Jazz Bastard Podcast

The great Sonny Rollins left this dimension on May 25, 2026, and the boys find it only fitting to devote two episodes to the jazz colossus. This first installment looks at four albums from the magical 1950s, when every album Sonny released was an event and even John Coltrane was just an up and coming challenger. Sonny Rollins: TENOR MADNESS!, VOLUME 2, NEWK'S TIME, SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS. 

Back on Episode 247.5 Pat gave an overview of Creed Taylor's famous (infamous?) CTI label that bestrode the first half of the nineteen seventies like a jazz colossus. Now we've got both members of the 'cast weighing in on four of the label's better productions. So comb your sideburns (and your shag rugs) and settle in for a discussion of the best jazz-oriented baby-making label of the first half of the "me" decade. Milt Jackson – SUNFLOWER; Antonio Carlos Jobim – STONE FLOWER; Joe Farrell – OUTBACK; Airto – FREE.

We've done vocalists before, but never devoted an episode to the Chairman of the Board. Now we have, so that's off the bucket list. Listen as the boys discusses five of fantastic Mr. Frank's platters, and opine where newbies should get to know this cultural shibboleth. Frank Sinatra - SWING AND DANCE WITH FRANK SINATRA, IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, CLOSE TO YOU, I REMEMBER TOMMY, FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA AND ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM.

A common canard about jazz is that the acoustic variety was unsaleable during the 1970s, and while there's a germ of truth in it, lots of exceptions prove that particular rule. This podcast looks at three releases from the early seventies and a little-known English gem from the late sixties. Two of the releases are tasty treats from Manfred Eicher's ECM label, though Mike has a more graphic way of putting it. Mike Taylor – TRIO; Bennie Maupin – JEWEL IN THE LOTUS; Catalyst – PERCEPTION; Paul Bley – OPEN TO LOVE.

As this Spring’s Record Store Day flood of releases floats past our wondering eyes on the stream of time, Pat and Mike discusses four selections you might want to pluck out of the metaphoric water to add to your own collections. Let’s hope we don’t damp your enthusiasm too much. Among other insights, we learn the piano tuner at the Jazz Showcase didn’t have perfect pitch, because he didn’t exist. Michel Petrucciani – KUUMBWA; Cecil Taylor – FRAGMENTS; Mal Waldron – STARDUST AND STARLIGHT AT THE JAZZ SHOWCASE; Buster Williams – PINNACLE.

The boys take a peek at four releases from 2025 sprawling all over the map. If you ever wondered what would happen if Dave Brubeck met an African percussion ensemble, you're about to find out. You'll also find out why evocations of the "young lions" period gives Pat PTSD, how a vocalist / trumpeter's new release deals with actual trauma, and why putting more sugar on your frosted flakes still won't help you catch up with a mononym keyboard wonder-woman. Domo Branch – HAND OF GIFTS; Raphael Pannier – LIVE IN ST. LOUIS, SENEGAL; Hiromi – OUT THERE; Emma Jean Thackray – WEIRDO.

Every now and then the boys bring vocal albums into the mix, but vocal group albums - now those are rarities. This time they take on two, at as opposite ends of the soul spectrum as it's possible to get. There's still room for releases led by instrumentalists, this time by a somewhat "out" bassist and a vibraphonist playing with how "in" he can get. Mario Pavone – TOULON DAYS; Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters – ROUND MIDNIGHT; Warren Wolf – SMOOVE VIBES; Dave Holland and Norma Winstone – VITAL SPARK.

We try to cover a wide gamut of improvised music in the podcast, buttoday's episode must surely have the widest spread of any recent offering. We've got spiritual jazz from the late sixties, a quartet featuring clarinet from a few weeks ago, an album by a British mover and shaker that could easily be filed under New Age, and an encounter between a saxophonist and guitar player that will leave most listeners cowering under their sofas. In pop matters, Pat learns that even Korean ladies can be F-boys and then pontificates about his latest live encounter with vibes-meister Joel Ross.  Shabaka Hutchings – PERCEIVE ITS BEAUTY ACKNOWLEDGE ITS GRACE; Fred Frith John Butcher – THE NATURAL ORDER ; Gary Bartz – ANOTHER EARTH; Martin Wind – STARS.

Have no fear - the boys are not discussing just any four quartets. No, there's a couple of matching sets. An influential album from a certain "European Quartet" confronts its doppelganger from fifty years later; a recent leader date from a guitarist known for his electric work faces off with a work of his youth dating back forty-five years. And if that's not exciting enough, Pat leads Mike into the dark alleyway of Beach Boy bootlegs. Branford Marsalis – BELONGING; Keith Jarrett – BELONGING; Nels Cline, et al – QUARTET MUSIC; Nels Cline – CONSENTRIK QUARTET.

