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, Mike Johnston features the music of Steve Lacy (soprano) and Mal Waldron (piano), focusing on a newly unearthed recording of them in Belgium in 1995. You'll also hear a few pieces of gospel music from Albert Ayler, Mavis Staples and others. -
This week on Destination Out, Mike features American saxophonist and composer Arthur Blythe. We'll also hear works from Dexter Gordon, Chucho Valdes, and Bobby Bradford, among others. -
This week on Destination Out, Mike Johnston features bassist Barre Phillips, who passed away on December 28, 2024.
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This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features music by The Blue Notes, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Horace Parlan and more.
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This week on Destination Out, Mike Johnston takes us on a journey through the 1940s bebop, 1950s hard bop and cool jazz, and 1960s free jazz.
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This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features his annual rock n' roll show, spinning music by Traffic, Hot Tuna, Blind Faith, Bob Dylan, Santana, and many more! Mike also notes the passing of Robbie Robertson. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features solo piano for the holidays, including Abdullah Ibrahim and Chris McGregor! Other featured artists include McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston, and Alice Coltrane. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features record producer Matt Davidson, who passed away in early December; he helmed the Emanem record label. Mike will be spinning artists who recorded on the label through the years, including Bobby Bradford on trumpet, Trevor Watts on saxophone, Kent Carter on bass, Derek Bailey on guitar, and the Spontaneous Music Ensemble. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features the work of bassist David Izenzon. Mike will spin Izenzon's recordings with different artists in the 1960s and 70s, including saxophonists Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp, drummer Paul Motian, and pianist Jackie Byard. -
This week on Destination Out, host Mike Johnston features the work of the New York Loft jazz scene in the mid-1970s, featuring recordings from the Loft Sessions and others from the same timeframe, including Randy Weston on piano, Sam Rivers on sax and flute, David Murray on sax, Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet, and Roscoe Mitchell on sax.
