Jazz Bastard Podcast

Crazy, daddy-o - it's an episode devoted to experimental music. The boys start things off by interviewing Sarah Bernstein, who discusses her career in music, her various ongoing groups. and her new album Crazy Lights Shining. Afterwards the boys plunge into some hard-core experimental instrumental music, to see just how whiny Pat can get (spoilers: very), and then finish by discussing a Rudy Royston release that has an odd front line but is still the most straight-ahead session on offer...

Jazz pianist and composer Randy Weston departed this earth earlier this year, so the boys devote an episode to his music (along with some discussion of arranger/trombonist Melba Liston, whose work was crucial to some of his best albums). Do we get too teleological? You be the judge. Randy Weston: UHURU AFRIKA; BLUE MOSES; SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS (DISC TWO); SPIRIT: THE POWER OF MUSIC.

A couple vinyl selections from "back in the day" and two brand new releases are on the docket this time, and the results are mostly good.  Mike faces his fusion fears and finds a happy ending with Pat Martino while Pat (the bastard, not the guitarist) likes Javon Jackson's latest more than he can adequately explain.  Like all good podcasts, this one ends with an in-depth look at whistling...

You know it's going to be a good episode when Pat and Mike get to discuss Paul Anka taking on Nirvana in depth.  It only gets better as we explore contemporary work by an avant garde reedman and more approachable performances by a bass clarinet specialist.  Stay tuned for Mike's musings on supposed "Dad-rock" favorite R.E.M. - and why they were secretly a punk band...

It's our kind of town, so here's another episode devoted to Chicago jazzers, from scat master Kurt Elling (whose poetic sources for his vocalese Mike explains are impeccable) to tenor-slinger Von Freeman (whose views on intonation may disturb younger and more impressionable listeners).  A couple more experimental offerings round out the session, which ends with Pat wondering if he loves the Beatles quite enough...

We've lost a lot of great jazz men and women this year, but Roy Hargrove's passing came as a particular shock.  Pat and Mike explore the young lion's career, focusing mostly on acoustic releases but making time for a brief look at Roy's cameo on D'Angelo's ground-breaking Voodoo.  After that, Michael Buble bubbles up in the discussion...

Happy birthday to us - sixth birthday, to be exact.  What better way to celebrate than digging into six sextets like they were delicious pieces of cake?  And if anyone has the complete run of John Zorn birthday cd's (all five-hundred of 'em), please let Mike or your therapist know...