Jazz Bastard Podcast

Welcome to 2026! As what will certainly prove to be an interesting year kicks off, the boys dive deeply into little-discussed keyboard master Kirk Lightsey's discography, checking out a couple of leader dates, an unusual duet exploration of a single composer, and a sideman appearance in a saxophonist's band who at least one Allaboutjazz reader finds worthy of a box set. Kirk Lightsey – ISOTOPE, COLTRANE REVISITED AT BIRDSEYE; Kirk Lightsey and Harold Danko – SHORTER BY TWO; Ricky Ford – SHORTER IDEAS.

For our last podcast of 2025 we delve into two very different big band projects, check out a recording by a brass band formed to cheer a guy up on his half-centenary, and dig through crates to pull out a harmolodic gem from the early eighties, when bass knew how to be big. Pop matters is light this week, focusing mostly on an English trio who took on a nickname for residents of Indiana for no apparently reason. Odean Pope - ALMOST LIKE ME; Mark Masters – SAM RIVERS 100; John Yao - POINTS IN TIME; Wild Iris Brass Band – WAY UP.

It's that time of year again, when Mike insists on a holiday music themed episode and Pat is too worried about upsetting Santa to say "no." This year's bag o' tunes has very little coal in it, unless you are allergic to smooth jazz. Mike, anyway, thinks his choice is one of the least offensive as the genre goes. You be the judge. Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra – BIG BAND HOLIDAYS II; Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra – THE NUTCRACKER REMIX; April Varner - WINTER SONGS VOL 2; Dave Koz – DECEMBER MAKES ME FEEL THIS WAY.

Join us for a very special interview with Chicago jazz trio Twin Talk, who have made it over a decade without swapping any of the three - count 'em - musicians comprising this fascinating group. Two of those musicians - saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi and drummer Andrew Green - join the boys for a wide-ranging discussion about their formative years, goals as a group, musical heroes, and much, much more. We intersperse the talkin' with twins with selections from their releases: SIGHTLINE (released under the Laurenzi Enrst Green moniker), LIVE, TWIN TALK, and WEAVER. 

There's a historical selection this podcast, with an alto player whose mid-eighties comeback comprised one of the great jazz narratives. But the rest of the episode is devoted to new releases, with a familiar twangin' guitarist, and two newcomers. Mike brings forth his latest vocal find with trepidation - how much bastardy will Pat bestow upon it? Download and/or stream to find out. Tyreek McDole – OPEN UP YOUR SENSES; Frank Morgan – MOOD INDIGO; Mary Halvorson – ABOUT GHOSTS; Dabin Ryu – TRIO! 

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;  Chris Ingham – WALTER/DONALD; Sara Isaksson and Rebecca Tornqvist - FIRE IN THE HOLE; Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz – STEELY DAN ; Woody Herman – CHICK, DONALD, WALTER, AND WOODROW.

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 episode? And what will Mike say when he talks about Talk Talk? You know how to find out, so I'm not going to tell you. Barry Altschul – ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE; Carlos Garnett – COSMOS NUCLEUS; Kenny Barron – SUNSET TO DAWN; Roy Brooks – THE FREE SLAVE.

"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 – OPENING STATEMENT; Jason Miles – THE LISBON ELECTRIC QUARTET; Jason Palmer – THE CROSSOVER LIVE IN BROOKLYN; Jason Forsythe – IT’S ABOUT TIME.

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 THOSE WHO CHANT; Jeff Parker – THE WAY OUT OF EASY.

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. 

The most recent Record Store Day episode is barely in the rear-view, but the boys decide to take on four more vault finds dug up by jazz detective Zev Feldman. Which ones are keepers and which ones get the dreaded label "redundant" and an invite off the island (or, at least, out of the record collection)? Only listening to this podcast will answer that query! Yusef Lateef – ATLANTIS LULLABY – THE CONCERT FROM AVIGNON; Sun Ra – AT THE SHOWCASE LIVE IN CHICAGO; Art Tatum – JEWELS IN THE TREASURE BOX; Bill Evans – LIVE IN NORWAY – THE KONGSBERG CONCERT.

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 – A WILDER ALIAS; Kurt Elling – GUILTY PLEASURES VOLUME 2.

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 – SOUTHERN NIGHTS; Mehmet Ali Sanlical – SEVEN SHADES OF MELANCHOLY.

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 BUENOS AIRES CONCERTS; Freddie Hubbard – ON FIRE: LIVE FROM THE BLUE MOROCCO; Nathan Davis – HAPPY GIRL.

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.