Jazz Bastard Podcast

Mike and Pat take the remaining winners of the Village Voice's best of 2014 to that special place only they have the pass-keys to, ponder the purpose of french horns in jazz, and generally whoop it up in 2015's final blast. Walter Smith III – STILL CASUAL; Yosvany Terry – NEW THRONED KING; Wadada Leo Smith – GREAT LAKES SUITE; Mark Taylor – QUIETLAND.

Mike and Pat pick up the cudgels and readdress themselves to the Village Voice list of the ten best jazz albums from 2014 (see episode 72 for the first part of this hatchet job). Leave it to those bastards to like the non-winning selection on this week's show the best. Myra Melford – SNOWY EGRET; Anne Mette Iversen's Double Life - SO MANY ROADS; Rufus Reid – QUIET PRIDE; Diego Barber/Cra...

Three IS a magic number, people, so Mike and Pat discuss jazz trios for their third anniversary special. Plus, brief discussions of each 'caster's favorite 3 albums from this year of shows AND Mike confuses Steely with Pink. E.S.T. - TUESDAY WONDERLAND; Joshua Redman – YAYA3; Clusone Trio – I AM AN INDIAN; Kora Jazz Trio PART II

Can you say "Ibrahim"? If so, you're smarter than Pat. But you knew that already. Lester Young – JUMPIN' AT THE SAVOY; Martin Speake – CHANGE OF HEART; Charlie Byrd – MOMENTS LIKE THIS; Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) – SOUTH AFRICA

Uber-journeyman Phil Woods passed recently, so the boys devote a podcast to his seventies prime. Musings about set-list construction, strange string interludes, jokes about anorexia - this ep's got it all. Phil Woods – AND HIS EUROPEAN RHYTHM MACHINE, I REMEMBER, LIVE AT THE SHOWBOAT, MUSIQUE DU BOIS.

Pat and Mike get lost in meditation as they consider a significant sliver of Edward Kennedy Ellington's career as bandleader, arranger, composer, pianist and womanizer. Duke Ellington: JUNGLE NIGHTS IN HARLEM, BRAGGIN' IN BRASS, NEVER NO LAMENT, FARGO.

How do we love thee? Let Mike and Pat count the ways they love David Murray (not all 130+ albums, but many) in this very special "things were better back in my day now get off my lawn" episode about the beauties of eighties jazz. Plus, Pat makes new friends discussing Saturday and Sunday shows from the Chicago Jazz Fest. David Murray: HOME, BLACK & BLACK, SOUTH OF THE BORDER; CREOLE.

Mixed bag, tossed salad - call it what you will, this episode ranges far and wide, and Pat's out of his depth for much o' the ranging. Plus, references to ancient TV shows! Candido – THE MASTER; Tony Malaby – APPARITIONS; Bill Russo – SEVEN DEADLY SINS; Laurenzi/Ernst/Green (aka Twin Talk)– SIGHTLINE

This year, the boys check out the Village Voices top ten list of jazz albums and as usual, find hits 'n' misses. Plus, Mike and Pat rant about ECM. Billy Childs – MAP TO THE TREASURE; Steve Lehman – MISE EN ABIME; Tom Harrell – TRIP; David Virelles – MBOTO.

In honor of Billie Holiday's centennial, the boys split the 'cast between examining the master's recordings and two 2015 tributes. Gender trouble ensues. Billie Holiday – VOLUME THREE OF THE COMPLETE COLUMBIA RECORDINGS, LADY SINGS THE BLUES; Cassandra Wilson – COMING FORTH BY DAY; Jose James – YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES.

Keep your voices down - Mike's mom is sleeping. Or something like that. The boys record this one while visiting their respective parental units, which wreaks havoc on the audio (but tugs on the heartstrings). Also, in the bonus segment about Jazz Times' top ten combos, Pat has some bad news for Mike about Weather Report. John Butcher – THIRTEEN FRIENDLY NUMBERS: Paul Motian – AT THE VILL...

Mike and Pat mourn the passing of avante garde jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman by discussing some of his lesser known recordings. Ornette Coleman – SOMETHING ELSE!!!, LIVE AT THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, VOL 1; NAKED LUNCH; COLORS.

The bastard's first, best and only guest - inimitable tenor saxophonist Sophie Faught - is back after a two year hiatus, and this time the boys are choosing the albums (along with discussing Sophie's latest release - Three Muses). Sophie Faught, Nick Tucker, Ben Lumsdaine - THREE MUSES; Rabbinical School Dropouts - COSMIC TREE; Todd Sickafoose - TINY RESISTORS. Oh yeah- it is ON, Zooey D...

