Many moon-units ago a listener requested we look at the music of Frank Zappa in a little more depth. Bastards being bastards, we brought our best shallow game and called it a day. Burt Bacharach and Hal Willner get smoldering glances in the pop matters segment. Frank Zappa: ROXY AND ELSEWHERE; JAZZ FROM HELL; Jean Luc Ponty – PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA; Ed Palermo Big Band – PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA.
In this very special (i.e., short and understaffed) "bonus" episode, Pat talks about some of the artists he caught at the Chicago Jazz Festival this year. Artists discussed include Cecile McLoren Salvant, Christian McBride, the Chicago Art Ensemble, Miguel Zenon and many more! Mike will be back for the next regular episode - promise!
Steve Martin asked everyone to "get small," but in this episode, the bastards investigate what happens when jazz musicians get profound - and just a wee bit third-streamy. The results are mixed, and one high-profile release in particular gets a thorough dose of bastardy. The pop matters segment ranges from Oingo Boingo to a review of Joey DeFrancesco live. Wayne Shorter – EMANON; George Russell – OTELLO BALLET SUITE; Ingrid Laubrock – CONTEMPORARY CHAOS PRACTICES.
It's all about the strings this ep, as the boys look at four very different guitar players - three virtuosos and one reliable, well-loved Blue Note stalwart. Mike's all over the road in the pop matters (he didn't talk about Maria Carey people, so don't complain) and he offers a new sign off for your listening . . . pleasure? Mahavishnu Orchestra – BIRDS OF FIRE; Lenny Breau – THE HALLMARK SESSIONS; Charlie Hunter – READY, SET, SHANGO!; Grant Green – IDLE MOMENTS.
We all know there are rock "concept" albums - otherwise, Roger Dean would be out of work. But is there such a thing as a jazz concept album? Mike's skeptical, but Pat argues all you need is a unified mood and, maybe in the case of Herbie Mann, a tab of acid or two. The Session – COLLUSION; Herbie Mann – STONE FLUTE; Gerald Wilson – ETERNAL EQUINOX; Wynton Marsalis – CITI MOVEMENT; Henry Threadgill – RAG, BUSH AND ALL.
Once again our slate is full of 2019 releases and once again our reaction is mixed, if not to say bastardly. Mike's favorite pianist appears on one, Pat's written up another for allaboutjazz, and one veers between Hollywood Sax Quartet territory and Steve Lacy with the grumps, so the boys are kept on their toes. Oingo Boingo and Frank Zappa appear on pop matters, so there's contemporary relevance for ya. Jonathan Crompton – INTUIT; Spaza – SPAZA; Curtis Nowosad - CURTIS NOWOSAD; Chase Baird - A ...
After discussing their rare "pop" episodes during their allaboutjazz interview, the boys decided, what the heck, let's devote another episode to music with vocals and a relatively expansive user base. All four are jazz adjacent, but none of them are straight jazz - not that there's anything wrong with that. Rickie Lee Jones – PIRATES; Erykah Badu – BADUISM; Yellow House Orchestra – POP; Vivian Sessoms – LIFE II.
Two major reissues and one highly publicized discovery from the 1960s provide the core of this round's podcast, as the boys discuss the latest album from the John Coltrane Quartet (despite the insistence of one internet denizen that "Coltrane's creativity really dropped off in the seventies") and then look at lavishly repacked work from Sonny Clark and Eric Dolphy. Pop matters rounds things out with discussions of the personal politics of listening to Jimi Hendrix, the latest Beatles remixes, an...
It's a rare occasion when the boys get to podcast in the same room together. While the sound quality takes a hit, the precious moments are . . . priceless. This episode is devoted to some new releases confronting the pop/art divide in different manners, some older albums doing much the same thing, and comments (mercifully brief) about how cute Pat's cats are. Gary McFarland – POINT OF DEPARTURE; Eric Hofbauer – BOOK OF WATER; Wolfgang Haffner – KIND OF SPAIN; Grace Kelly – GO TiME: Live in LA; A...
