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 takes us back to the late ’50s and early ’60s with trio recordings from Sonny Clark, Elmo Hope, and Phineas Newborn. -
On this week's episode of Destination Out, Mike Johnston features Cecil Taylor Orchestra Humane where they performed Live at the Iridium 2004. Mike will be spinning a long piece from this concert series.
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Mike Johnston will be spinning recordings from the '80s. He featured Jameel Moondoc on alto saxophone as well as William Parker on bass, and Rashid Bakr on the drums.
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Mike Johnston will be featuring recordings of the Swedish drummer Bengt Berger, who passed away this past week at the age of 84. As well as recordings Berger made with such as Don Cherry, Chapter Seven and the Bitter Funeral Beer Band -
Mike Johnston features recordings of the The Human Arts Ensemble from the 1970s, based in St. Louis. Members include Joseph Bowie on the trombone, Julius Hemphill on the saxophones, John Lindberg on the bass, and Charles Bo Bo Shaw on the drums.
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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.
