January 25, 2023
For the fourth edition of the Satellite Mix series, we asked musician Joe Jeffers to make a mix dedicated to the late trumpeter and composer Jaimie Branch (1983–2022) who passed away too soon and left a heartbroken music community that misses her dearly. Rather than including Branch’s music in the mix, Jeffers created a mix tracing his 23-year-long friendship with Branch through music she had recommended to him over the years.
Listen to 23 years with Jaimie Branch here:
“The loss of Jaimie Branch is overwhelming because there is so much work to be done in her absence. To honor her properly is an impossible task because she opened up such an incredible realm of possibility for all of us. I think so many musicians cherished her because she helped show them their own potential and the true meaning of their work, not without stern words of how to move forward. She always saw the best in others and was usually quick to push them to find utility in their better qualities.
I always had an appreciation for her temper. You didn’t want to be on the wrong side of Jaimie Branch. I think that instilling a bit of fear in others was an important tactic for her. Jaimie saw making music to be a serious responsibility because a musician only borrows from a celestial space. Music was to be used for healing, to transcend, to transgress, to destroy and to rebuild, and should never be employed for a lesser purpose.
The force that Jaimie wielded pushed the limits of the physical world and the human body. I know that Breezy was not ready to leave us but it is my hope that in leaving our world she has finally found the freedom she could so clearly imagine.” —Joe Jeffers
Tracklist: Cliff Jordan & John Gilmore, “Bo Till” / Charles Mingus, “Crying Blues” / Chicago Underground Duo, “Red Gradations” / Art Ensemble of Chicago, “Theme De Yoyo” / Don Cherry, “Degi Degi” / Baby Huey, “Running” / Max Roach, “Effi” / Sun Ra, “Hour of Parting” / Curtis Mayfield, “The Makings of You” / Jason Ajemian, “Ludicrous Dreams & Solar Guided Love Handles” / Mouse on Mars, “Owai” / Gil Evans, “Proclamation” / Dose One & Boop Bip, “Birdcatcher” / The Blackbyrds, “Wilfred’s Dead” / Isotope 217, “Audio Champion” / Mr Bungle, “Retrovertigo”
Joe Jeffers is a music producer working between New York, Chicago, and Puerto Rico. He makes vocal music under his own name and techno music with Glasgow-based group TRSSX as Man Fear, and serves as lead vocalist for NY-based vocal group Today’s Favorite Singers. Jeffers also moonlights as a DJ on Newtown and the Lot Radio. Previously, he has performed as Joey Desktop, Felt & Known, Broken Chooser, Palace Sound, USA_GOLD, and more. He has collaborated with Acemo, Deem Spencer, Jaimie Branch, Eartheater, The Era Dance Crew, Jeff Kolar, Ase Manual, MIKE, Prison Religion, and others. Currently, Jeffers is working with La Meme Young to launch Klang Magazine, a platform for sound, community and education based in San Juan.
For more information, contact laika@e-flux.com.