LINER NOTES with David Bixler featuring Mark Turner

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

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