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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes200Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Deep Focus

Latest Episodes

On Deep Focus this Monday (7/6), a celebration of the life and music of James Blood Ulmer (February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026), with guest Vernon Reid.  Our hearts are heavy, but spirits will be flying.  Please join us.

Tune in this Monday (7/6) from 6... more

On Deep Focus this Monday (7/6), a celebration of the life and music of James Blood Ulmer (February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026), with guest Vernon Reid.  Our hearts are heavy, but spirits will be flying.  Please join us.

Tune in this Monday (7/6) from 6... more

On Deep Focus this Monday (7/6), a celebration of the life and music of James Blood Ulmer (February 8, 1940 – June 3, 2026), with guest Vernon Reid.  Our hearts are heavy, but spirits will be flying.  Please join us.

Tune in this Monday (7/6) from 6... more

This episode of Deep Focus does not have a spoken introduction. It starts immediately after the previous episode ends.  

 

The moment you invoke the name of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda, the widow of John Coltrane, you open a door into other way... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Veal
Author of Living Space, expert on Miles Davis and Coltrane
Author and Scholar
Episode: 2026.05.25 Michael Veal on Miles Davis - 3 of 3
Michael E. Veal
Author and musician, expert on Miles Davis and free jazz
Author of Living Space
Episode: 2026.05.25 Michael Veal on Miles Davis - 1 of 3
Ahmed Abdullah
Trumpeter, bandleader, author of A Strange Celestial Road
Episode: 2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 2 of 3
William Hooker
Drummer, composer, festival producer
Episode: 2026.03.16 William Hooker and Ahmed Abdullah on Old and New Dreams - 2 of 3
Steve Slagle
Musician, guest on Deep Focus
Jazz musician
Episode: 2026.02.16 Steve Slagle on Charlie Haden - 1 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

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 106 ratings
  • Amazing Podcast

    A must listen for any music lover. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you like, Mitch and his guests play an eclectic mix of unreleased recordings while having a freewheeling discussion around the music.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matty_WRX
    United States17 days ago
  • A Music Treasure

    This podcast is such a pleasure. I enjoy many genres of music and have been exploring jazz for many years. Jazz is so varied and broad that navigating through can be a challenge but this is an amazing resource. This podcast is expertly hosted and the discussion with each weeks guest provides an education you can’t get elsewhere. The discussion adds depth to the rare and fantastic recordings. One can scroll through the archive and find many excellent artists, but I highly reccomend Gil Scott-Hero... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GaryK50
    United States18 days ago
  • 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 Kingdom3 months 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 States6 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 States7 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.

2026.06.08 Vijay Iyer on Alice Coltrane - 3 of 3
Q: How do you do that? Tell it in three lessons.
The guest explains that describing the approach is challenging because much of the technique is about listening, guiding intuition, and letting the music unfold rather than following a simple, prescriptive method.
2026.05.25 Michael Veal on Miles Davis - 1 of 3
Q: Do you think that he had a vision for where this band was gonna go?
Veal suggests Miles likely had a broad vision and was inspired by younger players' directions, hoping to integrate those influences without becoming obsolete, with the 1970s band realizing that longer-term vision.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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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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Which podcasts are similar to Deep Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Deep Focus:

1. Transmissions
2. Today, Explained
3. GOOD OL' GRATEFUL DEADCAST
4. Pod Save America
5. Hard Fork

How many episodes of Deep Focus are there?

Deep Focus launched 7 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.

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What guests have appeared on Deep Focus?

Recent guests on Deep Focus include:

1. Michael Veal
2. Michael E. Veal
3. Ahmed Abdullah
4. William Hooker
5. Steve Slagle
6. Mazz Swift
7. Jay Rodriguez Sierra
8. Jay Rodriguez-Sierra

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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