Jonathan Scales’ newest release, PILLAR—his sixth album, and fourth release on taste-maker label Ropeadope—is a testament to the grit and tenacity he possesses, while also serving as an introduction of his new, full-time rhythm battery consisting of bassist E’Lon JD and drummer Maison Guidry. These two formidable young lions hold their own in the company of an incredible cast of special guests, including bassists Victor Wooten, Oteil Burbridge and MonoNeon, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, keyboardist Shaun Martin, percussionist Weedie Braimah and banjo pioneer Béla Fleck. It is the inclusion of Béla Fleck on this record that stands out most notably in context of Scales’ own personal story, and in this regard, PILLAR represents a remarkable victory for the music lover inside of the 33-year-old Asheville, NC based artist.
JONATHAN SCALES - STEEL PANS + PERCUSSION (3)
MAISON GUIDRY - DRUMS
E'LON JORDAN-DUNLAP - BASS (1-7)
OTEIL BURBRIDGE - VOCALS + 6-STRING BASS MELODY + SOLO (1)
MONONEON - BASS (8)
VICTOR WOOTEN BASS (8)
BÉLA FLECK - BANJO
JEFF COFFIN - SOPRANO SAX
JACOB RODRIGUEZ - TENOR SAX + BARI SAX
JUSTIN RAY - FLUGELHORN (1) + TRUMPET (2,6)
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH TRUMPET (8)
STEVE ALFORD - CLARINET, BASS CLARINET + CONTRA-ALTO CLARINET
SHAUN MARTIN - KEYBOARDS
WEEDIE BRAIMAH - DJEMBE
MATT WILLIAMS - VIOLINS
FRANKLIN KEEL - CELLO
ZACK PAGE - UPRIGHT BASS
ERIC HEVERON-SMITH - TUBA + TROMBONE
DANIEL SHEARIN - RECORDING, EDITING, + MIXING ENGINEER
MIXED AT SLEEPING DOGS STUDIO (ASHEVILLE, NC) / KENNETH HERRINGTON ASSISTANT ENGINEER / DAN MILLICE MASTERING ENGINEER - ENGINE ROOM AUDIO (NYC) / RECORDED AT ECHO MOUNTAIN RECORDING STUDIO IN ASHEVILLE, NC WITH ADDITIONAL RECORDING IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN NASHVILLE, TN (ITA STUDIO + VIX MIX) / HICKORY, NC / NEW ORLEANS, LA (THE PARLOUR) / BOCA RATON, FL / ASHEVILLE, NC (EAGLE ROOM + JSF HQ) / MEMPHIS, TN / DALLAS, TX / LOS ANGELES, CA (CHAMPAGNE ROOM WEST III)
PRODUCED BY JONATHAN SCALES / "FOCUS POEM" CO-PRODUCED WITH BÉLA FLECK / ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY JONATHAN SCALES / © & ℗ 2018 SCALESNDEM MUSIC (ASCAP) / ADAM LEDBETTER GRAPHIC DESIGN / MICHAEL WEINTROB ALBUM COVER PHOTOGRAPHY AS SEEN IN INSTRUMENTHEAD THE BOOK (WWW.INSTRUMENTHEAD.COM)
1. Fake Buddha's Inner Child (feat. Oteil Burbridge)
2. We Came Through the Storm
3. This is the Last Hurrah! (feat. Jeff Coffin)
4. Cry (feat. Shaun Martin)
5. Focus Poem (feat. Béla Fleck) 04:36
6. Dream-Life State
7. How to Rebuild Your Battleship
8. The Trap (feat. MonoNeon, Victor Wooten, Weedie Braimah, & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah)
