The Major Scale

The Major Scale

By PFT Media, LLCArtsMusic
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The Major Scale episodes

  • Craig Harris and Elizabeth Shepherd
    The concept is the composition in this episode. We start with Craig Harris paying tribute the greatest of all time, Muhammed Ali. His album Brown Butterfly is a brilliant and dizzying song cycle inspired by the champ. Harris joins The Major Scale to give us some play-by-play commentary behind his modern masterpiece.   Canadian musician Elizabeth Shepherd creates another gem in already sparkling career. With her latest album, Montreal, she takes inspiration from the people, places, and events that have shaped the city. The results are a musical ode with a journalistic tone. Definitely for curious eardrums.

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    58 min
  • Hillary Donnell and How Feminism is Shaping Jazz's Future

    A large chunk of the work that goes into producing The Major Scale is research – lots of it. The majority of our time is spent reading, seeking new channels, and taking leads from faithful hardworking artist management and PR. This episode is a nod to these tireless efforts.

    The always anticipated Winter Jazz Festival is coming, and while reading about past years' events we came across an op-ed in Jazz Right Now titled "A Feminist Urge Is Driving the Shape of Jazz to Come," written by Hillary Donnell. The piece was so impressive and eye opening, looking at both the social roots of the music and towards the future that lay ahead, that we decided to book her for an interview on it. You might recognize Donnell, music journalist and DJ, from previous episodes of The Major Scale, and hopefully again in future broadcasts. In this episode, we discuss her op-ed in detail. She also picked out all the music to go along with it: from Geri Allen, Emma Jean Thackray, David Murray, Alice Coltrane, Nubya Garcia, Yazz Ahmed, and many more. Donnell knows her stuff, so don't sleep on this one!

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    58 min
  • Sarathy Korwar and Steve Kuhn

    We love doing the Major Scale because it's a great opportunity to work with brilliant artists of today and tomorrow, as well as the some of our heroes from the past. In this episode we get both: Sarathy Korwar and Steve Kuhn.

    There's a renaissance happening in jazz worldwide, and drummer Sarathy Korwar is one of the leading voices in the UK. Within a year he's offered us two brilliant releases in My East Is Your West and More Arriving. The first, as the title suggests, is an Eastern take on a selection of overlooked Western tunes by the likes of Joe Henderson, Dollar Brand/Abdullah Ibrahim, Don Cherry, plus more. The second will make you stop in your tracks – a song cycle of nu-skool jazz plugged through the outlet of dance electronica and a collection of poets, griots, and MCs from India's growing music scene. The result is a joyful and socially aware noise.

    Steve Kuhn has been a leading voice since he arrived on the scene in early 1960s. Whether in his own prolific output or his numerous collaborations as an accompanist for the likes of Coltrane, Getz, and Oliver Nelson, it's no argument that Kuhn is one of the greats. Blessed with a gift for the melodic and an adventurous command of the piano, you can't help but picture his fingers dance in delight across the keyboard when listening to one of his compositions. As to be expected, his latest album, To And From The Heart, is stunning in effect and sadly may be his last!! Kuhn put some time aside to talk about it with us.

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    59 min
  • African-American Art in the 20th Century in the Sunshine State

    The Major Scale is proud to present a three-part special for Cornell Fine Arts Museum’s exhibit African American Art in the 20th Century, on loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It’s a bounty of bold and brilliant masterworks that showcases paintings and sculptures from 32 African American artists. In our special series, we delve into the stories that tie together the exhibit’s themes, including jazz and civil rights, as well as the music with the show’s curator, Virginia Mecklenburg.

    Part 3:

    Among the many amazing artists in the exhibit is Purvis Young, a native to Florida. We thought it apt since the exhibit since both Cornell Fine Arts Museum and the Major Scale are based in Central Florida that we take the time to explore some of the regional roots. Young, the term "Outsider Art", and the legendary Highwaymen are on the table for conversation as well as some of the Sunshine State's - Slim Galliard, Fats Navarro, Charles Tolliver, Gigi Gryce, Pee-Wee Ellis, Archie Shepp, and more.

