
LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Mark Turner
From Liner Notes with David Bixler by David Bixler
December 1, 2025 · 35 min · Season 8 · Episode 6
About this episode
Mark Turner discusses his latest project inspired by James Weldon Johnson's novel, exploring themes of race and identity through music.
In the early 1900s, James Weldon Johnson explored the complex life of a bi-racial man who chose to disappear into white society in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man . Now, saxophonist Mark Turner uses this powerful novel as the foundation for his latest project. Join us as we listen to and discuss Turner's powerful compositions—a musical meditation on race, anonymity, and heritage—performed by his stellar quintet featuring Jason Palmer , David Virelles , Matt Brewer , and Nasheet Waits . Discover how this music forces the listener to confront the novel's enduring questions about identity and the American experience.
People in this episode
Host: David Bixler
Guest: Mark Turner
Topics covered
- race
- identity
- heritage
- music
- anonymity
- American experience
Keywords
- Mark Turner
- David Bixler
- The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
- saxophonist
- music composition
- race
- identity
- heritage
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
More episodes of Liner Notes with David Bixler
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- LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Caroline Davis · March 1, 2026 · 34 min
- LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Emilio Solla · February 2, 2026 · 36 min
- LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Lenard Simpson · January 1, 2026 · 29 min
- LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Patricia Brennan · October 31, 2025 · 33 min
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