The boys run the gamut from the straight ahead bop of Hank Mobley to the far-out trip of Richard Davis, then wonder just what a "gamut" is. Plus, the Mike/Austin Powers mashup none of you have been waiting for! Richard Davis - SONG FOR WOUNDED KNEE; Phil Woods – FLORESTA CANTO; Hank Mobley – AND HIS ALL STARS; Max Roach - M'BOOM

The candles blew and then disappeared, the curtains flew and then he appeared, saying "baby, don't be afraid" . . . to discuss the first four releases on powerhouse jazz label Black Saint: Billy Harper – BLACK SAINT; Archie Shepp – SEA OF FACES; Muhal Richard Abrams – SIGHTSONG; Don Pullen – CAPRICORN RISING.

Two vocalists and two big bands make up the bulk of today's show, but stay tuned for record store day confessions, part 1, and marvel as the boys reminisce about disco demolition day. Carmen McRea – SARAH: DEDICATED TO YOU (1990); Count Basie – AT NEWPORT (1957); Natalie Cole – TAKE A LOOK (1993); Toshiko Akiyoshi – ROAD TIME

Pat pulls out some recently picked up vinyl and one chestnut from his high school years and behold - all four are from the bell-bottom decade! What's it all about? Tune in to find out. Dexter Gordon – HOMECOMING; Lee Konitz – SATORI; Chico Freeman – THE OUTSIDE WITHIN; Oscar Peterson – PLAYS TRISTEZA.

What is this thing called Smooth Jazz? This funny thing called Smooth Jazz? Who can solve its mystery? Why does it sound so crappy to me? Brace yourselves, people, as Mike and Pat search for the G spot. Bob James/Earl Klugh – ONE ON ONE; Kenny G – DUOTONES; Chris Botti – WHEN I FALL IN LOVE; Spyro Gyro – A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

What's that sound in the sky? Is it a screaming pterodactyl? An air-raid siren? Joan Crawford's ghost? No, it's a big Mac Attack. Enjoy this all-Jackie McLean episode. Mike sure didn't. Jackie McLean – JACKIE'S BAG, LET FREEDOM RING, OLD AND NEW GOSPEL; Grachan Moncur III - EVOLUTION

This podcast explores four albums from three different labels run by producer Orrin Keepnews. Mike hates 70's bass; Ernie Henry gives Pat the willies; other revelations follow. Randy Weston GET HAPPY; Thelonious Monk – BRILLIANT CORNERS; Joe Henderson – THE ELEMENTS; Bobby Hutcherson – GOOD BAIT

Various artists get bastardized tonight, but, really, it's all about the Bradford. Tomasz Stanko – SELECTED RECORDINGS; Brad Mehldau – ART OF THE TRIO, VOL 1; Ernie Watts- REACHING UP; Don Pullan – NEW BEGINNINGS. Stay tuned for an Elling-visceration.

Mike and Pat discuss four new vocal albums at the intersection of jazz, pop, and S&M. Diana Krall – WALLFLOWER; Dr. John - SKE-DAT-DE-DAT - THE SPIRIT OF SATCH; Bob Dylan – SHADOWS IN THE NIGHT; Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga – CHEEK TO CHEEK. Let's see how long it takes Diana Krall to get a restraining order.

Pat and Mike eff the ineffable as they explore the gamut from cocktail lounge tenor to downtown skronking strings. String Trio of New York – GUT REACTION; Andrew Hill – COMPULSION; Branford Marsalis – BLOOMINGTON; Stan Getz - GETZ/GILBERTO.

Four trios push in different directions against the "jazz trio" template, Pat rants about young people, Mike eats bacon - this episode has everything. Plus, it's quiz time! Monocled Man – SOUTHERN DRAWL; Hedvig Mollestad Trio – ENFANT TERRIBLE; Neil Cowley Trio – LOUD LOUDER STOP; Mary Halvorson - THUMBSCREW

Blow cat blow! Mike and Pat discuss three recent and one classic release by jazz trumpeters. Can Orbert Davis turn sketches of pain to vistas of delight? Tune in to find out. Josh Berman – OLD IDEA; Orbert Davis – SKETCHES OF SPAIN; Russ Johnson – SAVE BIG; Howard McGhee – SHADES OF BLUE.