April 2018: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Binker and Moses, Yazz Ahmed.

Episode 137 looks at recordings by Sophie Milman, Rene Marie, Monica Zetterlund, and Cecile McLorin Salvant. We discuss the jazz content in each release, the vocal approach of each singer, and the elusive concept of sultriness. Female jazz singers are often packaged and sold as sex objects. Some are more comfortable expressing their sensual sides than others. Where do you draw the line between self-expression and exploitation? What to make of singers like Salvant, who question the paradigm of the "sexy" singer? Quick discussions of David Gilmour, Black Panther, and The Church round out the pop matters segment.

Listen to Episode 137

Jazz Bastard has never focused exclusively on recent releases (note March's 'thirties-palooza) but we do try to touch on contemporary albums as well as legacy recordings. Best of year lists provide one tool for picking out music to cover, and over the years, we've learned to cherry-pick the best of year polls. Some focus almost exclusively on well-known and long-established artists—we prefer the ones that spotlight the young and hungry. Podcast 138 looks at four 2017 albums that pleased critics and introduced us to artists we hadn't listened to before. Courtney Pine is the only older musician discussed, while up and comers Yazz Ahmed, Binker Golding, and Jaimie Branch round out a show filled with excellent fresh music. Maybe it's our Chicago roots, but Branch's challenging Fly or Die takes top honors—thirty-eight minutes of not-to-be-missed music. A brief look at the Lemonhead's album It's a Shame About Ray and Keith Waters' book The Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet concludes the episode.

Listen to Episode 138

Thanks for listening and see you next month!

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