Night Lights Classic Jazz

Shirley Scott, Queen Of The Organ

A renowned female organist, Scott recorded a number of soul-jazz classics in the late 1950s and 1960s. Read More »

Recent Shows

Matrix: The Emergence Of Chick Corea

In the 1960s Corea made a name for himself playing with hardbop and straightahead jazz artists such as Blue Mitchell, Stan Getz, and Donald Byrd, and recording a stunning trio date, before going on to work with Miles Davis’ revolutionary electric ensembles.

The singing icon was also a master pianist whose rhythms and harmonic language made him an influential jazz modernist.

In 1963 saxophonist John Coltrane made a jazz-vocal masterpiece with Johnny Hartman as well as another album only recently discovered, met a woman who would become his wife and musical partner, and dealt with the temporary loss of his favorite drummer.

He could split the stratosphere with his high notes… play you sweet and low with his ballads… glide with sudden speed through the middle registers and then slow into a cooking groove…and woe to any other trumpeter who showed up ready to jam.

Pittsburgh has produced many great jazz artists, and at the beginning of the 1960s two of them teamed up to make a notable series of albums for the Blue Note label.

This sequel to a previous program of jazz salutes to the civil-rights icon includes music from Bobby Hutcherson, Max Roach, and Herbie Hancock.

Night Lights' annual survey of notable reissues and historical releases includes music from Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Shirley Scott, and others.

In 1953 a young entrepreneur started a magazine that would help bring about the sexual revolution in America—and he was also a passionate jazz fan who used that magazine to help promote the music he loved.

Older stories »

Night Lights Blog

"Thomas Merton Experiments with Meditations on Jazz": A Poem And A Night Lights Program

"The great chain of witnesses": a poem by Betsy Sholl in the new issue of Brilliant Corners drew its inspiration in part from a Night Lights show.

Explore some of the notable musicians who emerged from the 20th century Detroit jazz scene.

"Serious jazz musicians are into their music like it's a religion," says Sisto.

Doris Day in 1946 at New York City’s Aquarium nightclub.

A tribute to Doris Day

A career-spanning musical tribute from WFIU's afternoon jazz program "Just You And Me."

Jazz critic Nate Chinen talks about his recent book "Playing Changes: Jazz For The New Century," and we hear music from some of the artists discussed as well.

Some Night Lights recommendations for reading about one of jazz's greatest figures, as well as some programs featuring his music.

Chronicling a West Coast record label of the 1940s.

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Noon Edition

Shirley Scott, Queen Of The Organ

Recent Shows

Matrix: The Emergence Of Chick Corea

Nat King Cole, Jazz Pianist

Trane '63: A Classic, A Challenge, A Change

Portrait of Little Jazz: A Tribute to Roy Eldridge

Pittsburgh Soul Connection: Horace Parlan And Stanley Turrentine

Dear Martin, P.S.: More Jazz Tributes To Martin Luther King Jr.

Best Historical Releases 2020

Swingers: Hugh Hefner, Playboy Magazine, And Jazz

Night Lights Blog

"Thomas Merton Experiments with Meditations on Jazz": A Poem And A Night Lights Program

Detroit Jazz Artists On Night Lights

"No Time Like Now": Music And Conversation With Vibraphonist Dick Sisto

A Day For Doris Day

A Day For Doris Day

Playing Changes: Music And Conversation With Jazz Writer Nate Chinen

Read Him Madly: A Duke Ellington Bibliography

Mosaic Is Planning A Black and White Label Box Set

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