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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On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features recordings from Mali (Africa) from the past 25 years. He features artists such as Afel Bocoum, Ala Farka Toure, Oumou Sangare, and more. -
On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features the baritone saxophone. Including tracks from the following baritone players such as Pat Patrick, Serge Chaloff, Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams, Harry Carney, and more. -
On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features alto saxophonist Marion Brown. Also, covers newly released recordings from 1968 with Gunter Hampel and Steve McCall. -
On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston pays tribute to pianist Abdullah Ibrahim following his passing at age 91, featuring selections spanning his remarkable career, including recordings as Dollar Brand, with The Jazz Epistles and The Dollar Brand Trio, and alongside Roland Kirk, Eric Dolphy, and Charles Mingus. -
On this week’s episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston pays tribute to jazz guitarist James Blood Ulmer, who passed away June 5, 2026. -
On this week’s episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston pays tribute to tenor saxophonist Gary Foster following his passing at age 89, featuring selections from across Foster's remarkable career alongside music by Warne Marsh and Ted Brown. -
On this week’s episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston pays tribute to jazz giant Sonny Rollins following his passing at age 95, featuring selections from across Rollins’ remarkable career alongside music by Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Andrew Hill, Don Cherry, Eric Dolphy, and others who helped shape the evolution of modern jazz. -
On this week’s episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston explores 1950s bebop with a focus on alto saxophone players inspired by Charlie Parker, featuring music from Jackie McLean, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Stitt, Miles Davis, George Russell, and Charlie Parker himself, alongside later avant-garde and free jazz selections from artists including Steve Lacy, Don Cherry, Masada String Trio, and Phil Cohran. -
On this week’s episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features music from Blue Note Tone Poet releases alongside selections from artists including Andrew Hill, Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Bobby Hutcherson, and John Coltrane.
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On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features some previously unreleased music by Cecil Taylor from 1969.
