Downbeat

Jamie Saft spoke to Downbeat Magazine about his “broader exploration of long-form music” on this year’s digital full-length release Rhodes Scholar, two and a half hours of meditation with a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Pick up the November issue of Downbeat for the story.

You can stream Rhodes Scholar everywhere now, or grab a download from Bandcamp today (aka Bandcamp Friday).

Looking for a recording studio in the quiet North? Send a messsage via Instagram.

Rhodes Scholar

Tracklisting

  1. My Illusions 05:47
  2. Connection 03:51
  3. The Inner Core 04:16
  4. Loping 02:41
  5. A Way Around It 05:14
  6. Brambling 05:09
  7. Immune To The Mathematics 04:28
  8. Just A Note To Say 05:13
  9. Seven Ladders 05:49
  10. Complex Green 05:34
  11. A Level Field 03:29
  12. Losses 03:25
  13. Pairs of Dreams 03:46
  14. Chooglin 03:23
  15. Late Summers 03:54
  16. Simpler Times 04:48
  17. You’ve Seen the Sign 03:31
  18. Human Wisdom 05:06
  19. One Thing Must Be Granted 04:41
  20. Over Then 03:14
  21. Mechanism Of The World 03:57
  22. A Further Abstract 02:24
  23. Princely 03:37
  24. Explorations In Jass 05:18
  25. Lifts 03:31
  26. Upaya 03:24
  27. Pleiades 08:17
  28. Berg 05:02
  29. Chords of Inquiry 03:37
  30. The Lost Temple 03:39
  31. Meditations Of 04:12
  32. Just The Way You Are 05:52

Credits
Jamie Saft- Fender Rhodes Electric Piano

with Tim Kelly- bass & steel guitars and John Mettam- drums on “Just The Way You Are”

Recorded by Jamie Saft at Fun & Sun in Midcoast Maine
Mixed and Mastered by Christian Castagno at +600db in Minca, Colombia

Art and Design by Steven Erdman for Studio Erdman
Cover photo by Alexa Saft
Video by Alexa Saft

Produced by Jamie Saft and Christian Castagno

All Songs Written and Performed by Jamie Saft and
Published by PAIN MANAGEMENT (ASCAP)
except “Just The Way You Are” written by Billy Joel and published by Almo Music Corp. o/b/o Impulsive Music

Special thanks to Mr. Dorgon, Autumn Seguin, Nate Krenkel, Ludmilla Faccenda, and Jillay

•••

Listen Apple | Bandcamp | Spotify | Tidal | YouTube


Oh, Angelo

ICYMI: At the beginning of this long year, Jamie Saft released the Oh, Angelo on 7″ vinyl. There are a few copies still available today on Bandcamp, and it holds darkly sensitive renderings of “Laura Palmer’s Theme” and “Sycamore Trees” by composer Angelo Badalamenti.

For me, David Lynch was the Albert Ayler of filmmaking. Total freedom of ideation deeply imbued with a broad understanding of the tradition brought forth new and unique constructs. Lynch’s universes were perfectly captured in sound by Angelo Badalamenti’s gorgeous and lush compositions. On this EP, I present solo piano versions of two of my favorite Badalamenti pieces from the Twin Peaks world. Tremendous respect and thanks to Lynch and Badalamenti for the endless inspiration. “Napkin.”

– Jamie Saft September 2025

Side A- “Laura Palmer’s Theme”
Side B- “Sycamore Trees”

Jamie Saft- piano

“Laura Palmer’s Theme” written by Angelo Badalamenti
Published by Universal-McA Music Publishing Div. of Universal Music Corp.

“Sycamore Trees” written by Angelo Badalamenti and David K. Lynch
Copyright Universal Music Corp. o/b/o Bobkind Music and Universal Music Corp. o/b/o Anlon

Recorded by Greg DiCrosta at Firehouse 12 Studios, New Haven, CT on August 24, 2025
Mixed and mastered by Christian Castagno in Minca, Colombia

Produced by Jamie Saft and Christian Castagno
Art and design by Steven Erdman for Studio Erdman

Special thanks to Nick Lloyd, Ashley Redbone, Autumn Seguin, Nate Krenkel, and Alexa Saft


One final note: there are a very few copies of Jamie Saft Trio Plays Monk available on the Oystertones Bandcamp page. Pick up a copy here.

Plays Monk is in fact a beautifully recorded album, played with almost classical restraint. …The performances are all first takes, the sound of the trio working through the music. -Downbeat

Off to Europe for some shows today. Please come say hello!

June 24 solo Poznan, PL at the Polish Dance Theater

June 25 Jamie Saft Trio w. Brad Jones & Hamid Drake at @pardontotu Warsaw, PL

June 26 solo Firenze, IT invitation only event (DM for info)

June 29 Ravenna, IT w. Hamid Drake’s Turiya: Honoring Alice Coltrane.

Photo by @evergreen.g1rl

Jamie Saft Greatest Organ Hits is out now on Veal Records

Jamie Saft- Greatest Organ Hits

Jamie Saft- Yamaha Electone FX-3 and HC-2 Organs

Produced by Jamie Saft and Christian Castagno
Art, Design, and Animation by Steve Erdman for Studio Erdman
Recorded by Jamie Saft at Calamari Gardens, Maine
Mixed, Dubbed, and Mastered by Christian Castagno in Minca, Colombia

Released April 16, 2025

Jamie Saft Trio Plays Monk out now on Oystertones

November 2024 saw the release of Jamie Saft Trio Plays Monk on CD and the digital.

