PFT Media

Josef Leimberg & the Spiritual Jazz of the Rascals with Felix Cavaliere

The meaning of jazz is taking on new dimensions in the 21st century, and Josef Leimberg is helping to lead the charge. His debut album, Astral Progressions, is rich in psychedelic soul and spacey grooves that evokes the musical memories of Prog-rock and Alice Coltrane. Leimberg cut his teeth on the west coast for years playing and performing at Project Blowed and the World Stage, not to mention producing and arranging for Neo-Soul maverick Bilal, legendary Mikah Nine, as well as Grammy and Pulitzer winner Kendrick Lamar.

Evoking the “and everything in between” part of our motto, we take a closer look at the Rascals, with the band’s driving force, Felix Cavaliere, joining us in conversation. Many don’t realize that the Rascals used several jazz titans on their records to help flesh out their the music as they developed their sound towards more soul and jazz territories. Names like Herbert Laws, Ron Carter, and Alice Coltrane lent their talents to making some of the best, if not unsung experiments in Jazz-rock and fusion – standing among bands like Blood, Sweat, and Tears and Chicago, as well as opening the doors for Steely Dan and more. Be ready to have a whole new appreciation for the Rascals!

SONG CREDITS FOR THIS EPISODE:

THEME: Jazz Phantom by Chomsk’ (from the album “Different Beats” on Magentic Records).

FIRST HALF: Interstellar Universe, The Awakening, Lonely Fire(Miles Davis) and Between Us 2 by Josef Leimberg (from the album “Astral Progressions” on World/Galaxy/Alpha Pup).

Galaxy Around Olodumare (snippet) by Alice Coltrane (from the album “World Galaxy” album on Impulse Records)

SECOND HALF: Galaxy Around Olodumare (snippet) by Alice Coltrane (from the album “World Galaxy” album on Impulse Records)

Little Dove by The Rascals (from the album “Peaceful World” on Columbia Records)

Nama by The Rascals (from the album “Search and Nearness” on Atlantic Records)

Mother Nature’s Land by The Rascals (from the album “Peaceful World” on Columbia Records)

Nubia by The Rascals (from the album “See” on Atlantic Records)

Peaceful World by The Rascals (from the album “Peaceful World” on Columbia Records)

Buttercup and Time Will Tell by The Rascals (from the album “Island of Real” on Columbia Records)

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 sauces.