Claim OwnershipJazz Bastard Podcast
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© 2025 Jazz Bastard Podcast
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Two strikingly handsome middle-aged men get together every other week to discuss jazz in depth. Irreverent, irascible, engaged.
339 Episodes
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It's been a hot minute since the boys did a "pop" episode, but given this very special installment is devoted to jazz-rock gods of the seventies Steely Dan, maybe this doesn't count. The Dan's somewhat controversial 1980's sign-off gets a good look in and then various tributes are dissected, with Pat arguing that jazz musicians need to take the kid gloves off when confronting this most seminal of cross-over hit-makers. Also, Keith Jarrett called and he wants his royalties. Steely Dan - GAUCHO...
Some indie labels find a happy home in the afterlife - think Prestige, Contemporary, et al who thrived for years under the Fantasy banner and are now sheltered under the wing of Craft Records. Others aren't so lucky. Super-producer and Record Store Day regular Zev Feldman has now made an enterprise of rescuing records from the long-dormant Muse label. What do the boys think of Zev's first three picks for deluxe vinyl reissues? How about the bonus Muse recording they included to fill out the e...
"High Concept" is sometime used as a derogatory term for movies that are more about a saleable idea than a good script. This installment of the podcast is definitely "high concept," but we can assure you, it still isn't particularly saleable. Struck hard upside the head by inspiration, Mike decided to do a show entirely dedicated to jazzers named Jason - without even one Moran in sight. The results may confound you or titillate you. Either way, we won't be winning any Oscars. Jason Charos – O...
Yep, it's one of those "what did Pat find at the record store?" episodes, with an emphasis on lesser known artists (unless the guitarist from Tortoise is a secret superstar). It's a testament to jazz's recent love affair with vinyl that the newest album came out on the black stuff, one of the "historic" albums is a reissue, and another one - a "crate-digger's delight" - is slated for its own deluxe edition. Franco Ambrosetti – WINGS; Charlie Rouse – CINNAMON FLOWER; Luis Gasca – FOR THO...
This fortnight, Mike's cued up four newish releases with very different approaches to modern jazz. We have a couple piano trios (one of which calls in reinforcements from time to time), a duet with some space-age percussion, and a gigantic, sprawling big band project. Pat sneaks some jazz vinyl talk into pop matters. Omar Thomas – GRIOT SONGS; Rachel Eckroth – SPEAKING IN TONGUES; Bill O’Connell – TOUCH; Eric Bell – VULNERABILITY.
The Bastards delve into the fecund fields of fusion once again, focusing on that most electric of decades, the 1970s. This excursion sticks mostly to lesser known stars in the fusion firmament, but there's one exception to this rule. That exception likes his finger-picking fast and his cover-girls nekkid. Neal Ardley – KALEIDOSCOPE OF RAINBOWS; Hermann Szobel – SZOBE; Al Dimeola - ELEGANT GYPSY; Passport – HAND MADE; Ryo Kawasaki – JUICE.
For this particular fortnightly excursion, Mike suggested we look at four newish recordings by artists we've covered - or at least listened to a bit - before. The fresh from the familiar as it were. The results leave Pat speechless. Gonzalo Rubalcaba - FIRST MEETING LIVE AT DIZZY’S; Kurt Rosenwinkle – THE BRAHMS PROJECT; Jon Irabagon – SERVER FARM; 8 Bit Big Band – ORCHESTRATOR EMULATOR.
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 Gilberto – FOLLOW THE RAINBOW: Frankie Laine – JAZZ SPECTACULAR; Steve Swallow – HOME; Jackie & Roy...
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 – ENTRE AMIGOS; Caleb Wheeler Curtis – THE TRUE STORY OF BEARS and the INVENTION OF THE BATTERY; Sullivan Fortner – SOUTH...
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 ABANDON; Zoot Sims & Sweets Edison – JUST FRIENDS; Phineas Newborn Jr. – THE GREAT JAZZ PIANO; Lyle Mays – LYLE MAYS.
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 stalwart MPS. Kenny Dorham - BLUE BOSSA IN THE BRONX; Charles Mingus – IN ARGENTINA – THE B...
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 McPherson – BEBOP REVISITED!; Harold Land – JAZZ IMPRESSIONS OF FOLK MUSIC.
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 for the first time on the 'cast and exactly which ways he's oriented? Dave Holland – PRISM; Robbi...
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 and unique composer. These tributes encompass a fairly straight ahead quintet da...
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 Mike's man crush on Sturgill Simpson continues and Pat thinks eighties band The Church is sti...
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 the other entries just an almighty racket. Melissa Aldana – ECHOES OF THE INNER PROPHET; Frank London – SPIR...
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't turn out worse. Honestly, these are all good records and who can say which are the "best"? In...
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 (as well as let into the wild) in 2024. Recorded in Brooklyn because, well, of course it was.&nb...
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