On this episode of Visions, I journey through the decades from the late 50’s through 2025.

I was really excited to receive an advance copy of a new Griot Galaxy release. Now, if you know Griot Galaxy, you may be wondering how could they release something new? The recording isn’t new, but the release is.

This album was recorded live on WUOM in 1979, but it was just released by a Detroit label, Two Rooms Records. I was also really excited to play another incredible live recording, this time from Jackie McLean, so I built this episode around those two anchors.

I also played classics from Eddie Harris, Grant Green, Toots Thielemans and Lee Morgan; music from Detroit’s Robert Hurst and Russ Macklem; newer releases from Nicole Glover, Kahil El’Zabar, and Kris Davis; and new music discovery from Milena Casado and Amaro Freitas. As I tend to say, this episode is a little bit of a lot of things.

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. 10, 2025

• “Cyclical” (Live) – Jackie McLean
• “Fundamental Frequency (with Art Taylor, Kenny Drew, Pepper Adams & Wilbur Ware)” – Toots Thielemans
• “Let the Music Take Your Mind” (Live) – Grant Green
• “Ill Wind” – Lee Morgan
• “Bird Feathers” – Nicole Glover
• “Eddie Harris” – The Kahil El’Zabar Quartet
• “South Side” – Eddie Harris
• “Circles (feat. Val Jeanty)” – Milena Casado
• “Heavy-footed (feat. Johnathan Blake & Robert Hurst)” – Kris Davis Trio
• “Dona Eni” – Amaro Freitas
• “Osiris” – Griot Galaxy*
• “Mr. Anderson” – Russ Macklem*
• “Spanning (Live)” – Charles Tolliver
• “Bob’s Blues” – Robert Hurst*

On this episode of Visions, I am thrilled, honored, and humbled to return to the Detroit airwaves. I wouldn’t have a home to return to if it wasn’t for Sam Beaubien, Liz Warner and W. Kim Heron who hosted the show, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to come back without the full support of WDET. Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes and behind the mic to ensure that Visions remained resonant.

On my homecoming episode, I cover almost every decade from the 1960’s to the 2020’s. I feature music made right here in Detroit by Kasan Belgrave, Louis Jones III and the Detroit Experiment; take it back to the 60’s with selections from Charles Mingus (solo piano, no less!), Duke Ellington, and a Jimmy Smith organ trio; celebrate the late greats Chick Corea and Jack DeJohnette; highlight Geri Allen as a pianist in a trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian and also as a composer with her song “Unconditional Love,” recently released by Nicholas Payton, esperanza spalding and Karriem Riggins‘ newest trio.

If that weren’t enough, I also have new music discovery that I’ve been dying to play on the airwaves. First from a group called SML whose second album will be released Friday November 7 on International Anthem. I follow that with Mauritanian Griot and singer, Noura Mint Seymali, whose newest record also comes out Nov. 7. 

I won’t give everything away, so check out the full episode and enjoy what I’ve selected for you as I celebrate my return to radio, Visions, and WDET. 

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. 3, 2025

• “Down 4 the Cause” – Kasan Belgrave
• “Caravan” – Duke Ellington
• “Citadel” – Tony Williams
• “Moon Dance” – Chick Corea
• “Lonely Woman” – Charlie Haden & Paul Motian feat. Geri Allen
• “Motions” – Louis Jones III
• “Spontaneous” – Makaya McCraven
• “People Puttin People Through Changes” – Shamek Farrah & Sonelius Smith
• “I Can’t Get Started” – Charles Mingus
• “Oh No, Babe (feat. Kenny Burrell & Grady Tate)” – Jimmy Smith
• “Unconditional Love (feat. esperanza spalding & Karriem Riggins)” – Nicholas Payton
• “Taking Out the Trash” – SML
• “Guérah” – Noura Mint Seymali
• “Space Odyssey” – The Detroit Experiment