# Smirk: Not Your Grandfather’s Jazz and the Birth of a Label

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/close-enough-for-jazz-7734034/smirk-not-your-grandfather-s-jazz-and-the-birth-of-a-label
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/close-enough-for-jazz-7734034/smirk-not-your-grandfather-s-jazz-and-the-birth-of-a-label.md
Podcast: [Close Enough for Jazz](https://stenobird.com/podcast/close-enough-for-jazz-7734034)
Published: 2026-05-07T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/close-enough-for-jazz/episodes/smirk-not-your-grandfathers-jazz-and-the-birth-of-a-label
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69a7b8282fb50a2e17913fc0/e/69fbf4837272023359e4ebf7/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/close-enough-for-jazz-7734034/episodes/smirk-not-your-grandfather-s-jazz-and-the-birth-of-a-label
Duration seconds: 2162

## Resource

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 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 for more information.

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## Transcript

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