The Future of Jazz with Ed Smith and Russ Naymark

Ed Smith, known from his Jazz Now radio work, and Russ Naymark launched The Future of Jazz in 2024 with a forward-looking mission: to explore where the music is headed by talking to the people who are shaping it right now. Each weekly episode features an interview with a contemporary jazz musician, presenter, or venue operator, examining the roads the music will be traveling in the coming years. The guest roster is deliberately diverse, spanning pianists, saxophonists, drummers, vocalists, guitarists, and industry figures like Blues Alley owner Harry Schnipper. Episodes typically run 27 to 40 minutes, making them digestible enough for a commute while still offering meaningful depth. What distinguishes this show from retrospective jazz podcasts is its explicit focus on what comes next. Smith and Naymark are interested in how younger musicians relate to the tradition, how venues are adapting, and how the business side of jazz is evolving. With about 39 episodes in the archive and a 4.9-star rating, the show is still relatively young but building momentum quickly. The production is clean and professional, and the hosts bring genuine curiosity to each conversation without defaulting to nostalgia. For listeners who are tired of jazz podcasts that only look backward, this show offers a refreshing emphasis on the present and future of the art form, grounded in real conversations with the musicians and organizers doing the work.