We are happy to let you know that the long-awaited vinyl is coming soon. If you have any questions, or need to update your shipping information, please contact us.

Jamie Saft Trio returns in a new configuration, with Jamie Saft on keys, Brad Jones on contrabass, and Hamid Drake on drums. On the 107th anniversary of the legend’s birth, Jamie Saft Trio presents a deeply loving and lively celebration of the work of this jazz master, with an essential eponymous track.

Click here to find the single on your favorite music service, or to preorder the album.

Jamie Saft Trio Plays Monk will be released on November 22 on vinyl, compact disc, and digital.

The second single from the album is coming soon.

https://jamiesaft.bandcamp.com/album/jamie-saft-trio-plays-monk

JAMIE SAFT TRIO PLAYS MONK

Jamie Saft- piano
Bradley Christopher Jones- contrabass
Hamid Drake- drums

Produced by Jamie Saft and Christian Castagno
Recorded November 9, 2022 at Real Sound Milan by Ettore “Ette” Gilardoni
Assistant Engineer Roberto Gramegna
Mixed and Mastered by Christian Castagno in Minca, Colombia

Art and Design by Steve Erdman for Studio Erdman.
CD Layout by Graham Schreiner
Liner Notes by Joe Morris

Special thanks to Ludmilla Faccenda, Autumn Seguin, Nate Krenkel, Joe Morris, Vanessa Saft, and Gianluca Alberti.
All compositions written by Thelonious Monk and published by Thelonious Monk Corp. except “Everything Happens To Me” written by Matt Dennis and Tom Adair and published by Dorsey Brothers Music a division of Music Sales Corporation, “Coming on the Hudson” written by Thelonious Monk and published by Ultra Empire Music o/b/o Thelonious Music Corp., and “Monk’s Mood” & “Ruby, My Dear” written by Thelonious Monk and published by Embassy Music Corp.

Photo by Mike McGregor

GIANT (Coltrane Dream) liner notes by Mr. Dorgon- Hey, Where U going?

How + Why
I have been friends with Mr. Jamie Saft for thirty years.
This recording is dedicated 2 all our Teachers, for showing us how to do things & how not to do things.
Okay, so why a twelve hour piece?
I asked Mr. Saft + his reply-
So much of music and art made today is designed for quickest consumption – 60 second snippets.
Short attention span.
A 12 hour work feels like a perfect counterbalance to this.
It’s not goal oriented. You can’t go looking for something in it- you won’t find it.
It’s not there.

Mr. Saft lives in Maine. I live in California.
Sent him a bunch of audio.
He did most/ all of the heavy lifting assembling this.

So, what is it like?
Well, why not just dive in + give it a listen?
You like things explained a bit? Here is this-
Is it like a journey or a long, long trip?
Wagner’s Ring Cycle? The Oberammergau Passion Play?
For Philip Guston? Music in Twelve Parts?
John Coltrane – Live in Japan?
Ashura festival ritual? Circumambulating?
La Monte Young? Terry Riley?
a REALLY long “dub” mixtape?
Fela Kuti? Michael Henderson era Miles Davis?
Throbbing Gristle – 24 Hours
Disco in a Disco? Having an experience at a certain time + place?
Life is a Highway? Psychedlic experiences?
Psychoacoustics? A walk in the park?
Christian Marclay? DJ Screw?
The work of William S. Burroughs? Theatrical? Poignant? Lynchian?
Going ham on all musical orthodoxies and still making semi-cogent sound?
Why not dig in + decide 4 yerself?

One last thought-
Choosing from available choices is not actually thinking. 

credits

released April 20, 2024

Pramrod Sexena- GIANT (Coltrane Dream)

Produced by Jamie Saft, Mr. Dorgon, and Christian Castagno
Recorded by Jamie Saft and Mr. Dorgon
Mixed by Jamie Saft in Midcoast Maine
Mastered by Christian Castagno in Minca, Colombia
AI Cover Image by Greg Neeld

Jamie Saft- MiniMoog, Mellotron, Hammond RT3 organ, Allen Theater Organ, Fender Rhodes, Casio MT-40, guitar, drums, timpani, electronics
Mr. Dorgon- drums, percussion, field recordings, electronics
w. special guests:
Gary Gemmiti- drums
Christian Castagno- 22 Shruti Harmonium
Lard Dog- harmonica

All music written by Jamie Saft and Mr. Dorgon
All music published by PAIN MANAGEMENT (ASCAP) and 10:01 (ASCAP)

1. MELLOGLOCK
2. D7 DREAM STATE
3. OUT THERE IN THE
4. TOUCH
5. SWELLZ
6. RT
7. BEAR
8. DIVISADERO
9. MIDNIGHT
10. PASADENA CA
11. MORTONS
12. SCREWED
13. BAE
14. TRANSCENDENCE
15. CHOP
16. JILLY BOWL
17. SHRUTI
18. GJPs
19. BRAIN
20. EIGHT AM
21. V.O.D.
22. CARILON
23. WHEWS
24. SKREETS
25. MAPS
26. COLTRANE DREAM
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