Close Enough for Jazz

Drummer Sam Ospovat discusses his technical evolution and the historical weight of performing with masters like Cecil Taylor. He breaks down the differences between the New York and Nordic music communities, the creation of his project Blight Music in a Brooklyn warehouse, and the discipline required to maintain a creative voice across different continents.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro: The difficulty of moving to New York
• 01:13 - Formative years at UC Santa Cruz
• 04:16 - Mills College: An incubator for the avant-garde
• 05:32 - Two weeks with Cecil Taylor: Focus and improvisation
• 08:12 - Moving to NYC and the influence of mentors
• 11:46 - Relocating to Finland and the Nordic scene
• 19:07 - Classical music as a Finnish national identity
• 26:19 - Rhythmic ratios: Composing with prime numbers
• 29:39 - Virtuosity and the feeling of total abandon
• 32:11 - The "Blight Music" concept and the warehouse scene
• 39:51 - Writing for non-specialists in complex structures
• 44:19 - Timbre and the intellectual component of music
• 50:13 - The Brooklyn warehouse and the Blight Music festival
• 56:10 - Identifying the true originals in the current era
• 1:03:59 - How to find Sam Ospovat’s music

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
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• 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.

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Alan and Lindsay Bjorklund explore the decade-long journey of the album Not Your Grandfather’s Jazz featuring Tyshawn Sorey, Matt Mitchell, Jeremy Viner, Travis Reuter, and Kim Cass. They break down the band history of Smirk, the process of recording world-class improvisers at GSI Studios, and why they chose to build an independent platform for creative music.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Reflecting on the label’s first release

01:00 - The origins of Smirk (2011 at Ibeam)

02:00 - Smirk vs. Face: Electric and Acoustic quintets

04:14 - Expanding to a sextet with Matt Mitchell

09:29 - Personnel rotations and sub-players

11:44 - Writing specifically for the 5-string electric bass

12:04 - Bass chemistry with Tyshawn Sorey

15:28 - Meeting Tyshawn Sorey and early collaborations

19:51 - Inside the 2017 GSI recording session

22:38 - The decision to fund a project and start a label

25:58 - Interconnectedness: The Merry Poppins session

30:05 - The Nublu release gig and the live energy

31:14 - Tyshawn’s perfectly timed stick drop

32:39 - Nostalgia for the 55 Bar and intimate spaces

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
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• 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.

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Bassist Kevin Scott shares lessons from the road and the technical secrets of playing "out" while keeping the pocket. From touring with Gov't Mule to the manifestation stories that led to playing with his idols, Kevin discusses the necessity of artistic sacrifice and the "Dancing Poodle" analogy that defines the industry landscape.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The reality of the professional music environment

00:26 - Touring with a "Raccoon Ambassador"

03:49 - Tour Hacks: Bus etiquette and sideman logistics

08:34 - Maintaining health and gym routines on the road

09:53 - Resonant Paths: Hiring Greg Osby and Ryan Clackner

13:42 - Manifestation: Joining Warren Haynes’ solo band

20:46 - Handling nerves when playing when being a “fanboy”

28:09 - The 55 Bar legacy and the 2026 NYC scene

35:36 - Building collaborative communities through sacrifice

44:19 - Playing "out" while maintaining the pocket

49:31 - The "Abusive Partner" analogy: Double Bass vs. Electric

53:14 - Electric Bass: The history of the "Ultimate Bastard" instrument

56:26 - The Mythic Pursuit: Col. Bruce Hampton and moving to Atlanta

01:06:16 - The Dancing Poodle Analogy: Why it always wins

01:10:19 - Upcoming records with Matt Chamberlain and Ryan Clackner

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.

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Alan and Lindsay Bjorklund join Matt Scollante to explore the intensive process of recording the new Bear Skinner album, Unobtainium. They discuss the technical challenge of live tracking during a snowstorm, the discipline of creating original audio patches, and the infrastructure required to document high-level creative music.

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.

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Keyboardist Trevor Lagrange joins the show to discuss the evolution of his creative voice and the necessity of visual entertainment in live music. He breaks down the history of the Brooklyn loft scene, the influence of his classical training, and the mental tools he uses to master the advanced rhythms of the Bear Skinner project.

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 at birchgrove.io Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Matt Scollante interviews Alan Bjorklund on the technical and philosophical evolution of the producer's role in creative music. Alan breaks down the high-level vision for Birch Grove Media, his specific audio choices for the band Smirk, and the expansive influences that shape the label's identity.

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Alan & Lindsay Bjorklund and Ryan Clackner gather in Knoxville to review a weekend of live performance. They discuss the importance of "play" in improvised sets, the local venues that support the scene, and the long-awaited reunion duo of Ryan Clackner and Tyshawn Sorey.

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
• Follow us: @birch.grove.media on Instagram.
• Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
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Bassist Nick Jost joins Lindsay to discuss his "prepped-for-anything" mindset and the reality of the creative music scene. He breaks down his roots in St. Louis, his technical tools for learning odd meters, and why the best music comes from leaving your ego at the door.

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.

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Alan and Lindsay break down the move from New York City to their new headquarters in Blairstown, NJ. They discuss the "obsessive" process of building a professional-grade home studio, the difficulty of booking bands in the city post-2022, and the local history of the Delaware Water Gap.

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.

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Guitarist Ryan Clackner joins the show to discuss why jazz guitar often fails to harness the true power of the electric instrument. From the "incestuous" habits of guitar players to the soul-crushing influence of academia, Ryan breaks down what’s wrong with the scene today—and why he had to move to the "Bermuda Triangle of Appalachia" to find his own voice.

Timestamps:

01:30 - The "Sound Riddle": From Holdsworth to Scofield

03:49 - The hurdle of "straight-ahead" proficiency

11:10 - How the "classical sickness" infected jazz

16:46 - From eighth-grade Metallica to jazz band

22:03 - The cultural importance of the Garwood Crossroads scene

28:31 - Why Nashville actually "hates musicians"

37:43 - Details on the upcoming Big Ears Festival duo performance 

BIRCH GROVE MEDIA

• Web: birchgrove.io
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• Watch the episodes: youtube.com/@BirchGroveMedia
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