Jazz Bastard Podcast

From time to time this august podcast discusses the jazz vocal arts and opinions are expressed. Heavy hitters like Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Vaughan, and Torme have all been inspected. For this episode, the boys venture to the odder corners of the jazz vocal realm, looking at projects where the vocalist isn't the only - or sometimes even the main - talent featured. Also we talk about ELO, Astrud G...

This fortnight's 'cast looks at four recent albums by up and coming artists - from the fairly well known to the outright obscure. But hard-core listeners really want to wait for the so-called "pop matters" section, when we finally get to hear what Mike thinks of Brad Mehldau's autobiography. Is Brad teasing God? Or teasing us about God? Stay tuned to find out. Entre Amigos...

It's a well-known fact that Pat buys too much vinyl - just ask his long-suffering spouse. But at least some of it comes in handy 'round about podcast time. In this episode, our fearless two-some examine four vinyl finds, mostly by lesser known artists. Their work may not be as "collectible" as some, but that just means it's more reasonably priced. Lawrence Brown – INSPIRED...

Mike's out, so Pat gets to interview publicist turned manager Matt Merewitz solo. Listen for lots of insights, opinions, and tales from the biz by Matt, who can be followed at https://thefullyalteredone.substack.com/.

RSD - or Record Store Day for you vinyl virgins- comes but once, er, or twice a year, and while the main focus is who will win the privilege to buy a color-vinyl edition of the Wicked soundtrack, there's a little bit of jazz sprinkled in there, too.  The boys talk about four selections, three recently uncovered live dates on the prolific Resonance Records, and a studio date from German stalwa...

The boys ponder a batch of 2025 releases on the search for memorable, hummable melodies.  These being 2025 jazz albums, you can guess the results of the search.  Still, much to enjoy is these very diverse selections.  Sean Imboden Large Ensemble– COMMUNAL HEART; Dayna Stephens – HOPIUM; Chicago Jazz Orchestra – MORE AMORE; Camila Meza- PORTAL.

At Mike's suggestion, today's podcast explores the truncated career of hard bop trumpeter Carmell Jones.  We listen to four albums featuring the little-known musician and talk about the arc of his career, his work with running buddy Harold Land, and why he could'a been a hard-bop contender given the right circumstances.  Carmell Jones – BUSINESS MEETIN’; JAY HAWK TALK; Charles McPhe...

The venerable bastards have made it to their twelfth anniversary, so time to dress us in silk and pearls (if you weren't already in your fantasies).  While you attempt to scrub that hideous image from your minds, we'll mention that today's episode looks back to 2013, the origin year of the podcast, covering five releases from that epochal year we missed.  Can you guess who appears f...

Normal service resumes with a podcast devoted to tributes celebrating the still-obscure pianist and composer Herbie Nichols.  Nichols spent his truncated career in the shadow of Thelonious Monk (a big guy who cast a big shadow).  He released roughly four albums in his lifetime and spent much of his career scuffling in Dixieland bands, but those initiated into his cult realize he was a truly gifted...

As we noted so succinctly way back in 2014:  Some trios play nicer together than others - Pat and Mike investigate.   Duke Ellington – MONEY JUNGLE; Terri Lyne Carrington – MONEY JUNGLE PROVOCATIVE IN BLUE; Jean-Michel Pilc – WELCOME HOME; Herbie Nichols – LOVE, GLOOM, CASH, LOVE.  Tune in next time as the Herbie Nichols connection leads to a brand new episode covering four albums devoted solely t...

All lists come to an end at some point (often after ten entries) and this third and final podcast on the New York Times' selections for best jazz albums of 2024 considers the final two entries plus two more 2024 releases which the boys - spoiler alert - like quite as much as the chosen ten.  Hummable melodies and beautiful woodwind playing highlight the also-rans.  Meanwhile, in pop matters M...

The boys are back to take on four more entries from the New York Times' Best of 2024 list and Mike especially is happy with these selections.  "Spiritual Jazz" leaves a imprint on several of this episode's albums and bastard number 2 loves it.  Pat meanwhile is relieved that Blue Note's entry is the best yet, in his opinion, by a rising young artist, but he finds one of th...

At the end of the year, media outlets make lots of lists, so many lists that there's even one for best jazz recordings.  At the start of the following year, the bastards pick one lucky list to listen through and question every step of the way.  This time it's the Times' turn, and Mike is especially skeptical of the paper's first four choices.  Pat's just happy things didn&...

