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

TRACKLIST :

A1. Fake Buddha Inner Child

A2 We Came Through the Storm

A3 This is the Last Hurrah!

A4 Cry

B1 Focus Poem

B2 Dream-Life State

B3 How to Rebuild Your Battleship

B4 The Trap