Jazz Bastard Podcast

In this second episode of our prestigious four-part series (we got that idea from Masterpiece Theatre), "new" or at least "newish" music is the focus.  Four albums from the best of the 2010's that seem to promise ambition and adventure and, for the most part, deliver.  The journey may get rocky at times, but brace yourselves as we head for the hinterlands...

In this third podcast on some of the best-reviewed jazz of the 2010's that we missed first time 'round, the boys look at four albums that 'borrow' something, whether inspiration from a sci-fi author, jazz protests of the sixties, or jazz greats of the past such as Charlie Parker or Duke Ellington.   It's a light pop matters segment this time but little known indie band The Bolshoi and Italian horror soundtrack maestros Goblin do get a mention...

For the last of our four-episode examination of discs we missed from various best of 2010's lists (and that's almost, but not quite, rapping, isn't it?) it's all about "something blue".  Or, in this case, something Blue Note.  One entry on Avant sneaks in on the basis of its title, so at least it's not a Blueopoly...

We take a break from surveying the best of the 2010's to take a gander at five releases from the second half of this wunnerful year, 2020.   Maybe everything else has gone to heck in a handcart this year but the music releases remain strong, as our survey attests.  Three of the five releases are on up and coming label Outside In Music and all of them have something to recommend...

We've been looking at various critic's and website's "best jazz of the 2010's" lists, but now the listeners get to weigh in.  Their wide-ranging suggestions encompass a couple of fairly accessible albums and a couple more challenging discs, all featuring artists who have yet to appear as headliners on our show.   This will conclude our sequence on the best of the decade, but don't worry - things won't get back to normal yet...

Mike loves him some holiday jazz specials,so in honor of Christ coming to earth, realizing it was a lost cause, and leaving before he even hit forty, we're looking at five Christmas-themed albums and EPs.  Three of them appear on Telarc, and Pat has things to say about that.  Pop matters is mostly stuck on Harry Nilsson, as we suspect it will be for some time...

Hooray - we've made it alive through 2020 and through eight seasons of this podcast, too.  To celebrate the big "eighth" (the internet claims it's bronze and pottery for that anniversary, should you want to send gifts) we talk about half that many jazz octets, and throw in an album named after a funky sea-creature as a bonus.  In pop matters, Harry Nilsson's alternate takes and Italian prog get brief look-ins...

The New Year is here and even bastards need a break now and then.  So while Mike crosses the nation and gets back to laboring in education, Pat takes the baton to talk about some jazz releases from last year's three-part Record Store Day extravaganza, and to muse on jazz vinyl in general.  Hate the black stuff?  Don't worry - next episode the boys will be back in the saddle doing what they do best...