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.
Holidays and travel conspire to make preparing a regular show for this slot well nigh impossible - so Mike and Pat chat about some jazz related winter break activities, including catching a Blue Note tribute band led by Clifford Ratliff at Indianapolis' Jazz Kitchen and watching Whiplash.
Mike and Pat discuss four more Downbeat best album winners, focusing most closely on the vocal entry. As they complete the longest leg of their Porter triathlon, they demonstrate that there's more than one way to skin a hat. Gregory Porter - LIQUID SPIRIT; Jane Ira Bloom – SIXTEEN SUNSETS; Terence Blanchard – MAGNETIC; Pat Metheny – KIN
The boys uncork some holiday cheer as they sleigh-ride through five seasonal selections. Wynton Marsalis – CHRISTMAS ALBUM; Vince Guarldi – CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS; Ella Fitzgerald – WISHES YOU A SWINGING CHRISTMAS; Jimmie Smith – CHRISTMAS COOKING; Ellington – NUTCRACKER SUITE
Downbeat picked the ten best albums of 2013; Mike and Pat pick on the list. Ambrose Akinmusire – THE IMAGINED SAVIOR IS EASIER TO PAINT; Bad Plus – RITE OF SPRING; Frank Wess – MAGIC 101; Kenny Garrett – PUSHING THE WORLD AWAY.
Mike and Pat press their rings together, and a second anniversary episode on jazz duets is the happy result. Ellis Larkins / Ruby Braff - CALLING BERLIN; Anthony Braxton/Max Roach – BIRTH/REBIRTH; Brad Mehldau – Joel Frahm - DON'T EXPLAIN; Marty Ehlrich/Mike Noch – THE WAITING GAME. Wondertwins activate! Form of two middle-aged critics!
The boys discuss music from four decades featuring four different trumpeters and all is well, but when Pat tries to open Mike's doors of perception, nobody gets out of there alive. Charles Fambrough – THE PROPER ANGLE; George Russell – STRATUSPHUNK; Clark Terry – SWAHILI ; Fully Celebrated Orchestra – MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Not so much Of Montreal as From Toronto, this batch of jazz represents various vinyl temptations Pat succumbed to on an anniversary jaunt. Soprano Summit – CRAZY RHYTHM; Ornette Coleman – OF HUMAN FEELINGS; Bobby Darin – OH LOOK AT ME NOW!; Lee Morgan – CHARISMA
Miles Davis had two "great" quintets (one was so great, half the time it had six people in it). But which was the best? Mike and Pat try to decide. Miles Davis - COOKIN', 1958 MILES, E.S.P., NEFERTITI
The boys explore four of the latest entries in Mike's rotation. It's a kaleidoscope with clown-makeup tinged edges . . . David Sanchez – STREET SCENES; Hal Galper – PORTRAIT; Charles Gayle – TOUCHIN' ON TRANE; Steve Lacy – MONK'S DREAM
Tormented - and tormenting - composer, bandleader, autobiographer and bass player extraordinaire Charles Mingus is the focus and.our moral is a simple one - keep out of knife fights. Charles Mingus - MINGUS AH UM; THE BLACK SAINT AND THE SINNER LADY; TIJUANA MOODS; MINGUS AT ANTIBES
Mike burns Pat's playhouse down with some inflammatory sixties avante garde - and one avuncular avatar of Chicago out. Peter Brotzman – MACHINE GUN; Ken Vandermark – SINGLE PIECE FLOW; Albert Ayler – SPIRITUAL UNITY; Cecil Taylor – CONQUISTIDOR.
To celebrate the passing of Hard Bop pioneer Horace Silver this year, the boys delve into three characteristic albums and one (slight) outlier. Plus, it's quiz time. Horace Silver – BLOWIN' THE BLUES AWAY, SONG FOR MY FATHER, CAPE VERDEAN BLUES, IN PURSUIT OF THE 27th MAN
The gods of Skype try to kill this episode in the cradle, but Mike and Pat turn on their heart-lights and keep on truckin'. Etta Jones – SINGS LADY DAY; Pierre Favre - WINDOWSTEPS; Kevin Eubanks – SPIRIT TALK; Les McCann - SWISS MOVEMENT.
Mike leads Pat through the valley of the shadow of death and Pat whimpers like a little baby the whole way. . Dean Martin- THIS TIME I'M SWINGIN'; Bobby Darin – THAT'S ALL; Johnny Mercer and Bobby Darin – TWO OF A KIND; Michael Buble – BUBLE. Also, Michael Buble has a man-crush on Satan you wouldn't believe.
