With Wayne Shorter's death at age 89, jazz lost an innovative composer, saxophonist and bandleader.  Mike knew a tribute was needed but didn't want to explore the usual suspects, so the boys take a trawl through lesser-known aspects of Shorter's career (while throwing in an overview as well to orient the less familiar).  We look at his work as a sideman (both celebrated and little known), his brief re-emergence as a leader in the mid-seventies, and his acoustic comeback with his great quartet of the two-thousands.  Anthony Williams - SPRING: Miles Davis - COMPLETE LIVE AT THE PL ..read more

Jazz's symbiotic relationship with Brazil's bossa nova is well-known.  Lesser known are the many non-Brazilian jazz artists who took elements from North American models and modified them as they saw fit.  This episode explores albums recorded by artists from Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, and . . . well, Brazil, because too few people know what four Tamba's add up to these days.  Pop matters includes discussion of live jazz shows seen by each of the boys as well as more Dylan, 'cause Mike's just fixated that way at the moment.  Jorge Lopez Ruiz – EL GRITO; Virgilio Armas – ES ..read more

The boys take another walk down the "out" side of the street this episode, with looks at a little known outing from one of Charles Mingus' trumpet players to a twin-guitar / alto sax ensemble, to two rather challenging works on the Pyroclastic label.  Mike's more patient with those efforts than Pat.   Who's ready for some asbestos earmuffs?  Pop matters delves into what Iggy Pop got up to with his buddy David Bowie during that infamous Berlin hang.  Trevor Dunn – SEANCES; Nate Wooley – ANCIENT SONGS OF BURLAP HEROES; Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade – DION’S QUEST; Ted Curson – TEA ..read more

The boys have been at this podcasting game for ten years now (plus a few "bonus" episodes) and celebrate with a tenth anniversary show dedicated to - what else? - tentets.  And yes, spell-check, 'tentet' is a real word.  We journey from the 1950's to the right-now's in quest of ensembles to big to be a combo, too little to be a "big" band, and generally like what we find.  Gerry Mulligan – GENE NORMAL PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL GERRY MULLIGAN TENTET AND QUARTET; Uptown Jazz Tentet – WHAT’S NEXT; Anat Cohen Tentet – HAPPY SONG; Teddy Charles – THE TEDDY CHARLES TENTET;  Jim McNee ..read more

After almost a decade of planning and putting it off, the boys finally face their greatest fear:  group jazz singing.  What happens when three or four hipsters harmonize?  Is it safe to even try to find out?  Mike's not sure about that, but we tried anyway, and came up with this insight: you can't keep a good Boswell down.   In pop matters, Pat brags about having seen all three incarnations of the Bad Plus live, so stay tuned for that.  Royal Bopsters- ANNIVERSARY EDITION; Boswell Sisters – A SAMPLER; Mel Torme and the Mel Tones – BACK IN TOWN; Lambert Hendricks ..read more

We look at three 2022 releases this time (albeit one recorded way back in 1972) along with the first harbinger of the new year.  There's an electronic sounding long-playing debut by a pair of youtube wunderkinder (all played in real-time we promise), a straight-ahead tenor sax trio, another star-studded portfolio album from a rising sax star, and a sprawling live opus from the music's greatest bassist/composer.  For a chase, a sprawl of pop matters that ranges from gospel tunes to stereo demonstration discs to poor lonely Art Garfunkel.  Lakecia Benjamin – PHOENIX; Domi & JD ..read more

The robots are coming!  The robots are coming!  And they're after our jobs - as lounge singers.  Skynet would not be amused.  But we kind of are  - at least, Mike says his first encounter with a vocaloid will be ever imprinted upon his brain.  Don't worry - this episode isn't all about our electronic replacements qua masters.  We look at music by flesh and blood performers too, one of which has a crush on Indianapolis native and renowned writer Kurt Vonnegut.  Pop matters takes a quick walk on the wild side.  Jason Yeager – UNSTUCK IN TIME: THE KURT ..read more

It's that holiday season once again, and Santa Mike insists we cover a slate of season-appropriate releases.  Are they jazz appropriate as well?  Not really, but two are jazz adjacent and one at least features an ex-Messenger, so there's that.  There's also, er,  Swamp Dogg.  Pop matters travels from Sufjan Stephens to late eighties England to the soothing, ambient sounds of the Zamboni, nature's Andreas Vollenweider.  Bobby Timmons – HOLIDAY SOUL; Swamp Dogg – AN AWFUL CHRISTMAS AND A LOUSY NEW YEAR; Squirrel Nut Zippers – CHRISTMAS CARAVAN; Herb Alpert and Tijua ..read more

Ron Carter is one of the most recorded bassists in the world and anchored the second of Miles Davis' "great quintets" so he ain't no slouch.  His leader work, however, isn't always given the respect it deserves.  Exactly how much respect, you ask?  Just sit down and listen to the bastards sift out that question as they look at four of Ron's best leader dates from four different decades of his far-reaching career.  Ron Carter- UPTOWN CONVERSATION, ALL BLUES, WHEN SKIES ARE GREY, FOURSIGHT STOCKHOLM.  ..read more

Some people accuse critics of being subjective, but when discussing music there's always one Platonic fact you can point to above and beyond the shifting tides of fashion and trend:  does Mikey like it?  In this case, yes, yes he does.  He likes all four of this episode's albums.  Pat, on the other hand?  Still a bit bastardly.  We kick the episode off with some reader comments and end it talking about 80s music and Joni Mitchell, so something for everyone.  Michael Blake – COMBOBULATE;  Jamie Branch – PINK DOLPHINS; Ches Smith – INTERPRET IT WELL; Ben M ..read more