Night Lights Classic Jazz

The Greatest Bass Player In The World: Jaco Pastorius

In the history of jazz, there are only a few innovators who’ve actually changed the sound of their instrument. Jaco Pastorius was one of them. Read More »

Recent Shows

Norman Granz's Jazz Scene

An anthology that helped to elevate the artistic stature of jazz.

In 1945, as World War II wound down in Europe and the U.S. ramped up for an invasion of Japan, Duke Ellington undertook a weekly broadcast on behalf of the war effort, playing music and encouraging civilians to buy war bonds.

Exploring the life and music of an unheralded pianist and composer from the hardbop era.

Though he recorded with organists Bill Doggett and Jimmy Smith, when saxophonist Percy France died in 1992 he was primarily known and admired among a small circle of his fellow New York City jazz musicians. Now a new website aims to elevate his soulful tenor sound and story.

Night Lights in the key of screeeech: stalking monsters, roadweary Draculas, and the true tale of the jazz-loving New Orleans Mysterious Axman are all part of this week's Halloween celebration.

Wynton Marsalis is respected and scorned as jazz's most prominent spokesperson, but at the dawn of his career he was seen simply as a brilliant young trumpeter.

Throughout the 1950s jazz promoter George Wein ran a Boston nightclub that showcased some of the music’s most notable performers.

Chico Hamilton had gained fame with a 1950s quintet often defined as “chamber jazz,” but at the dawn of the 1960s he began to head in a new artistic direction.

Older stories »

Night Lights Blog

A Tribute To Dominic Spera

Indiana University jazz studies head Tom Walsh and vocalists Rachel Caswell and Janiece Jaffe joined David Brent Johnson on WFIU's "Just You And Me" to discuss Dominic Spera, the trumpeter and former IU jazz educator who passed away on Saturday, October 23 at the age of 89. Spera's music is featured as well.

"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.

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Noon Edition

The Greatest Bass Player In The World: Jaco Pastorius

Recent Shows

Norman Granz's Jazz Scene

The Duke Is On The Air: Duke Ellington's Summer 1945 Treasury Department Shows

Hope Lives: A Portrait Of Elmo Hope

Out Of The Shadows: Percy France

Strange Enchantment: Jazz For Halloween

Young Wynton: Early Marsalis

Jazz From Storyville

A Different Journey: Chico Hamilton In The 1960s

Night Lights Blog

A Tribute To Dominic Spera

"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

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