Is It Jazz or Is It Something Else? Mark Wade's 'New Stages' Breaks the Frame

This is the Slang Of Ages Podcast—where records don’t age out, they age in. On this episode of the Slang Of Ages Podcast, Preston Frazier sits down with bassist and composer Mark Wade to unpack New Stages, a daring project that reimagines classical masterworks through the lens of a modern jazz trio. Drawing inspiration from Debussy, Sibelius, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Rodrigo, and even Chick Corea, Wade doesn’t simply interpret—he reconstructs. The conversation dives into the fine line between homage and transformation, what it means to lead a trio from the bass, and how orchestral thinking reshapes improvisation. Wade reflects on the evolution from Songs from Isolation to this expansive new statement, and whether genre labels still matter in 2026. Is New Stages jazz? Classical? Something else entirely? Wade makes the case that the future lives in the in-between. This one’s for listeners who like their tradition respected—but challenged. https://www.markwademusicny.com LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE! My new book, “Yes Indeed: Tales From Yes, Without Jon Anderson,” is out now! Check out patreon.com/SlangOfAgesPodcast for exclusive content, early access, and to support the Slang of Ages podcast. My first book, “Toto, The Band, Not the Dog”, is also available at major book retailers and at www.slangofages.com, as well as through your online retailers. Special Thanks to my Patreon Executive Producers:  Cynthia Tom, Cheryl Frazier, and Vinicio Cifuentes. Check out all my reviews at slangofages.com. You may also donate on the ‘about’ page.