomas, Wendell Harrison, Cecil McBee, Lonnie Liston Smith, Armen Donelian, Miles Davis, and Pharoah Sanders. I also play a 2025 release from Chicago-based trio Hearts & Minds, and a brand new Blue Note release from Aaron Parks.

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. 17, 2025

• “Blues on the Bottom” – Cecil McBee
• “Illumination” – Hearts & Minds
• “Flys” – Jack DeJohnette’s Directions
• “One” – Leon Thomas
• “Peace” – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
• “Song of Happiness” – McCoy Tyner
• “Half and Half (feat. McCoy Tyner)” – Elvin Jones & Jimmy Garrison Sextet
• “My Ship (Live at the Lighthouse Café, CA.1972)” – Elvin Jones
• “Bob’s Blues” – Robert Hurst*
• “Parks Lope” – Aaron Parks
• “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” – Kenny Burrell*
• “Monday” – Armen Donelian
• “My Favorite Things” – Alice Coltrane*
• “Little Church” – Miles Davis
• “Heavenese” – Wendell Harrison*
• “Astral Traveling” – Pharoah Sanders

* indicates Detroit artists