Jazz has a rather complicated, antagonistic relationship with the indie-verse, one which I sometimes feel caught in the middle of. For someone who favours innovation over technique, meaning over loose association, jazz can seem like an antiquated concept that—despite once being on the forefront of experimentation—maintains a level of incestuousness that makes even the most run-of-the-mill indie seem groundbreaking.

That said, recent years seem to have brought the genre out from its hole, with an energy not seen since the avant-garde rode off on the sunset of bloody gums and broken reeds sometime in the ’70s. With rock, folk, and electronic embracing improvisation, everyone seems to be, intentionally or not, resurrecting the j-word.

This podcast attempts to find a happy place with artists that embrace cross-pollination while maintaining something that most people will still recognize in some sense as “jazz.” Considering the frequency of releases by most of the musicians represented here, it’s often a daunting task to even start thinking about writing full-blown album reviews, hence why many of these recordings’ release dates have come and gone within the past year or two. I’d say “Consider this your consolation prize,” but honestly if had the time I’d be devoting a thousand words to all of these.

Thanks to the labels, who operate out of remote and sometimes frigid corners of the globe. Feel free to help pay their heating bills by clicking on the links.

:: Download mp3 (192kbps)

[66:50]

1. John Butcher :: “Frost Piece”
:: (0:01 – 2:12)
:: from Resonant Spaces (Confront; 2008)
:: myspace.com/johnbutchersax

2. Musiconspiracy :: “Golden Angel”
:: (2:13 – 5:59)
:: from Do I the In? (Not Two; 2009)
:: myspace.com/musiconspiracy

3. Wadada Leo Smith’s Golden Quartet :: “Caravan of Winter”
:: (6:00 – 14:34)
:: from Tabligh (Cuneiform; 2008)
:: cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/smith.html

4. Frode Gjerstad, Kevin Norton & Paul Rogers :: “Common Misconception”
:: (14:35 – 24:44)
:: from Antioch (Ayler; 2008)
:: frodegjerstad.com
:: kevinnorton.com
:: paulrogersstudio.com

5. Dennis Gonzalez & Faruq Z. Bey :: “Kuntu”
:: (24:45 – 34:09)
:: from Hymn for Tomasz Stanko (Qbico; 2009)
:: myspace.com/yellsateels
:: northwoodsimprovisers.com/faruq

6. Humcrush :: “Steam”
:: (34:10 – 37:39)
:: from Rest At World’s End (Rune Grammofon; 2009)
:: myspace.com/humcrush

7. Satoko Fujii Ma-Do :: “Spiral Staircase”
:: (37:40 – 41:59)
:: from Heat Wave (Not Two; 2008)
:: myspace.com/nottwo

8. Buffalo Collision :: “2nd of 4”
:: (42:00 – 52:29)
:: from (Duck) (Screwgun; 2008)
:: screwgunrecords.com

9. 7k Oaks :: “Church of Neutral”
:: (52:30 – 56:59)
:: from 7000 Oaks (Die Schachtel; 2008)
:: dieschachtel.com

10. C. Spencer Yeh & Paul Flaherty (f/ Greg Kelley) :: “Untitled Track 4”
:: (57:00 – 64:45)
:: from New York Nuts & Boston Beans (Important; 2009)
:: importantrecords.com

11. Michael Moore Trio :: “The Thaw”
:: (64:46 – 66:50)
:: from Holocene (Ramboy; 2008)
:: ramboyrecordings.com