IU President talks jazz on WFIU radio show

IU President Michael McRobbie emphasized the 'MC' in his name Wednesday as he contributed to a jazz program on WFIU.

As his third stint as a WFIU DJ, McRobbie was co-host for “Just You and Me,” a weekday jazz show on the Bloomington-based public radio station, and clearly defined his knowledge of and passion for jazz music.

Along with seven favorite jazz tracks, McRobbie narrated the link between physical track and personal preference.

David Brent Johnson, jazz director and “Just You and Me” regular host, said he is continually impressed by McRobbie’s artistic knowledge.

“It’s really great to have an IU president who will take a break from his normal duties to emphasize his appreciation and the importance of arts and culture,” Johnson said.
Included in McRobbie’s playlist were tracks by David Baker, IU’s own jazz legend.

“I wanted to find a piece that really demonstrates David’s ability as a jazz cello player, and I thought this was really excellent,” McRobbie said as he introduced Baker’s “Groovin’ for Ditz.” “This piece features David but also a number of his colleagues, including the late Harvey Phillips, the tuba virtuoso from the Jacobs School who I had the great honor of giving the President’s Medal to.”

The program featured two tracks by Davis, a musician who McRobbie said he regards as a supreme jazz genius.

“I realize that’s controversial, but if you look at his output and the number of different styles of jazz that he invented and the profundity of his compositions and his playing, he really, in my mind, had no equal,” McRobbie said.

McRobbie and Johnson discussed Davis’ musical influence and over-extended the conversation, as McRobbie did not have time to finish his setlist, which included additional tracks by John Coltrane, Keith Jarrett and Ornette Coleman.

“You are a very, very savvy jazz fan,” Johnson said to McRobbie to conclude the show, adding that he was sorry they could not air an extended version of the program. “And I’m not just saying that because you’re the president of IU.”

PRESIDENT'S SETLIST
George Russell/David Baker, “Kentucky Oysters”
David Baker, “Groovin’ for Diz”
Miles Davis, “Blues for Pablo”
Maria Schneider Orchestra, “Evanescence”
Miles Davis, “Miles Runs the Voodoo Down”
John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana, “A Love Supreme”
Vladimir Cosma, “Promenade Sentimentale”