Preview: Jonathan Scales Fourchestra / October 2nd / Jackie O’s
By Sam Tornow, Contributor
Jackie O’s / Friday, Oct. 2, 2015
Was it a long week of work or class filled with a consuming amount of stress? Come unwind this Friday with the best remedy around, jazz/rock fusion. The Asheville based trio Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is stopping by Jackie O’s to relieve you of any sense of obligation.
The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra is composed of Cody Wright on bass, Chaisarary Schenck laying it down on drums and Jonathan Scales adding the melodies on steel pans. The group's instrumental makeup creates an interesting, complex sound that never fails to come off as tight and tasteful. The trio has self-described their sound as jazz rock fusion, but realize that the label is not entirely accurate. “I would say that I let the folks call it what they will! It's such a mix of a lot of things that it's really hard to call it one thing or the other,” said Scales. “When I first started the band in '07, I naturally funneled my influences into what I wanted to do. Growing up. listening to everything from Bach to Dr. Dre, Mozart to System of a Down...and all of that comes out somewhere.”
The band’s current tour is taking them all over the country and even to international locations such as France and Japan. “It's important to us to play for people everywhere and to ‘go where the love is,’ so to speak. We have a booking agent that keeps that in mind, so we really end up in so many unique situations... from big jazz festivals in Colorado to hole-in-the-wall dive bars in Mississippi and everything in between,” said Scales.
In terms of live performance, the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra manages to stay precise on stage even with their convoluted material. Past experience from a variety of different shows and atmospheres have taught the band how they perform best, by putting everything they have into the music. “After years of performing, I've learned that it's important to give everything you have to the audience, no matter if you had a bad day or a great day. People take the time out of their lives to come witness our show and I think that's special. So every night, I just go out and do the best I can, and even if there are mistakes, it's about the live experience and that overcomes the desires of putting on the ‘perfect’ show.”
Despite how much touring the band has done, this will be their first stop in Athens. On the topic, Scales asserted, “I think that I'm just looking forward to being [in Athens] in general, knowing that there are people there who appreciate our music. I'm glad we can make this stop in Ohio before our adventures around the world!”
The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra will be playing this Friday, Oct. 2 at Jackie O’s starting at 8 p.m. If a chill night accompanied by an unique blend of soft rock and technical jazz sounds appealing to you, the Fourchestra is sure to deliver.