It's too early for March Madness, but just in time for the bastards to wrap up their survey of the New York Times' Top Ten list of 2025 jazz albums. Some of the choices give the boys mixed emotions and some barely any emotions at all, but at the end of this journey we can all say one thing for certain- that sure was definitely ten albums of jazz. Pop matters stretches to include a discussion of a life-enhancing live set from Indianapolis mainstay Steve Allee. Billy Hart – JUST; Jacob Garchik - Ye Olde 2:  At the End of Time; Kassa Overall - CREAM; Joe Farnsworth – THE BIG ROOM.

It's episode two of three covering the New York Times list of Top Ten 2025 jazz albums, and since we generally cover 4 albums a show, and the Times only picked 10 for their top 10 list, we add a couple of our own picks to this "middle" episode to make the math work. We've got a drummer led live date that sounds studio bound, a duet veering towards new age, a bizarre and challenging disc from a long running Underground ensemble, and an album of Monk covers by a quartet featuring a tenor saxophone - how original! Marcus Gilmore – JOURNEY TO THE NEW – LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD ; Chicago Underground Duo – HYPERGLYPH; Shuteen Erdenebaatar – UNDER THE SAME STARS; Dayna Stephens – MONK’D.

It's sort of nearly a yearly ritual - Pat and Mike pick an outlet's top 10 list for the previous year, work their way through it, and pass FINAL JUDGMENT. Because of course these lists are anything but subjective. Mike picked the list this year: the good old New York Times, whose choices have been discussed before in these parts. He's not as grumpy as sometimes about the paper's East Coast bias, but this episode covers only 4 of the 10, so no long-term promises. Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons – LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA; Brandee Younger - GADABOUT SEASON; Amina Claudine Myers - SOLACE OF THE MIND; Trio of Bloom - TRIO OF BLOOM.

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.

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; Robbie Williams – SWINGS BOTH WAYS; Alex Cline – FOR PEOPLE IN SORROW; Christine McBride – PEOPLE MUSIC; Rene Marie – I WANNA BE EVIL.

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 date, a more adventuresome guitar trio, a solo piano recital, and a vocal set with brand new lyrics (and titles!) for many of Herbie's songs.  Eric T. Johnson – HERBIE NICHOLS VOL 1; Enrique Heredia Trio – PLAY HERBIE NICHOLS; Simon Nabatov – SPINNING SONGS OF HERBIE NICHOLS; Fay Victor – LIFE IS FUNNY THAT WAY.

As we noted so succinctly way back in 2014:  Some trios play nicer together than others - Pat and Mike investigate.   Duke Ellington – MONEY JUNGLE; Terri Lyne Carrington – MONEY JUNGLE PROVOCATIVE IN BLUE; Jean-Michel Pilc – WELCOME HOME; Herbie Nichols – LOVE, GLOOM, CASH, LOVE.  Tune in next time as the Herbie Nichols connection leads to a brand new episode covering four albums devoted solely to his music.

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 still pretty cool.

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 – SPIRIT STRONGER THAN BLOOD;  THE MESSTHETICS AND JAMES BRANDON LEWIS; Isaiah Collier – THE ALMIGHTY.

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 pop matters, Peter Gabriel gets the boys talking well past closing time.  

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.  Emily Remler – LIVE FROM THE 4 QUEENS; Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy – THE MIGHTY WARRIORS; Charles Tolliver – LIVE AT THE CAPTAIN’S CABIN; The Fury – LIVE IN BROOKLYN.

To start off what is certain to be an interesting new year, Mike and Pat look at leader dates by the deepest of the regularly-used saxophones, the baritone.  All four leaders are specialists on the unwieldly horn, though some do dabble in doubling from day to day.  Two are composers and one has a crush on that greatest and most irascible of bassists, Charles Mingus.  Serge Chaloff – BLUE SERGE; Fred Ho – MONKEY: PART ONE & TWO; Gerry Mulligan – AGE OF STEAM; Pepper Adams – PLAYS THE COMPOSITIONS OF CHARLES MINGUS.

Every musician, it seems, does a holiday album sooner or later, and visions of residuals dance in their heads.  But given the flood of releases each year, it's hard to stand out, and the canon of Christmas favorites is already pretty crowded.  How to make your mark?  You could try to do one or two distinctive things well.  Or, you could try a little bit of everything.  Listen as Mike and Pat dissect three brand new holiday offerings and a historic issue by one of jazz's most popular performers.  Band of Other Brothers – THIS YEAR AT CHRISTMAS; Joy Lapps - THE CARRIBEAN CHRISTMAS MIX TAPE; Matt Wilson Christmas Tree-O – TREE JAZZ – THE SHAPE OF CHRISTMAS TO COME ; George Shearing – CHRISTMAS WITH THE GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET.

A couple releases exploring older repertorie, a out-ish excursion that goes all over the map, a young woman singer with our time on her hands.  Yep, it's a classic mixed bag courtesy of eclectic Mike, with the bastardy mostly courtesy of Pat.  Melody Gardot – LIVE IN EUROPE: Micah Thomas – MOUNTAINS; Brian Landrus – PLAYS ELLINGTON & STRAYHORN; Warren Wolf – HISTORY OF THE VIBRAPHONE.

