Tired of the old jazz paradigm? We call this Close Enough for Jazz because "Modern-Avant-Garde-Polyrhythmic-Sound-Art" was too long for the RSS feed. Join Lindsay and Alan Bjorklund (Birch Grove Media) for unfiltered dialogues with the composers and improvisers pushing the boundaries of the modern and avant-garde jazz scene.
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A Rare Matt Brewer Recording and the Warehouse Sound of ShapeShifter Lab
We open the vault for another installment of our Blind Pig series, traveling back to October 16, 2014, for a rare bootleg of Matt Brewer's group Mythology live at ShapeShifter Lab in Gowanus, Brooklyn. In this episode, we revisit the night of Brewer's record release gig and analyze how the live quintet lineup—featuring Brewer on bass, Steve Lehman on alto, Mark Shim on tenor, David Virelles on piano, and Gerald Cleaver on drums—delivered a raw, guitar-less take on the compositions from his debut album as a leader. We explore the unique acoustic environment of ShapeShifter Lab, founded by Matthew Garrison and Fortuna Sung, and break down the enduring musical rapport between Lehman and Shim. We also unpack what the band members were releasing in 2014, including Steve Lehman's Mise en Abîme, David Virelles' Mbókò, and Gerald Cleaver's work with Farmers by Nature.
Note: Birch Grove Media does not claim ownership of these performances or musical works, and is not monetizing this episode. This is shared purely for educational and archival appreciation.
Chapter Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: "Jump Scare" dynamics in Matt Brewer's Mythology
00:48 - Live at ShapeShifter Lab on October 16, 2014
01:15 - Live quintet personnel vs. the studio album lineup
18:19 - "Tubby" acoustics and the warehouse sound of ShapeShifter Lab
20:35 - The history of ShapeShifter Lab and Matthew Garrison
21:26 - Releasing Mythology on Criss Cross and alternate band configurations
35:53 - Track 2: The dissonant trill and history between Steve Lehman and Mark Shim
37:41 - 2014 in Review: Matt Brewer's debut as a leader and sideman work
39:31 - Steve Lehman's Mise en Abîme and NPR's #1 Jazz Album of the Year
40:50 - David Virelles (Mbókò) and Gerald Cleaver (Farmers by Nature)
51:08 - How bootlegs evoke memories: An uncut 62-minute recording
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8 Oct 2026
Why Physical Media Matters and the NYC DIY Scene with James Paul Nadien
We sit down with incredibly prolific drummer James Paul Nadien to explore his packed gig schedule, ranging from free improvisation and brutal death metal to holding down the drum chair for The Flying Luttenbachers. James talks about his recent trip to China playing the Tomorrow Festival with Weasel Walter, detailing the stressful visa process and the dedicated audience waiting for them in Shenzhen. We go deep into his thoughts on the "uncanny valley" effect of hearing AI-generated music, and why he believes physical media like CDs and cassettes are essential, tangible tools for unplugging from social media addiction. We also compare the legendary Brooklyn loft party scenes of the 2000s to today's fleeting DIY venues, reflect on the appeal of the current Berlin jazz scene, and explore how James adapts his playing style for everything from acoustic string groups to tracking at the historic Rudy Van Gelder Studios.
Chapter Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: A crazy schedule
00:43 - Is music school worth it? (Studying at the New England Conservatory)
04:18 - Growing up with Beatles fanatics and Tom Petty tribute bands
07:13 - The Brooklyn loft party scene and surviving DIY venues
13:38 - Why younger musicians are returning to CDs and physical media
20:04 - The "uncanny valley" effect of AI-generated music
28:16 - Touring China with Weasel Walter and The Flying Luttenbachers
37:32 - The Berlin jazz scene and an upcoming European tour
40:37 - The band Typo: Playing drums alongside violin and cello
44:24 - Double kick pedals and playing brutal death metal
48:30 - Tracking 40+ albums and using the "Two out of Three" gig rule
57:28 - Why there is a rubber chicken on the drum set
BIRCH GROVE MEDIA
Web: birchgrove.io (https://birchgrove.io/)
Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia (https://www.youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia)
Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
1 Oct 2026
Combating Writer’s Block, Composing for Big Bands, and Extended Techniques
We sit down with composer and saxophonist Anna Webber to explore her disciplined compositional process and look ahead to her upcoming nonet album, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World. Anna explains how she maintains a daily composition practice by avoiding time crunches, relying on pencil and paper, and utilizing "rogue cop police walls" to combat writer's block. We dive into her strategies for writing difficult "etudes" designed to challenge heavy-hitting musicians, and the financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris. We also reflect on her time studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck and how she integrates extended techniques and microtonality into her work. Finally, she previews her upcoming nonet release, inspired by the writings of Noam Chomsky, Angela Davis, and Naomi Klein as a hopeful response to late-stage capitalism. Note: Birch Grove Media does not own the recordings featured in this episode.
Timestamps:
01:47 - Developing a daily, disciplined compositional process
05:14 - The benefits of writing slowly without time crunches
07:05 - Composing with pencil and paper vs. the computer
10:07 - Strategies for breaking out of writer's block
14:42 - Studying in Berlin with John Hollenbeck
17:39 - The financial realities of co-leading a big band with Angela Morris
23:21 - Finding inspiration in extended techniques and microtonality
28:52 - Navigating misogyny and the "boys club" mentality in jazz education
36:08 - Previewing her upcoming nonet release, It's Easier to Imagine the End of the World
BIRCH GROVE MEDIA
Web: birchgrove.io
Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
Get the Record: Shop our current 180g LP and digital releases on our website. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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