PFT Media

The Major Scale – Phil Ranelin & Josh Frank

Chris — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 08:39:36 +0000

This episode is a nod to the crate diggers. Phil Ranelin may be considered underground, but he’s an artist of large stature in the world of rare grooves. Sought after by collectors, and for use of samples and remixes, Ranelin’s music is now widely accepted which nearly eluded him since he began back in the ’60s. His Collected Works 2003- 2019 from Wide Hive Records prove what a treasure he is. You don’t even have to take our word for it, Motown, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Hubbard, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and John McEntire of Tortoise have been hip to the notion all along. Ranelin’s music is all his own, leaning towards an Afro-centric soul vibe with a dissonant cry of freedom, future, and self-expression. Along for the ride is fellow jazz titan Pharoah Sanders, and young lion Kamasi Washington. We got Mr. Ranelin on the line to share his thoughts and feelings about this proper retrospective.

Crate digging is generally a pastime involving vinyl records, but it could be applied to books and rare artifacts–something Josh Frank does all at once. First an author (notably of the post-modern biography In Heaven Everything Is Fine and co-author with Frank Black of the Pixies in The Good Inn), and now a pop culture explorer, Frank unearthed, “directed,” and scored the long lost film project between surrealist artist Salvador Dali and the Marx Brothers. Need a minute to ponder that? Wait ’til you hear the title: Giraffes On Horseback Salad. Frank has done the impossible by adapting this once long-lost curio as a fully formed, eye-popping graphic novel. In keeping with Dali’s wishes, he also produced a soundtrack in the vein of Cole Porter with the help of Pepe Deluxe and Quin Arbeitman. It’s a score that’s all things old Hollywood, absurd, delightful and as zany as anything the Marx Brothers did during their time on earth, and now in the hereafter. Or is it? Josh Frank helps makes heads or tail of it all.

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.

The Major Scale – African American Art in the 20th Century – Roots, Harlem Renaissance, & Bebop

Chris — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 08:00:21 +0000

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!!!

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

ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

The Major Scale – The Mattson 2 & Emma-Jean Thackray (with Hillary Donnell)

Chris — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 08:01:59 +0000

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!!!

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

ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):

The Major Scale – St. Paul and The Broken Bones & Gilles Peterson w/ Hillary Donnell

Chris — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 08:00:43 +0000

The Major Scale hosted by Kyle Eagle featuring Gillies Peterson w/ Hillary Donnell & Paul and The Broken Bones.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones revive an energy that is desperate to break free in the 21st century. Their sound brings to mind the soul innovations of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section and Booker T. And the MG’s, but with the live energy of an Elvis or James Brown Revue. On their records they fire all cylinders, live they become a near religious experience with Paul Janeway’s stunning voice testifying from the pulpit. Janeway joins the Major Scale in conversation about the band’s album Young Sick Camellia, their sound, their family roots and, of course, that voice.

We welcome Hillary Donnell as a our guest contributor, one of the brightest talents in contemporary music journalism and DJ-ing. In this second half, she turns the mic around on another shining light of broadcasting and a true champion of music: the legendary Gilles Peterson of the BBC. They talk about his recording labels, live events, his countless showcasing of artists known and soon-to-be, and how the Winter Jazz Festival has helped to highlight Britain’s new trail blazers in jazz. It’s a movement that Rolling Stone has deemed “The Second British Invasion,” echoed by Vanity Fair, Esquire, and Newsweek.

The Major Scale – Ashley Kahn on John Coltrane & Nels Cline

Chris — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 08:01:14 +0000

The Major Scale returns with another season of championing the past, present, future and everything in-between of the great American art form – Jazz!

Out of the gate we speak to celebrated author Ashley Kahn (The House That Train Built, The Universal Tone) about John Coltrane’s lost album Both Directions At Once, which he helped produce. This is a landmark time for music, and ‘Trane is still present–he’s maybe even more understood now than when he was alive. We discuss this and more with Mr. Kahn, all the while listening to the never before heard music of Both Directions At Once.

Nels Cline makes a return visit to The Major Scale with some insight about Currents, Constellations, his second album release on the legendary Blue Note Records. As usual, Cline’s music sparkles with soul and daringness. His deep love of all music, combined with his experiences in DIY punk, free jazz, Sonic Youth, and Wilco, have made him one of today’s most formidable players to follow.

The Major Scale – Karl Berger & The Da Capo Trio

Chris — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 08:00:27 +0000

It was a proud moment for the Major Scale to have the chance to speak with Karl Berger. Active since the 1960s, Berger has forged a career as a composer and vibist with an ear for talent, arranging, and bringing a sense of melody and groove to the avant-garde. Taking a cue from his first encounter with Don Cherry, jazz’s legendary gypsy traveller and inventor of World Beat. Berger has recorded under his own leadership with luminaries like Carla Bley, Ornette Coleman, and Lee Konitz – as well being tapped to enrich the music of Jeff Buckley, Natalie Merchant, and even Britney Spears!

The Da Capo Trio are an unsigned group with an amazing and fresh take on one of the basics: the jazz trio. Drums, bass, and the Fender Rhodes piano sound get a 21st century treatment with dazzling virtuosity and accessibility. With their set of originals, standards (Oleo), and surprising arrangements (Pat Matheny), classic jazz jargon says it best here with the Da Capo Trio “so far out, that they’re in.”

SONG CREDITS FOR THIS EPISODE:

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

FIRST HALF: Symphony for Improvisers (Excerpt) by Don Cherry (from the album “Symphony for Improvisers” on Blue Note Records)

Excerpt from UCF workshop by Karl Berger

Movement 5 by Karl Berger (from the album “Gently Unfamiliar” on Tzadik records).

Eternal Rhythm pt. 1 by Don Cherry w/ Karl Berger (from the album “Eternal Rhythm” on MPS Records).

Lilac Wine by Jeff Buckley (from the album “Grace arr. by Karl Berger” on Columbia Records).

Travel South by Karl Berger (from the album “Karl Berger and Friends” on Black Saint Records).

Transit by Karl Berger (from the album “Transit” on Black Saint Records).

SECOND HALF: Oleo, Someday My Prince Will Come, Phase Dance, and Doc Wilky Mob Blues by The Da Capo Trio (from the album “Vine Street Performance”).

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!!!

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

ABOUT KYLE EAGLE (Host):

ABOUT CHRIS BARANYI (Producer):