Articles by Patrick Burnette
Revenge of the Son of Holiday Jazz: Koz and Effect
by Patrick Burnette
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. Playlist Discussion of CCJO's album The Nutcracker Remixed (Self-Produced) 2:15 Discussion of Lincoln Center Jazz ...
Continue ReadingTyreek! So Chic!
by Patrick Burnette
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..Playlist Discussion of Frank Morgan's album Mood Indigo (Antilles) 1:23 Discussion of Tyreek McDole's album Open Up Your ...
Continue ReadingTwin Talk Interview
by Patrick Burnette
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 selections from their releases: Sightline (Self-Produced and released under the Laurenzi Enrst Green moniker), ...
Continue ReadingChet Baker's Five from '65 - New Land's Best Box Set Yet
by Patrick Burnette
Five From '65: The Quintet Summer Sessions Chet Baker New Land Records 2025 We are far enough into the vinyl revival that box sets are now becoming commonplace, and the New Land label has been particularly adventurous--almost quixotic--in its offerings. New Land devoted its first jazz box to six studio albums by harpist Dorothy Ashby and its second to four discs worth of live airshots by bassist Charles Mingus. A renewed ...
Continue ReadingThe Long Shadow of Steely Dan
by Patrick Burnette
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.
Continue ReadingReturn of the Muse
by Patrick Burnette
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 ...
Continue ReadingYa Can't Spell "Jazz" Without "Jason"
by Patrick Burnette
"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 ...
Continue ReadingVinyl Old, New, and Reissued
by Patrick Burnette
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 “cratedigger's delight"--is slated for its own deluxe edition.Playlist Discussion of Charlie Rouse's album Cinnamon Flower (Douglas) 2:51 ...
Continue ReadingDrum Machines and Griot Songs
by Patrick Burnette
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.Playlist Discussion of Rachel Eckroth's album Speaking in Tongues (Adhyâropa) 5:47 Discussion of Bill O'Connell's album Touch (Jo Jo) 23:24 Discussion of Eric Bell's album Vulnerability ...
Continue Reading(Mostly) Not the Usual Suspects
by Patrick Burnette
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.Playlist Discussion of Passport's album Hand Made (Atlantic) 2:51 Discussion of Ryo Kawasaki's album Juice (RCA) 15:17 Discussion of Herman Szobel's album Szobel (Heartcore) 26:44 Discussion of Neil Ardley's album Kaleidoscope ...
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