This week on Visions, I continue showcasing women in jazz and improvised music for Women’s History Month. All but two selections are led by women and while a majority of the episode focuses on newer releases, I still get a few classics in the mix.

I play quintessential cuts from Shirley Scott, Jessica Williams, Marian McPartland, Carmen McRae, and Amina Claudine Myers. I play brand new music from Caroline Davis, Ella Grace, Irreversible Entanglements, and Sylvie Courvoisier. I fill it all out with music from Sasha Berliner, Milena Casado, Linda May Han Oh, Patricia Brennan, Allison Miller, Esthesis Quartet, 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 March 16, 2026

• “UMMG (feat. Taylor Eigsti)” – Sasha Berliner
• “Yet I Can See” – Milena Casado
• “Éclats – for Ornette (Live in Europe)” – Sylvie Courvoisier Trio
• “Elbow Room (Live)” – Jessica Williams
• “Lawns” – Walter Smith III
• “Vibrate Higher (feat. Motherboard)” – Irreversible Entanglements
• “Make Someone Happy” – Shirley Scott Trio
• “Cherry Blossoms in the Rain // Sailing Through a Cloud (feat. Julia Danielle, Garrett Munz, Aval Stanley, Marion Mallard & Jayden Richardson)” – Ella Grace
• “It’s Over Now” – Carmen McRae
• “The 23”- Nels Cline
• “Portal (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire & Tyshawn Sorey)” – Linda May Han Oh
• “Aquarius” – Patricia Brennan
• “Doozy” – Marian McPartland
• “Of Two Rivers (Part 2)” – Allison Miller
• “3/4 of 4/4” – Amina Claudine Myers
• “Springtails” – Caroline Davis
• “Character” – Yuhan Su
• “Hollywood” – Esthesis Quartet

Today marks a milestone at WDET as the Don Was Motor City Playlist celebrates five years on air.  

Don Was and co-host Ann Delisi have delivered crate after crate of deep cuts and hits since 2021, helping listeners discover new favorite tracks and providing  stories about Detroit’s cultural history every Friday night.  

The show is a love letter to Detroit artists and a hub for all genres and musicians.  

Personal history of our hosts

Was and Delisi got to know each other while working on the Concert of Colors and cultivated a relationship that made them well-prepared for this powerhouse program. Delisi’s 35+ years of insights and experience as a broadcaster, combined with Was’ storytelling and internal archive of tunes, make this segment one of the most unique Detroit has to offer. 

Was, the six-time Grammy Award-winning Detroit native has done it all; quite frankly, there may be no music-related task too Herculean a feat for him to dip his hand in.  

He began his creative endeavors at Oak Park High School where formed his first band, The Saturns. But it wasn’t until he partnered with David Weiss to form Was (Not Was) that his talents were fully realized by the public with hits like “Walk the Dinosaur.”  

Following the band’s hiatus, Was became a successful producer, working with The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Willie Nelson and more. In 1995, he even received the Grammy for Producer of the Year.  

Delisi’s also a force to be reckoned with. She’s hosted Ann Delisi’s Essential Music program since 2009, focusing on creating a platform for local artists and spotlighting musical gems, both old and new.  

Delisi has interviewed a plethora of the greats, from David Bowie to Iggy Pop—she always keeps us on our toes with our ears pressed to the speakers.  

She’s also hosted Backstage Pass, a Detroit Public Television show about arts and culture in the city. In 2023, Delisi was presented with the Spirit of Detroit for her work in uplifting artists.  

Now, Was and Delisi combine their knowledge and lived experiences into one of Detroit’s funkiest radio shows. We couldn’t be prouder to host it here on WDET.

Here’s to five years of the Don Was Motor City Playlist!