    This special series is a must for curious eardrums.

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    59 min
  • African-American Art in the 20th Century - Civil Rights, the African-American Experience, and Rallying Cry

    The Major Scale is proud to present a three-part special for Cornell Fine Arts Museum’s exhibit African American Art in the 20th Century, on loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It’s a bounty of bold and brilliant masterworks that showcases paintings and sculptures from 32 African American artists. In our special series, we delve into the stories that tie together the exhibit’s themes, including jazz and civil rights, as well as the music with the show’s curator, Virginia Mecklenburg.

    Part 2: In the post WW II era the pace of the Civil Rights Movement picks up at a rapid pace. African-American life is flux, the demand for change and equality is everywhere. There is tragedy concurrent with hope as leaders and legislation move forward. The music moves right along with it. The art's come into their own, uncompromising talents like Bo Diddley, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Ornette Colman, Amiri Baraka, and countless others begin to make their voices heard, and we'll hear them in this episode.

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    59 min
  • African American Art in the 20th Century - Roots, Harlem Renaissance, & Bebop

    The Major Scale is proud to present a three-part special for Cornell Fine Arts Museum’s exhibit African American Art in the 20th Century, on loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It’s a bounty of bold and brilliant masterworks that showcases paintings and sculptures from 32 African American artists. In our special series, we delve into the stories that tie together the exhibit’s themes, including jazz and civil rights, as well as the music with the show’s curator, Virginia Mecklenburg.

    Part 1: The early days of the 20th century were a harsh reality for African Americans, but change was underfoot and it could be found in the art and music of the day. We'll go from the crossroads of the early blues, to the avenues of the Harlem Renaissance, right down to the starting line of bebop. We spin Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Bird and Diz and more.

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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 sauce.

    59 min
  • The Mattson 2 and Emma-Jean Thackray (with Hillary Donnell)

    The Mattson 2 and Emma-Jean Thackray (with Hillary Donnell)

    Keeping the fresh and bold at the forefront, and our hats off to the legends, The Mattson 2 have been making waves with their dreamy guitar and drum-based music for awhile. Rather than try and describe their sound, just looking at their frequent collaborators speaks volumes; Ray Barbee, Money Mark, Toro Y Moi, and Tommy Guerrero to name a few. With the brothers Mattson's latest take on one of music's most sacred cows, they may have topped themselves (as well as rattled a few cages). That's right, they've gone for John Coltrane and, wait for it... his masterwork A Love Supreme! The Mattson 2 really give it a piece of their creative minds, building a lush adventure and done with loving respect, in a way Coltrane would have given thumbs up to.
     
    One of the most compelling composers working today takes cues not only from the jazz masters, but from the dancefloor and the English tradition of Collier brass bands. That artists name is Emma Jean Thackray. She's one of the shining stars of the jazz-not-jazz renaissance that's currently happening. She'll make you don your thinking cap, get you out of your seat and onto your feet! Major Scale contributor Hillary Donnell returns with a friendly chat she and Thackray had recently. 

    ABOUT THE MAJOR SCALE:

    Your attention please to a new program that celebrates and takes a fresh and bold look at the great American art form- JAZZ!!!

    The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources.

    The Major Scale can boast amongst it's guests- legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal. The up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake. Fresh perspectives and commentary from the likes of Rock legend Al Kooper, who weighed in on the gospel. From The New Yorker, Amanda Petrusich expounds on her article about the movement to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in honor of Sonny Rollins. We explore the Soul-Jazz experiments of the Rascals. Grace Kelly from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert talks about her pop-up/flash mob concerts. Plus Thundercat, Henry Mancini, Ghostface Killah, Jaimie Branch, Nels Cline, Badbadnotgood, Cecil Taylor, and more get pick up on the Major Scale radar.