There's a new Record Store Day ritual in the jazz world - archival live releases from one of the many labels Zev Feldman has a hand in running.  This year's two RSD days saw several releases on labels like Resonance, Reel to Real, and Elemental Music and the boys take a gander at one release from each of these wizards of the archive as well as pondering a brand new live release recorded...

To start off what is certain to be an interesting new year, Mike and Pat look at leader dates by the deepest of the regularly-used saxophones, the baritone.  All four leaders are specialists on the unwieldly horn, though some do dabble in doubling from day to day.  Two are composers and one has a crush on that greatest and most irascible of bassists, Charles Mingus.  Serge Chaloff – BLUE SERGE; Fr...

Every musician, it seems, does a holiday album sooner or later, and visions of residuals dance in their heads.  But given the flood of releases each year, it's hard to stand out, and the canon of Christmas favorites is already pretty crowded.  How to make your mark?  You could try to do one or two distinctive things well.  Or, you could try a little bit of everything.  Listen as Mike and Pat...

A couple releases exploring older repertorie, a out-ish excursion that goes all over the map, a young woman singer with our time on her hands.  Yep, it's a classic mixed bag courtesy of eclectic Mike, with the bastardy mostly courtesy of Pat.  Melody Gardot – LIVE IN EUROPE: Micah Thomas – MOUNTAINS; Brian Landrus – PLAYS ELLINGTON & STRAYHORN; Warren Wolf – HISTORY OF THE VIBRAPHONE.

Jazz has gone some pretty wacky places - Russia, South America, the White House - but believe it or not, sometimes it even invades that princess-industrial complex we know and love as the Disney corporation.  Listen and learn as Mike leads us deep into this heart of darkness and we see how a rainbow of different jazz artists come to terms with the musical productions of that most profit-driven rod...

Halloween's in the rear view mirror but the boys still have a mixed bag of treats on offer, including an album whose cover boasts the best costumes of the year.  A piano playing Duke makes his appearance on the 'cast for the first time in roughly 300 episodes and we dig deep into a percussionist's tricky second album from 2006.  Like a trick or treater, this episode is short and swe...

Podcast 301 picks up where 300 left off, looking at albums from 1993, 2003, 2013, and 2023.  Jazz trends get a little harder to pick out once the new millennium begins, but at least our 1990's selection is REALLY 1990's, right down to the haircut and clothes colors.  In Pop Matters, Pat discusses seeing Ben Wendel live at the Jazz Kitchen.  Look out - that saxophonist has effects pedals!...

Three hundred podcasts is the kind of milestone worth of an echo chamber at the very least and a themed episode at the very, er, leaster.  Pat had the bright idea (he thought) of reviewing albums from 1953, 1963. 1973, and 1983.  Mike explained that was in fact a stupid idea and so they might as well make this celebration a two-parter with 301 covering 1993, 2003, 2013, 2023.  The rules were simpl...

Back in the saddle again, the boys look at three recent releases and one cute little two-year-old.  Two of the recordings are lead by bassists and two by drummers, so you could say all four were led by a member of the rhythm section - if you liked saying things like that.  They are mostly fairly easy-going albums as well, but, spoilers, Mike doesn't like them all equally.  No further clues he...

Never mind what your podcast feed may seem to imply - the bastards haven't recorded a podcast together in two months, and this one got completed by the skin of their teeth.  In this episode we look at two alto sax players from two very different generations (and degrees of reverence for the "tradition") and a piano player few have heard of and fewer still can understand.  Pop matter...

Summer's winding down.  How'd you spend yours?  Pat spent his immersed in the music and life of Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest improvisers to grace the story of jazz.  In this podcast, which is kind of an upcoming article in summary (and audio) form, Pat looks at the massive new biography of Sonny as well as four recent reissues of some of his best loved music, most of which involve...

Those crazy hazy lazy days of summer got us in their thrall and scheduling's been tough, so please enjoy this flashback to episode 81:  Mike and Pat discuss Walk on the Wild Side; Shine On You Crazy Diamond; Aja; Waiting on a Friend; Baker Street; Just the Way You Are; Logical Song; Old and Wise; Still Crazy After All These Years; Man Eater; Modern Love; Your Latest Trick; Brass Monkey; Edge...