Jonathan Scales
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Scales is an American steel pannist and composer. He has recorded and produced three albums, the most recent being Character Farm and Other Short Stories, released in April
2011. Since 2007, Scales has recorded and performed with Roy "Future Man" Wooten, Jeff Coffin
, Jeff Sipe
, Casey Driessen
, and Yonrico Scott
. His albums have been reviewed by Modern Drummer and Jazz Times. Scales graduated from Appalachian State University
in 2006.
and was raised in a military family, spending time in Maryland
, Virginia
, Fort Bragg, and Germany
before settling in North Carolina
around the age of fifteen. A saxophonist since high school, Scales took up the steelpan
in 2002 and fell in love with the sound of the instrument. Scales enrolled at Appalachian State University
in 2002, and after graduating, formed the jazz fusion
quartet The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra whose current lineup includes Phillip Bronson on drums
and Cody Wright on bass
. The band's third album, Character Farm and Other Short Stories, was released in April 2011.
April
April is the fourth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and one of four months with a length of 30 days. April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC...
2011. Since 2007, Scales has recorded and performed with Roy "Future Man" Wooten, Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin is an American jazz and alternative rock musician best known as the saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. In addition to the saxophone, he plays clarinet, flute and oboe.-Biography:...
, Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe
Jeff Sipe is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer, however, he is proficient in many other styles which he has demonstrated in his decades of drumming. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit along with Col. Bruce Hampton...
, Casey Driessen
Casey Driessen
Casey Christopher Driessen is an American bluegrass fiddler and singer. He plays acoustic and electric five-string violins, each of which has an additional low C string....
, and Yonrico Scott
Yonrico Scott
Yonrico Scott is an American Grammy Award-winning drummer and percussionist. He was a longtime member of The Derek Trucks Band and is bandleader of his own ensemble; the Yonrico Scott Band. Having developed his craft not only from years of session work, roadwork, and study, the Cape Cod Times...
. His albums have been reviewed by Modern Drummer and Jazz Times. Scales graduated from Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
in 2006.
Early life and career details
Scales was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was raised in a military family, spending time in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Fort Bragg, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before settling in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
around the age of fifteen. A saxophonist since high school, Scales took up the steelpan
Steelpan
Steelpans is a musical instrument originating from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
in 2002 and fell in love with the sound of the instrument. Scales enrolled at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
in 2002, and after graduating, formed the jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
quartet The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra whose current lineup includes Phillip Bronson on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Cody Wright on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. The band's third album, Character Farm and Other Short Stories, was released in April 2011.
Discography
- One Track Mind, 2007
- Plot/Scheme, 2008
- Character Farm and Other Short Stories, 2011