Alumnus launches weekly radio show

A reincarnation of jazz has recently hit the IU campus, pervading local radio stations and hoping for a more modern group of enthusiasts. \nDavid Johnson, a former IU student, hosts a weekly radio show for WFIU titled "Night Lights." WFIU is an IU affiliated radio station run by full-time employees as well as students. The station's Web site describes the program as a comprehensive jazz show for all ages.\n"Night Lights" focuses on 1950s and 1960s artists such as Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jackie McLean and Nina Simone, in addition to jazz from 1970 to the present that has a late-night sensibility. \nJohnson started his career at WFIU as a guest-host for Joe Bourne, who also hosts a weekly jazz program. \n"The people that worked there were very supportive and I had really wanted to start doing my own show, but it's a tight schedule over there," Johnson said. "They rarely drop or add shows."\nHowever, a slot finally opened and Johnson was offered his dream job as a weekly host. \n"I wanted it to be classic jazz with a twist of 'This American Life,' an NPR show geared towards college students," Johnson said.\nAs a college student, Johnson admits to only having listened to mainstream jazz artists, among other genres of music. However, once he gave the music a shot, his fanaticism was obvious.\n"The rhythm of your life changes around your mid 20s," he said.\nSince then, he has been tuning in to countless jazz albums and experimenting with the history of jazz from 1945 to 1965. \n"I think that was just an incredible time for American culture -- both for history and the arts," Johnson said.\nThe program follows a particular theme each week. Frequently, Johnson features themes that appeal to the interests of college students.\n"I'm going to do a show called 'Jazz Cameos' with pop rock songs featuring jazz performers. Also, I plan on running a show featuring jazz songs about coffee for finals week," he said.\nOne of Johnson's goals is to achieve a following of college-age listeners.\n"If I can pull some younger listeners to WFIU, that would be great. I'd like students to tune in on Saturday nights when they're traveling from party to party," Johnson said.\nHowever, Johnson's goals reach far beyond Bloomington. \n"Another one of my ambitions is for the program to meet the challenge of being in the age of internet radio," he said. "I'm simply trying to reach people around the world who like jazz."\nJohnson's aspirations for the show are on the road to success, as some of his goals are being met in unexpected ways.\n"The show's getting a good response and a large following," he said. "There's a lawyer in Jerusalem who runs an online jazz forum and posts 'Night Lights' every week. Also, there's a jazz loving priest in L.A. who listens while he does his office work."\nJohnson's program airs for one hour every Saturday night, beginning at 11:10 p.m. He encourages everyone to tune in, whether or not they are a hard-core jazz enthusiast.\n"I'm trying to have it be interesting on different levels -- whether someone has five jazz records or 3,000 in their collection," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Teri \nRosenbaum at terosenb@indiana.edu.