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The Major Scale – Kaia Kater & a Cannonball Adderley Tribute

November 21, 2018 By Chris

In this episode we’re featuring Kaia Kater and a nod to the Brothers Adderley.

First up, the new roots and blues of Kaia Kater. She’s Canadian born, yet embodies all the musical treasures the Americas have to offer. From bluegrass, folk, and jazz, to MC’s like Rakim and Kendrick Lamar, it all comes together in this burgeoning artist’s style of songwriting. Along with Ms. Kater, music columnist Bao Le-Huu (This Little Underground/The Orlando Weekly) joins in the conversation.

Speaking of taking in all the sounds of America (and the world at large in this case), we pay tribute to the brothers Adderley: Cannonball and Nat. With a body of work that left no stone unturned, these two did it all with a sense of musical adventure and accessibility with a bit of show-biz gleen. All types of great music passed through the brothers’ horns, ranging in themes to folklore, Broadway, afrobeat, astrology, religion, and psychedelia. Along the way the left a trail of bonafide classics – Work Song, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, and Sack O’ Woe – not to mention a who’s who of talents they helped to foster, from Joe Zawinul, Charles Lloyd, George Duke, Yusef Lateef, and more.

The Major Scale – Tom Scott Tribue

November 14, 2018 By Chris

The Major Scale gives a wink and a nod to Tom Scott and some of his early work. Before Scott was topping the charts with music for Tom Cat, L.A. Express with Joni Mitchell, along with scoring for film and TV- Starsky And Hutch, Let’s Do It Again, and Family Ties, he was a teenage prodigy who was signed to Impulse Records – the home of his hero John Coltrane among other legends. Although these first albums weren’t as popular as his later releases, over the past couple of decades they’ve become fertile ground for sampling – Massive Attack, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Hieroglyphics and countless others have rearranged his work to great heights. We talk with the man himself about this phenomenon – easily one of our most entertaining conversations yet!.

The Major Scale – Cecil Taylor & Sam Friend

October 24, 2018 By Chris

The Major Scale pays homage to the one of the most innovative artists America has ever produced, Cecil Taylor. As a bedrock of the avant-garde, Taylor’s output never looked back, progressing ever forward with originality and tenacity. Educator Matt Gorney joins us to discuss this idiosyncratic composer and share memories of the time his group, Civic Minded 5, booked Mr. Taylor for an unforgettable concert that is still talked about today.

According to Vanity Fair a new wave of jazz is in full bloom across the globe and Sam Friend is a key part of it. Somewhere between New York and New Orleans, Friend gathered a style that puts him at a crossroads of Randy Newman, Ben Sidran, and Mose Allison. Vocal, quirky, reflective, his unique sound is best heard to be appreciated..

SONG CREDITS FOR THIS EPISODE:

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

FIRST HALF: Excursion On A Wobbly Rail (from the album “Looking Ahead” on Contemporary Records)

Live Improvisation 2000 Rollins College/Rogers Building by Cecil Taylor (from the Civic Minded 5 concert)

3 Phasis by Cecil Taylor (from the album “3 Phasis” on New World Records)

Mixed by Gil Evans w/ Cecil Taylor (from the album “Into the Hot” on Impulse Records)

SECOND HALF: Show Your Face, Would You Save My Life, Settle Down, Rhythm Or Rhyme, and Here We Go Again b y Sam Friend (from the album “Twins” on Sam Friend Music)