Rephonic
Artwork for Deep Focus
Jazz
Ornette Coleman
Don Cherry
Eddie Harris
David Murray
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Arthur Blythe
Woody Shaw
Improvisation
James Blood Ulmer
Herbie Hancock
Ahmad Jamal
Jazz Music
Randy Weston
Ronald Shannon Jackson
Jack Dejohnette
Jim Pepper
Carla Bley
William Parker
WKCR

Host Mitch Goldman and his musician-guest explore rare archival recordings of one of the guest’s favorite artists.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Deep Focus

Latest Episodes

When they go deep, we go deeper.  

 

We have been thinking about Miles Davis in anticipation of his centennial (May 26).  How about we explore a dark corner of his vast touring history, his so-called "Lost Quintet"?  We have so many questions about i... more

Fela Kuti has been the subject of at least half a dozen documentaries, a Broadway play, a shelf of books, and at least one richly lauded podcast series.  It's hard to imagine a time when Fela would have been considered an obscure musician from a larg... more

Fela Kuti has been the subject of at least half a dozen documentaries, a Broadway play, a shelf of books, and at least one richly lauded podcast series.  It's hard to imagine a time when Fela would have been considered an obscure musician from a larg... more

Fela Kuti has been the subject of at least half a dozen documentaries, a Broadway play, a shelf of books, and at least one richly lauded podcast series.  It's hard to imagine a time when Fela would have been considered an obscure musician from a larg... more

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Recent Guests

Melvin Gibbs
Musician and author
Musician, author of How Black Music Took Over the World
Episode: 2026.04.27 Melvin Gibbs on Fela Kuti - 1 of 3
William Hooker
Jazz drummer and musician, Don Cherry collaborator
Musician
Episode: 2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 1 of 3
Ahmed Abdullah
Trumpet player, participant in the discussion of Cherry and Old and New Dreams
Musician
Episode: 2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 1 of 3
Steve Slagle
Jazz saxophonist and guest selector of the episode topic
Independent musician / associated with Ornette Coleman projects
Episode: 2026.02.16 Steve Slagle on Charlie Haden - 2 of 3
Mazz Swift
Violinist and artist invited to discuss Butch Morris and Conduction
Musician, collaborator with Butch Morris
Episode: 2026.01.19 Mazz Swift on Butch Morris - 2 of 3
Jay Rodriguez Sierra
Musician and guest on Deep Focus
Sound System Culture
Episode: 2026.01.05 Jay Rodriguez on Jim Pepper - 3 of 3
Jay Rodriguez-Sierra
Musician and guest on the show, involved in performances that link music and poetry
Episode: 2026.01.05 Jay Rodriguez on Jim Pepper - 2 of 3
Will Calhoun
Drummer known for his work with Living Colour and various jazz ensembles
Living Colour
Episode: 2025.12.22 Will Calhoun on Jack DeJohnette - 2 of 3
Henry Threadgill
Renowned jazz musician and composer, sharing experiences of his musical journey
Episode: 2025.11.24 Henry Threadgill on Ahmad Jamal - 2 of 3

Host

Mitch Goldman
Host of the deep archival jazz conversations; drives historical framing and interpretation of guest material

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 100 ratings
  • Treasure

    When I first discovered Deep Focus, it was as if I’d found a treasure trove filled with recordings you might dream of hearing, but never find. But here they are!

    Every episode rewards us with insights from those in the know and music you almost certainly wouldn’t have heard before.

    Tune in and enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roostar
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Fabulous Podcast for the Music Aficionado

    Such an amazing music podcast with a deeply curated, researched, and knowledgeable wealth of experience brought each episode exploring the selected musical artist each episode (or episodes). The journalism honors the artist’s included and deeply explores and appreciates the topics. Always worth making time for the focused listening required. I will be donating. Thank you for the fabulous show! I deeply appreciate this splendid work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A chess lover.
    United States4 months ago
  • An Audiophile’s Dream come true.

    This is a MUST listen to podcast if you love learning about the creative process of America’s most treasured art form.

    This is a great way to document music history!!

    Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eleznov
    United States5 months ago
  • Great

    Absolute paradise for someone who loves music. An antidote and relief for what the entertainment industry sells branded as music today

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jhuol
    Sweden7 months ago
  • Outstanding

    What a beautiful show which gets you deep, and helps to discover new music

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Studoubledabass
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep-dive analysis and curated archival material.
Guests are consistently insightful and bring historical depth.
High-quality archival sound and thoughtful conversations are frequently highlighted.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

2026.04.27 Melvin Gibbs on Fela Kuti - 1 of 3
Q: How do you see the relationship between studio recordings and live performance in Fela's work?
Live performances carry an immediacy and physicality that recordings can't fully capture, and Fela's music especially invites a long, immersive experience where the room and audience shape the sound.
2026.04.27 Melvin Gibbs on Fela Kuti - 1 of 3
Q: Tell us about the first time you heard Fela and how that moment shaped your musical thinking.
I heard a compelling rhythm that sounded like James Brown but very different, which drew me into Fela's world and set the stage for how I approached his music and, later, Afrobeat as a broader concept.
2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 2 of 3
Q: What are the best ways for listeners to engage with the music and support the show?
The host explains ways to support the show financially via email contributions ( PayPal ) and encourages feedback and engagement from listeners to expand the show's audience and improve the audio experience.
2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 2 of 3
Q: Ahmed, how do people find your recordings? Is there a particular way you recommend searching for them?
The guests suggest searching for Trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah specifically to avoid confusion with others, and to visit williamhooker.org for related music and information on performances.
2026.01.19 Mazz Swift on Butch Morris - 3 of 3
Q: First question, how do people keep track of all the many things that you're working on?
Mazz Swift explains that the best way is to follow her on Instagram for updates and upcoming projects, highlighting the importance of visibility and timing in coordinating diverse creative ventures.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Deep Focus

What is Deep Focus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running conversation format pairs a host with renowned musicians and jazz historians to explore archival performances and the broader history behind influential artists. Episodes center on rare recordings, the politics and culture surrounding the music, and how improvisational approaches shaped genres from Afrobeat to free jazz. Guests share personal anecdotes, technical insights, and context about performance practice, often tying archival material to broader historical movements. The show stands out for its deep-dive analysis, strong emphasis on provenance of rare recordings, and a curatorial instinct that helps listeners discover overlooked corners of jazz history. Potential listeners will likely appreciate the scholarly yet acces... more

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How many listeners does Deep Focus get?

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What are the audience demographics for Deep Focus?

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How many subscribers and views does Deep Focus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Deep Focus has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Deep Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Deep Focus:

1. You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians
2. The Intercept Briefing
3. Political Gabfest
4. The Joe Rogan Experience
5. hanging out with audiophiles

How many episodes of Deep Focus are there?

Deep Focus launched 6 years ago and published 200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Deep Focus?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Deep Focus?

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What guests have appeared on Deep Focus?

Recent guests on Deep Focus include:

1. Melvin Gibbs
2. William Hooker
3. Ahmed Abdullah
4. Steve Slagle
5. Mazz Swift
6. Jay Rodriguez Sierra
7. Jay Rodriguez-Sierra
8. Will Calhoun

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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