    Produced in Central Florida, this program seeks to become one of the defining voices of this Native American art form, and everything else that finds itself under it's umbrella. Think about programming and content found on the likes of World Cafe, Philadelphia, PA. Tiny Desk from Washington D.C., and KEXP Live from Seattle, WA. and that's what the Major Scale strives to do.

    For the curious, and lovers of music who like the details in between.

    ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

    Kyle Eagle has been a contributing writer and producer for the NPR-WBGO, WUCF, WPRK, Wax Poetics, The Orlando Weekly, Artbourne, 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. Recordings- Call Me-Jack Wilson, Live at the Penthouse, Grachan Moncur III, Chico Hamilton, and Andy Bey.

    ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

    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

     

    59 min
  • In A Sentimental Mood Over Chet Baker, Grady Tate, and Bob Dourough

    The Major Scale gets into a sentimental mood as we weave together the melodic with a sense of the melancholic, looking back at the legacies of a trio of musical greats.

     

    The wild and dark life of Chet Baker gets some reflection as we ponder his music and his mysterious demise that happened one fateful night over 30 years ago in Amsterdam. Next is Grady Tate, prolific drummer and an elegant soul singer. Countless are his sessions, eternal is his talent, and immortal the music he left us. Lastly is Bob Dorough, one of the most idiosyncratic voices to grace the field of music – be it with his own work, with Miles Davis, interpreting Charlie Parker, or making School House Rock.

    58 min
  • Dos Santos & Milford Graves
    From the first few blasts of the horn and guitar strums, Dos Santos' album "Logos" will intrigue and possess you with its lovely dark edges–a reverie of reverb bolstered by an ethereal tempo. Their brand of Latin post-rock and psychedelic jazzy textures can both haunt and rock you.    Milford Graves may very well be the ultimate Renaissance Man. As a percussionist, professor, scientist, jazz musician, botanist, and martial artist, there's more than a passing resemblance to the cult sci-fi character Buckaroo Banzai. But in all seriousness, Graves is truly one of the greats. His life, his dynamic, and his artistic accomplishments are all certainly the stuff of movies. Lucky for us, former student of the artist, Jake Meginsky, has put together a brilliant documentary to tell his story. Titled Milford Graves Full Mantis, this film is full on Milford Graves. Meginsky joins in to talk about the film and the man behind the talent.
    58 min
  • Karl Denson & Allison Miller
    When one wants to find out where the "mainstream" gets its lifeblood, simply look outside and underground–there you'll find all the hidden gems and roads less taken. Karl Denson is an artist who has operated in both of these worlds since the 1980s. His saxophone is the first choice of Lenny Kravitz and the Rolling Stones, to name a few, and on the flip side he cuts with Andy Bey and the Greyboy All-Stars. Then there's his own stunning discography... Funk, blues, rock steady, and loads of soul make up the music of Karl Denson, along with some gnomes and badgers, which he'll explain in the segment.   One thing we're proud to brag about here at the Major Scale are some of the artists we've featured from the late night talk show scene: such as Grace Kelly and Jon Lampley from Stay Human of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Thanks to a suggestion by Hillary Donnell, we can now add Allison Miller to the list. She's one of the rotating drummers from Late Night with Seth Meyers, and upon listening to her work you can tell why she get's the gig. Or simply ask Ani DiFranco and Dr. Lonnie Smith, some of the other excellent talent she's held her own with. Miller's band is called Boom Tic Boom and they're on a roll with their latest album "Glitter Wolf."
    58 min

About The Major Scale

From the publisher's feed

The Major Scale is the title, the motto and the mission are, Jazz- past, present, future, and everything in between. A lot of focus will be on new and fresh sounds, deep cuts, closer looks at underrated artists, taking a different look at some of the titans of the genre, and getting the two cents worth from a number of surprise guests and sources. Guests include legends like Herbie Hancock, Tom Scott, and Ahmad Jamal, the up and coming and the underrated-Kamasi Washington, Mia Doi Todd, Michael Blake, and more!