PFT Media

PFT Media

The home of the PFT Radio Network

The Major Scale – Sonny Rollins & Jaime Branch

Play in New Window|Download

By

PFT Media Podcast Network

In this episode we present a very Brooklyn friendly theme. First up is Sonny Rollins, maybe the greatest living artist in America today. His impromptu performances on the Williamsburg Bridge are the stuff of legend, which is why there’s a grassroots effort to rename the bridge in his honor. We interview Amanda Petrusich, staff writer for The New Yorker, and organizer Jeff Caltabiano to talk about Caltabiano’s petition for New York City to make this name change in honor of one our best and brightest. Our second feature is on Chicago bred, trumpeter Jaimie Branch – a transplant to the borough of Brooklyn herself, and very much inspired by Don Cherry. She gave us time to talk about her debut Fly Or Die and her melodic approach to Free Jazz. Catchy, intense, beautiful.

SONG CREDITS FOR THIS EPISODE:

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

First Half: The Bridge by Sonny Rollins (from the album “The Bridge” on Magnetic Records).

John S. and Rain Check by Sonny Rollins (from the album “Work Time” on RCA/Victor).

Solo by Sonny Rollins (from the album “Holding The Stage/Roadshow Vol. 4 on Sony Masterworks).

If I Could Write A Book by Sonny Rollins with Don Cherry (from the album “The Complete RCA/Victor Recordings” on RCA/Victor).

Second Half: Theme Nothing, Leaves of Glass, Theme 001/Meanwhile, Waltzer, Theme 002, by Jaime Branch (from the album “Fly or Die” on International Anthem 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.

Related Episodes