Sometimes saxophone-with-strings records can get a bit saccharine, but they could be worse - they could be the title to this episode. Cuddle up to your Brad Mehldau body-pillow and enjoy! Charlie Parker WITH STRINGS; Art Pepper – WINTER MOON; James Carter - GARDENIAS FOR LADY DAY; Josh Redman – WALKING SHADOWS
The boys keep it short and sweet as they explore the variegated career of bandleader, composer, arranger and keyboardist Carla Bley. Gary Burton – A GENUINE TONG FUNERAL; Carla Bley – SOCIAL STUDIES, NIGHT GLO, FLEUR CARNIVORE
Tenor players can be hard to tell apart, but Dinahs aren't. Ray Brown – DON'T GET SASSY; James Williams Trio – MEETS THE TENOR MASTERS; Dinah Washington – DINAH JAMS; Dinah Shore – DINAH SINGS, PREVIN PLAYS.
It's another near-brush with coherence, as Pat and Mike try to discuss four releases from the hallowed Blue Note label, only to realize that Kenny Drew's album snuck in the back door. Kenny Drew – TALKIN' AND WALKIN'; Tina Brooks – MINOR MOVE; Herbie Hancock – MAIDEN VOYAGE; Wayne Shorter – ALL SEEING EYE. Also, Pat has a man-crush on Wayne Shorter you wouldn't believe.
The boys take on prog music for a one-off Mike won't soon forget - or forgive. Let this one wash over you, like a warm beer down the back, and all will be well. At least until you listen to Swans. Yes – TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS; Be-Bop Deluxe – SUNBURST FINISH; Battles – MIRRORED; Swans – SEER.
Sibling revelry abounds as Mike and Pat discuss the brothers and sisters of four well-known jazzers. The boys give Beevus and Buthead a run for their money as they meditate on the title of Alan Shorter's little known opus and start a beef with Stanley Crouch they are way too wimpy to carry out. Delfeayo Marsalis – PONTIUS PILATE'S DECISION; Christine Jensen -TREELINES; .Nat Adderley – LITTLE BIG HORN; Alan Shorter – ORGASM.
"Double Horace on the show tonight - throw out the Silver, let's do it right." (with apologies to Becker & Fagen.) Pat and Mike COULD have talked about three jazz pianists named Horace on this show, but missed it by that much. Horace Parlan – HEADIN' SOUTH; Horace Tapscott – THOUGHTS OF DAR EL SALAAM; Chico Freeman – DESTINY'S DANCE; Charles Lloyd – VOICE IN THE NIGHT.
Some trios play nicer together than others - Pat and Mike investigate. Duke Ellington – MONEY JUNGLE; Terri Lynn Carrington – MONEY JUNGLE PROVOCATIVE IN BLUE; Jean Michel Pilc – WELCOME HOME; Herbie Nichols – LOVE, GLOOM, CASH, LOVE.
Musical insights? Beat poetry recitals? Leg cramps? They're all in here somewhere, as the boys discuss the early career of dream-collaborator Jim Hall. Jimmy Giuffre/Jim Hall Trio – COMPLETE RECORDINGS, VOL 1; Sonny Rollins – THE BRIDGE; Bill Evans/Jim Hall – UNDERCURRENT; Jim Hall – CONCIERTO
Take a slide ride with Mike and Pat as they explore four albums led by those Rodney Dangerfields of the jazz world, trombone players. Ray Anderson – WISHBONE; Jimmy Knepper – I DREAM TOO MUCH; Josh Roseman – CHERRY; Julian Priester – LOVE, LOVE. Also, Mike has a man-crush on Gene Autry like you wouldn't believe.
Pat and Mike send sharp-edged valentines to two Chi-town progressive heroes, then it's off to the suds . . . Nicole Mitchell – BLACK UNSTOPPABLE, ANAYA; Jason Adasiewicz – SUNROOMS, LIVING BY LANTERNS.
Mike and Pat dive feet first into the dead center of the jazz tradition, with mixed results, at least if you happen to be an organ trio. Art Farmer - PORTRAIT OF ART FARMER; Teddy Edwards - GOOD GRAVY; Larry Young – INTO SOMETHIN'; Bobby Broom – PLAYS FOR MONK.
Or for white girls who've considered cabaret when the rainbow is enuf. Mike and Pat visit the altars of four pale goddesses of song – but which ones get the sacrificial goats? June Christy – SOMETHING COOL; Keely Smith – SPOTLIGHT ON KEELY SMITH; Doris Day and Andre Previn – DUET; Lee Wiley – NIGHT IN MANHATTAN.