Mike suggested that we devote a whole episode to the divine Sarah Vaughan (aka "Sassy") and both the boys are glad he did. We discuss some peaks of her prolific recording career, while acknowledging that not every song (and setting) in her discography was worthy of her incredible gifts. Sarah Vaughan: GUILD SINGLES: WITH CLIFFORD BROWN; LIVE AT MISTER KELLYS, SARAH +2; AFTER HOURS; COPACABANA; A BRAZILIAN ROMANCE.
Back to the future - or extremely recent past - as the boys look at three releases that go live in June and one that's only a few months old. Two trios with very different vibes mix originals with covers that are not - for a change - from the Great American Songbook, a drummer-led fusion date bewilders Mike, and a vocalist charms both of our hosts but awakens repressed memories in one of them . . . Gerry Gibbs - OUR PEOPLE; Lauren Desberg - OUT FOR DELIVERY; Josh Espinoza Trio - JOURNEY INTO NIG...
Not all fusion is hyper - some can be pretty chill. Take Peter Erskine's "Dr. Um" band - or Phillip Upchurch's gang of studio cats. This episode looks back at two slices of fusion from the seventies than fast-forwards to now, asking if the genre has to keep its feet planted firmly in the seventies or not. Be careful - if you listen past the tag, Paul Lynde and Kiss will be discussed, like it or not. Kenner - 8BALL CITY; Phillip Upchurch – DARKNESS, DARKNESS; Dr. Um Band – ON CALL, Disc II; Eddie...
Yes, folks, it's a theme episode again, and this time it's percussionists leading from the back of the group - if not the back of the beat. We've got quite a mix, from a little known Blue Note artist's best-known album, to Bill Evan's favorite drummer showing off his wares, to brand new work from a drummer lamenting - and celebrating - a brother he lost too soon. And then there's Charlie Watts. Good thing he's too rich and busy to bother tracking Pat down. Philly Joe Jones – SHOWCASE; Pete La Ro...
It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, between bebop and hard-bop, between singles and LPs. It is . . . the ten-inch zone. The mid-fifties saw a transition away from 78s towards two kinds of "long-players" - 7 inch singles that ran as long as the old 10 inch 78s, and 12 inch LPs. For a brief period, the 10 inch LP was the medium of choice to release "popular" music, and tonight's podcast looks at six of these ten-inch releases (well, one dates from 20...
New-age-y music from the seventies, an organ trio with an inside-out guitar slinger, a saxophonist who almost went supernova in the eighties, an album of acapella movie themes? This episode should be eclectic enough for anybody . . . who likes jazz, anyway. Wil Blades – FIELD NOTES; Petra Haden – PETRA GOES TO THE MOVIES; Bennie Wallace – THE FREE WILL; Oregon – MUSIC OF ANOTHER PRESENT ERA.
Cue the "Odd Couple" theme. This episode, the bastards take a listener's request to heart and discuss two musicians of wildly differing tempers - Art Blakey and Warne Marsh. Art was never into cool jazz, Warne was never a messenger, but you just know, if they had to share an apartment for some unlikely reason or other, wackiness would ensue. Towards the end the podcast degenerates into discussing favorite James Bond themes, so be warned. Art Blakey - LIVE AT CAFÉ BOHEMIA, VOL 1; LIKE SOMEONE IN ...
Young people - they leave the toilet seat up, use apps with made up names like Tinder, linger on your lawn, and don't even know what a rotary phone is. Luckily, some of them also release jazz albums, and this episode the boys talk about three such releases, along with a set from a trio of players enjoying ripe middle age. The podcast wraps with a shout out to some of our email correspondents and a surprise appearance by a They Might Be Giants track. Kristina Koller - PERCEPTION; Jean-Michael Pil...
