Today’s guest deejay is Kyle Eagle, the host of The Major Scale, a news magazine that meets a mixtape on the subject of jazz, past, present, future, and everything in between.

Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO and WUCF, Dublab, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artborne Magazine, and The Fiscal Times, as well as several music and film releases- Light in the Attic’s documentary This Is Gary McFarland, and an upcoming film on composer Jack Nietzsche.

Chris Baranyi is a sound engineer and music producer. He splits his time between designing AV systems for theme parks and recording music. Chris has worked with many Orlando area musicians with backgrounds in jazz, fusion, hip-hop, funk, new age, and classical. Some of which have been featured on NPR’s Echoes. His passion includes jazz, vintage microphones, and hot sauces.

Kyle and his producer, Chris Baranyi, have delivered mix for today’s show that is an absolute delight. It reflects Kyle’s taste and playfulness. Think of it as the longform version of The Major Scale.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be producer, composer, musician, DJ, and poet, Carlos Niño.

Today’s guest deejay is Roxy Coss .

Roxy is a musician, composer, bandleader, recording artist, educator and activist.

I have Phil Freeman (listen to Phil’s mix for Genius and Soul here) to thank for turning me on to Roxy when he reviewed her 2017 album, Chasing The Unicorn. I was dumbstruck at her creativity on the first track on the album, where she improvises with several overdubs of herself. I was hooked, and I became a fan of Roxy and her music.

On today’s show, we’ll hear music that is essential to Roxy and a coupe tracks from her new album, Disparate Parts, which was released yesterday on Outside in Music.

The interstitial music on today’s show is “July” by Roxy Coss from her 2010 self-titled album.

Today’s guest deejay is saxophonist and singer/songwriter Grace Kelly.

I was introduced to Grace through Kyle Eagle, the host of The Major Scale, when Grace was the guest on his show. Her music was great, and her zest for life was infectious. I admired her ability to have many irons in the fire while promoting her brand on social media and having a blast doing it. Grace’s grit and sense of fun were an inspiration when we brainstormed what kind of show Genius and Soul would be.

Grace’s bona fides are as long as my arm, so only I’ll mention a few to capture the scope of Grace’s talent.

Grace performed at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Grace was also part of the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and appeared and performed on Bosch Amazon’s original series.

Grace’s mix feature songs that shaped her as a musician. You’ll hear some classics, but you’ll also hear some unexpected songs that will keep you on your toes.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be saxophonist, composer, and activist Roxy Coss.

Today’s guest deejay is trumpeter, singer, and composer Sarah Wilson .

I listened to Sarah a lot while brainstorming ideas for Genius and Soul. One of her tracks from her Kaleidoscope album popped up on my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Very serendipitous. I became an instant fan and caught up with her two previous albums: Trapeze Project and Music for an Imaginary Play.

Naturally, I reached out to her to guest deejay on the show.

Sarah will mention that she was part of The Bread & Puppet Theater in the 90s.

If you’re not familiar with The Bread and Puppet Theater, it is a politically radical puppet theater, active since the 1960s, based in Vermont. Some of the puppets are silly, and some are grotesque. I’ve seen The Bread and Puppet Theater once or twice in Boston in the 90s, and it left an impression.

I can’t help but wonder if Sarah was part of the troupe at the performances I saw.

Sarah’s mix is originally in part an act of meditation during a pandemic. She certainly didn’t expect the conflict in Ukraine to be the backdrop for today’s show. But here we are. I hope today’s show is a distraction from this events and maybe offer some solace for the next hour.

Last night, Sarah performed her SFJAZZ debut with her new brass-heavy chamber groove project, Brass Tonic.

Her performance will be rebroadcast today, March 12th, at 11AM Pacific.

Online access is available by becoming an SFJAZZ Digital Member. Tickets and Info can be found at sfjazz.org.

The interstitial music heard on today’s show is “Fall Has Arrived” from Sarah’s album, Trapeze Project.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be award-winning singer, saxophonist, and songwriter Grace Kelly.

Todays guest deejay is Melissa Haizlip, film producer, director, and writer most notable for her 2018 award-winning film, Mr. SOUL! The Movie.

Mr. SOUL! The Movie is a documentary about her uncle Ellis Haizlip, the producer and host of SOUL!, a music-and-talk program that aired on public television from 1968 to 1973.

You owe it to yourself to watch Mr. SOUL! The Movie You can stream it on HBO Max. Melissa’s documentary covers five seasons of SOUL! and features archival footage of rare performances and interviews with guests Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, The Last Poets, Harry Belafonte, and many, many more.

To quote Ellis Haizlip, “The primary purpose of Soul! is neither to educate nor entertain, but to give people a chance to share in the Black experience. The show must do that first. Then it can educate and entertain. Soul! makes Blacks visible in a society where they have been largely invisible.”

