This episode of Visions features more celebrations of Black History Month. I span six decades and many subgenres within the broader lens of jazz.

You hear from Mary Lou Williams, McCoy Tyner, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, esperanza spalding, Joel Ross, Sun Ra, Gil Scott-Heron, Archie Shepp, Max Roach, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, and Lonnie Liston Smith.

This episode highlights rhythm, revolution, resistance, spirituality, the African diaspora, and so much more. 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 Feb. 9, 2026

• “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” – Gil Scott-Heron
• “Attica Blues” – Archie Shepp
• “All Africa” – Max Roach
• “Solea” – Miles Davis
• “Sister Rosa” – Christian McBride
• “Survival Blues” – McCoy Tyner
• “There Is No Greater Love” – Aretha Franklin*
• “I’m Not So Sure” – Roy Hargrove
• “Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)” – Joel Ross
• “Baby Man” – Mary Lou Williams
• “Sais (Egypt)” – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
• “On Jupiter” – Sun Ra
• “The Peacocks” – esperanza spalding
• “The Ankh of Amen-Ra” – Alice Coltrane*

* indicates Detroit artists

This week on Visions, I decide to take us all over the musical map. I celebrate classics and brand new music.

You hear from Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Bobby Hutcherson, Buddy Rich, Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley, and Antônio Carlos Jobim & Frank Sinatra. There’s also a 50th album anniversary from Earl Klugh and Alice Coltrane.

I also play new music from Joel Ross, Tomeka Reid, Craig Taborn, Melissa Aldana, and Walter Smith III, recent releases from Joshua Redman and Sessa, and a new release I’m really excited about by Flea.

Finally, I play a track by Detroit’s Ian Fink to promote a brand new concert series starting here in Detroit. You can hear Ian this Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2:00 p.m., at Fort Street Presbyterian Church.

The series was started by Detroit composer, pianist, and bandleader, Michael Malis and features five of Detroit and southeast Michigan’s most exciting pianists: Ian Fink, Andy Milne, Lisa Sung, Alvin Waddles, and Brendon Davis. Learn more here.

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 Jan. 26, 2026

• “Vonetta” – Earl Klugh*
• “Be Patient” – Joel Ross
• “Pensativa” – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
• “Oo long! (feat. Jason Roebke, Mary Halvorson & Tomas Fujiwara)” – Tomeka Reid
• “Before the Lights Go On” – Marcello Melis
• “Montara” – Bobby Hutcherson
• “After Minneapolis (face toward mo[u]rning) [feat. Gabrielle Cavassa]” – Joshua Redman
• “I Love Music” – Ian Fink*
• “Nutville” – Buddy Rich
• “My Ideal” – Walter Smith III
• “La Sentencia” – Melissa Aldana
• “Dindi” – Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim
• “Bicho Lento” – Sessa
• “When Kabuya Dances” – Craig Taborn, Tomeka Reid & Ches Smith
• “Blue Nile” – Alice Coltrane*
• “Never Will I Marry” – Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson
• “Traffic Lights (feat. Thom Yorke)” – Flea
• “Blues Again” – Mulgrew Miller

* Indicates Detroit artists