Jazz Bastard Podcast Patrick Burnette

Where jazz drumming's concerned, sometimes Blakey makes ya shaky and Buddy's too thud-y.  Where to turn?  Go West, young man, and samples the wares of one Shelly Manne.  Manne, a transplanted Easterner, made a career in California logging studio work, appearing on countless sessions, and leading his own group with varying personnel that was always know as Shelly Manne's men.   Now, just in time for Record Store Day, Reel to Real is issuing live days by the Manne and, with luck, bringing his artistry back into our consciousnesses.  Stay cool, cats!  Shelly Manne:  MUSIC FROM MY FAIR LADY; 2,3,4; JAZZ FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST; Sonny Rollins - WAY OUT WEST.

Sometimes podcast hosts just want to watch the world - or at least their co-host - burn.  Hence the explanation for the inclusion of a pretty inexplicable pander-fest in this otherwise august and serious podcast.   The other selections (all recent releases) incorporate humor in a couple of cases, and, well, don't in the most serious selection.  Pat reports on a live concert by the more furrowed-browed of the alto saxophonists while Mike catches a few much needed zzzz's.  Grace Kelly with Strings – AT THE MOVIES; Moppa Elliot – JONESVILLE; DISASTERS VOL 2; Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm – GRIT & GRACE; Jim Snidero – FOR ALL WE KNOW.

After a couple episodes away, we return to the New York Times list of best jazz albums of 2023 and finish it off.  It's happier days for the most part.  The boys acknowledge that these selections are all, more or less, actually jazz, and some are even pretty enjoyable.  Jonathan Suazo – RICANO; Mendoza Hoff Revels – ECHOLOCATION; Micah Thomas – REVEAL;  Matana Roberts - COIN COIN CHAPTER FIVE: IN THE GARDEN.

For some fans, the story of jazz saxophone begins with John Coltrane.   This episode, the boys interview Owen Broder, who gives propers to Coltrane's old boss, Johnny Hodges.  Mainstay of the Duke Ellington band and lover of lettuce and tomato sandwiches, the Rabbit (as he was known) possessed the most sumptuous sound ever heard from an alto saxophone and knew every microtone of the territory between each note of the scale.  Owen talks about his Hodges Front and Center duology, other projects in the pipeline and his influences on alto and baritone sax among other topics in this interview.  Owen Broader:  HODGES FRONT AND CENTER:  VOLUMES 1 & 2.  

Many years ago, bastard Mike suggested that our anniversary shows feature groups comprised of as many members as the anniversary was of years.  How's that for a mouthful (mindful?)  Anyway, good idea until right about now.  Eleven is an awkward number unless you're fielding a footie team, and the boys have some issues finding albums that fit the bill or even glance in the direction of this anniversary. Next year, all bets are off.  Nat Adderly – THAT’S RIGHT;  Bobby Selvaggio – STORIES, DREAMS, INSPIRATIONS; Gil Evans – PLUS TEN;  Jeff Lorber and Mike Stern – ELEVEN.  IN a very special Pop Matters, Mike mocks the Cocteau Twins and Pat (with Mike's help) questions the sanity of Atlantic Records latest deluxe reissues.

Join our intrepid but grumpy explorers Mike and Pat and they continue their journey through the New York Times Top Ten list of Best Jazz Albums from 2023.  The boys look at three more albums off the list and once again have questions about the selections.  Then they discuss an album from 2023 not on the list, and, naturally, emit rainbows.  We don't recommend you make a game of drinking whenever one of them calls "category error" unless you have a high tolerance for alcohol - and bastardy.  Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah - BARK OUT THUNDER;  Enji – ULAAN; Ambrose Akinmusire - OWL SONG; Myra Melford – HEAR THE LIGHT SINGING.