Today’s interstitial music is “One Cylinder” by Lou Donaldson.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be trumpeter, singer and composer Sarah Wilson.

Today’s guest deejay is John Morrison.

John Morrison is a writer, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia.

John has written for NPR Music, Bandcamp Daily, Jazz Tokyo, Grammy.com, and more. John is also the host of Culture Cypher Radio, a hip-hop radio show on NPR member station WXPN.

On today’s show, John shares treasured tracks from his library that fascinates him that he wants to share with you. His mix features older songs from musicians like Art Tatum and Amina Claudine Myers (you can listen to her mix for Genus and Soul here). John's mix also includes newer tracks from the likes of The Roots (be sure to read John’s book, John Morrison Considers The Roots' "Do You Want More?!!!??!”) and Irreversible Entanglements.

Today’s interstitial music is “Chabuca Limeña” by Jorge Roeder.

Quick note: Genius and Soul guest deejay Brian Jackson (listen to his mix here) has released a new single, All Talk, and a series of remixes by OPOLOPO in anticipation of his forthcoming studio album, This Is Brian Jackson, to be released on BBE Music in May 2022.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Melissa Haizlip, film producer, director, and writer most notable for her 2018 award-winning film, Mr. SOUL!.

Today’s guest deejay is Jon Butcher.

Jon is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, guitarist, and multimedia producer.

Jon recently released his album, Special Day, which features 10 songs that include blues, jazz, funk, soul, reggae, and rock n roll. Each song is indelibly marked by Jon’s signature sound.

Each episode of Genius and Soul is special, but today’s show is significant to me because Jon’s music was part of the soundtrack of my years Boston. He was part of the our local scene even as he was touring the country.

On today’s show, Jon shares the living history of jazz and blues through the songs he has selected for his mix. These songs are not just essential listening, they are Jon’s own soundtrack to who he is as a man, and as an artist.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be writer, DJ and sample-flipper John Morrison .

Today’s guest deejay is Amina Claudine Myers.

Amina is a pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, and arranger.

Amina will tell us about her childhood and how she became a professional musician on today's show. She has great stories about some of the amazing people she’s performed with. Amina will also talk about receiving the Arts for Art’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Living Legacy Jazz Award from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in 2021.

Amina’s mix features music she loves and select tracks from her albums and live performances. One of Amina’s songs made my co-producer Jason Smith weep, and another one of her songs raised the hair on the back of my neck. I think you’ll be similarly affected.

The interstitial music on today’s show is “Blessings” from the Women in (E)Motion album by the Amina Claudine Myers Trio.

The Amina Claudine Myers Trio will be performing a homage to David Hammons at The Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection Auditorium in Paris Wednesday, February 9.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be rock and blues songwriter, guitarist, and freelance multimedia producer Jon Butcher.

Today’s guest deejay is music journalist Phil Freeman .

Phil is a journalist, author, digital marketer, and social media professional.

Phil has written for The Wire, DownBeat, Village Voice, and other fine publications. Phil has written three books. His fourth book is Ugly Beauty: Jazz in the 21st Century, which will be released Tuesday, February 1st.

In Ugly Beauty, Phil asks pressing questions. What does jazz mean two decades into the 21st century? Has streaming culture made music meaningless? Has the destruction of the apprenticeship model changed the music irrevocably? Phil has answers, of course, and he shares own experiences and conversations with present-day players.

The interstitial music on today’s show is “Perseverance” by Graham Haynes and Submerged from their Echolocation album, from Phil’s Burning Ambulance label.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be singer/songwriter, jazz pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, and arranger Amina Claudine Myers.

Playlist

Today’s guest deejay is Muriel Grossman .

Muriel is an Austrian alto, soprano, tenor saxophonist, and composer. Muriel has released 13 albums, all on her Dreamlandrecords music label.

On today’s show, Muriel plays select tracks from her albums and music that have influenced her.

I was introduced to Muriel through Phil Freeman on Ugly Beauty, his long-form blog on Stereogum, where he shares his thoughts on jazz and new albums he has listened to. Phil’s turned me on to a lot of great stuff, and Muriel is no exception.

Muriel and her band have a distinct sound. You’ll know it when you hear it. They will lock into a groove, and that groove can be trance-inducing.

Sunday, January 23rd, Muriel will be performing at the Porgy & Bess Club in Viena and Jazzit in Salzburg Monday, January 24th. Muriel will also be performing at Le Duc de Lombard in Paris this Wednesday, January 26th.

Today’s interstitial music is “Traneing In” by Muriel Grossmann.

Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Phil Freeman.