All hands on deck - it's a big band episode! The boys look at two "historical" releases - one an oddity from the 1950's, the other a pace-setter from the nineties, and then dig into three brand new releases by large units. Lots of musings from Pat about the pro's and con's of large ensemble jazz, but hey, that's what the fast-forward button is for. Stay tuned for a heart-felt endorsement of Scott Walker's misanthropic "Scott 2." Sauter-Finnegan Orchestra – NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC; Mingus Big Ban...
It's the start of a new year, so time to poke our noses into lists of last year's best releases. This episode we've chosen four selections from the New York Times best-of, and are generally happy with the results - not that they care. Henry Threadgill – DIRT AND MORE DIRT; Makaya McCraven – UNIVERSAL BEINGS; Walking Distance with Jason Moran - FREEBIRD; Andrew Cyrille – LEBROBA.
2019's dropping hot with the boys examining four brand new releases (one still in the pipeline) by independent types (as opposed to, you know, those big corporate-sponsored names in jazz). Mostly the music leans left, but the final selection is more mainstream and, unusually enough in the jazz world, openly religious. Gabriel Zucker - WEIGHTING; Jason Stein’s Locksmith Isidore – AFTER CAROLINE; Daniel Carter/Federico Ughi/Hilliard Greene/Matthew Putman/Patrick Holmes - TELEPATIA LIQUIDA; Jordan ...
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. Jeremy Pelt – INSIGHT; Jon Jang – TWO FLOWERS ON A STEM; Lester Young – SEXTET 1939; John Kirby – COMPLETE SEXTET RECORDINGS DISC ONE; Albert Ayler – NEW YORK EYE AND EAR CONTROL; Bar Kokhba Sextet – 50th BIRTHDAY CELEB...
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. Who said his name at a mirror three times? Roy Hargrove – WITH THE TENORS OF OUR TIME, HABANA, NOTHING SERIOUS; Herbie Hancock – NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC LIVE AT MAS...
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. Kurt Elling – LIVE IN CHICAGO; Von Freeman – DOIN’ IT RIGHT NOW; Fred Anderson – MISS...
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. Steve Kuhn - WATCH WHAT HAPPENS ; Andrew Lamb Trio – CASBAH OF LOVE; Paul Austerlitz WATER PRAYERS FOR BASS CLARINET; Paul Anka – ROC...
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. Dave Liebman – QUEST; Pat Martino – STARBRIGHT; Bernie Dresel – BERN BERN BERN; Javon Jackson – FOR YOU....
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.
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. Sarah B...
Fred Rogers never went to 'Nam - that's just one of the many insights we learn from interviewing the charming and talented Keri Johnsrud about her collaboration with pianist Kevin Bales based on songs written by the man we like to call "Cole Porter in a cardigan." After the interview, the boys discuss three other albums with at least a tangential relationship to children's music because, hey, that's a theme, people. Kevin Bales & Keri Johnsrud - BEYOND THE NEIGHBORHOOD; Jamie Cullum - TWENTY...
Is it chilly in here or is it just us? The bastards take on the coolest buffet of music yet on offer by this august podcast, so pry open that sweater drawer and grab a hot beverage. Pop matters also might xylophone the old neck bone, as Gillian Welch's "The Harrow and the Harvest" presents its own brand of folkie cool. The Necks – BODY: Evan Parker – MEMORY/VISION; Modern Jazz Quartet – COMPLETE PRESTIGE AND PABLO (disc one); Lee Konitz – TOOT SWEET.
Even what sounds like a police raid in progress can't stop the bastards from discussing two brand new releases, along with a couple selections from the earlier 'aughts. Mike isn't happy about electric pianos, Pat finds a new Russian saxist to look out for, and the discussion's short (if not sweet) for a change. Sasha Mashin – OUTSIDE THE BOX; Hubert DuPont – SMART GRID; Ximo Tebar – CELEBRATING ERIK SATIE; Justin Morrell Quintet – PLAYS THE MUSIC OF STEELY DAN.
