Mike Johnston
Host, Destination OutMike Johnston is the host of 'Destination Out,' which airs each Sunday evening at 11pm. Mike also teaches music history courses at Delta College and Mid Michigan Community College.
Mike is a community volunteer who first started at WCMU in August, 1987. He is also the bassist with Faruq Z. Bey and the Northwoods Improvisers, a role he has held since 1976. He was raised in Traverse City and holds an MFA degree in Art / Photography. Mike also wrote for the Jazz Magazine from 1981 to 1999.
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This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features the work of the late Abdul Wadud, performing on cello. Mike highlights his solo works, alongside collaborations with saxophonists Julius Hemphill and Arthur Blythe, and pianist Anthony Davis. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston is featuring the works of John McLaughlin. We'll hear him playing alongside musicians like Joey DeFrancesco, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and more. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features the work of John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy, live at the Village Gate in 1961 -- previously unreleased recordings of one of the all-time great jazz ensembles! -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features the work of trumpeter Bobby Bradford, who celebrated his 89th birthday earlier this week. Mike also spins the work of the late soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features music from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. He'll spin a variety of more obscure recordings from members of the association throughout the years (including Anthony Braxton on reeds, Leo Smith on trumpet, Henry Threadgill on saxophone, and George Lewis on trombones). -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features work by an ensemble from South Africa: The Blue Notes. The program includes music from the 1960s and 1970s, along with recordings featuring the different band members (Johnny Dyani on bass, Chris McGregor on piano, Dudu Pukwana on saxophone, and Louis Maholo on drums). -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston plays music from Ornette Coleman, the Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet, the Miles Davis Quintet, and more. -
This week on Destination Out, Mike is joined by former Nightsider, saxophonist, and CMU School of Music alumnus Donovan Boxey. Together they feature music from Karl Berger's Creative Music Workshop, with highlights from Karl Berger on the vibes and piano, Don Cherry on trumpet, and Lee Konitz on alto sax. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features two LP releases. One is a reissue of a legendary Abdul Wadud solo cello album from 1977, and the other is a brand-new Milford Graves release of his classic trio recorded in 1976 a week before his famous Bobby Music LP. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features 1960s and 1970s works from tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, including collaborations with fellow tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin!
