2025.12.22 Will Calhoun on Jack DeJohnette - 1 of 3

Plate tectonics, this idea that the very surface of the earth is not an unyielding solid, but a set of independent segments in a constant state of flow, was not always accepted as truth. It was only developed in 1967, but once geophysicists saw how accurately it described familiar phenomena, there was no going back. At the exact same time, Jack DeJohnette was emerging as a new force on drums. His percussive vigor and complexity were profoundly unsettling to those who relied on the familiar swing beats of the music of previous decades. But it was a new time; there were new issues to address. There was no going back. Had Jack DeJohnette done only that, it would have made him at least a minor legend among the cognoscenti. But the fact that he had a long, fruitful career-- leading many bands, composing, collaborating, bringing younger musicians along-- made him something much, much more. Will Calhoun is one of those younger musicians. A storied drummer, as DeJohnette was, Calhoun is best known for driving the band Living Colour, but his curiosity and range of exploration know no bounds. Let's hear about the doors and windows that DeJohnette opened for him, with freshly unearthed live recordings from the WKCR archives. This Monday (12/22) from 6p to 9p NYC time on WKCR 89.9FM, WKCR-HD, or wkcr.org. Or join us when it goes up on the Deep Focus podcast on your favorite podcasting app or at https://mitchgoldman.podbean.com/. Subscribe right now to get notifications when new episodes are posted. Just like WKCR, it's ad-free, all free, totally non-commercial. We won't even ask for your contact info. Learn more about Deep Focus at https://mitchgoldman.com/about-deep-focus/ or join us on Instagram @deep_focus_podcast. Photo credit: Jack DeJohnette by Isio Saba - Personal archive photo via jackdejohnette.com. #WKCR #DeepFocus #JackDeJohnette #WillCalhoun #LivingColour #JazzRadio #JazzPodcast #JazzInterview #MitchGoldman Deep Focus is a production of Small Media Large.