Cat Martino

First published in 1947, Nicolas Slonimsky’s “Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns” has inspired musicians ranging from jazz saxophonist John Coltrane to Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo. Today: we hear new songs that incorporate exercises from Slonimsky’s Thesaurus, as part of a project sponsored by Esopus magazine. We talk with editor Tod Lippy and New York-based musician Cat Martino, who composed her song “Radial Brief” for the project’s CD.

New York musician Cat Martino visited us last year as a backing musician when Sufjan Stevens performed in our studio. Today, Martino joins us as a solo artist to play her song "Yr Not Alone."