Jazz has gone some pretty wacky places - Russia, South America, the White House - but believe it or not, sometimes it even invades that princess-industrial complex we know and love as the Disney corporation.  Listen and learn as Mike leads us deep into this heart of darkness and we see how a rainbow of different jazz artists come to terms with the musical productions of that most profit-driven rodent of them all.  Various Artists – JAZZ LOVES DISNEY; Various Artists – EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CAT; Dave Brubeck – DAVE DIGS DISNEY; Duke Ellington – PLAYS WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE MARRY POPPINS: Kat Edmonson – DREAMERS DO.

Halloween's in the rear view mirror but the boys still have a mixed bag of treats on offer, including an album whose cover boasts the best costumes of the year.  A piano playing Duke makes his appearance on the 'cast for the first time in roughly 300 episodes and we dig deep into a percussionist's tricky second album from 2006.  Like a trick or treater, this episode is short and sweet.  Joel Ross – NUBLUES; Duke Pearson – HONEYBUNS; Dafnis Prieto  - ABSOLUTE QUINTET; Melinda Sullivan and Larry Goldings– BIG FOOT.

Podcast 301 picks up where 300 left off, looking at albums from 1993, 2003, 2013, and 2023.  Jazz trends get a little harder to pick out once the new millennium begins, but at least our 1990's selection is REALLY 1990's, right down to the haircut and clothes colors.  In Pop Matters, Pat discusses seeing Ben Wendel live at the Jazz Kitchen.  Look out - that saxophonist has effects pedals!  Marcus Miller- THE SON DON’T LIE; Ted Nash – STILL EVOLVED; Jonathan Finlayson – MOMENT AND THE MESSAGE; Maddie Vogler – WHILE WE HAVE TIME.

Three hundred podcasts is the kind of milestone worth of an echo chamber at the very least and a themed episode at the very, er, leaster.  Pat had the bright idea (he thought) of reviewing albums from 1953, 1963. 1973, and 1983.  Mike explained that was in fact a stupid idea and so they might as well make this celebration a two-parter with 301 covering 1993, 2003, 2013, 2023.  The rules were simple - pick an artist we hadn't discussed to death already and accept that while the album might be characteristic of its time it cannot be expected to be the "best" of a given year in any way, shape, or form.  Oscar Pettiford - THE NEW OSCAR PETTIFORD SEXTET;;  Prince Lasha – THE CRY; Flora Purim – BUTTERFLY DREAMS; Microscopic Sextet – TAKE THE Z TRAIN (Koch 1983)

Back in the saddle again, the boys look at three recent releases and one cute little two-year-old.  Two of the recordings are lead by bassists and two by drummers, so you could say all four were led by a member of the rhythm section - if you liked saying things like that.  They are mostly fairly easy-going albums as well, but, spoilers, Mike doesn't like them all equally.  No further clues here - tune in to find out which ones make the grade.  In pop matters, Mike once again offers Adele a sandwich to assuage her suffering while Pat waxes eloquent about the first two days of the Chicago Jazz Fest.  Bruno Raberg – EVOLVER; Jake Leckie - PLANTER OF SEEDS; Ari Hoenig – GOLDEN TREASURES; Ivanna Cuesta – A LETTER TO EARTH.

Never mind what your podcast feed may seem to imply - the bastards haven't recorded a podcast together in two months, and this one got completed by the skin of their teeth.  In this episode we look at two alto sax players from two very different generations (and degrees of reverence for the "tradition") and a piano player few have heard of and fewer still can understand.  Pop matters covers the gamut from Dylan to the Blue Man Group with a few hobbits tossed in for good measure.  Eric Kloss - ONE, TWO FREE; Sarah Hanahan - AMONG GIANTS; Hasaan Ibn Ali - RETROSPECT IN RETIREMENT OF DELAY.

Summer's winding down.  How'd you spend yours?  Pat spent his immersed in the music and life of Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest improvisers to grace the story of jazz.  In this podcast, which is kind of an upcoming article in summary (and audio) form, Pat looks at the massive new biography of Sonny as well as four recent reissues of some of his best loved music, most of which involve trios.  Aiden Levy - SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS - THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF SONNY ROLLINS (book); Sonny Rollins - FREEDOM SUITE; GO WEST! THE CONTEMPORARY RECORDS ALBUMS; COMPLETE LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD; FREEDOM WEAVER.

Those crazy hazy lazy days of summer got us in their thrall and scheduling's been tough, so please enjoy this flashback to episode 81:  Mike and Pat discuss Walk on the Wild Side; Shine On You Crazy Diamond; Aja; Waiting on a Friend; Baker Street; Just the Way You Are; Logical Song; Old and Wise; Still Crazy After All These Years; Man Eater; Modern Love; Your Latest Trick; Brass Monkey; Edge of Glory; Get It Right; Talk Dirty to Me; Problem.