Stephen Scott

 

“Musicians with Scott's creative impulses are like independent Filmmakers who have turned away from the formulas of Hollywood in search of individual ways to reassert the fierce poise, the wit and the romantic grandeur that have given the best art of this country its charisma”.
—Stanley Crouch’s liner notes for the BEAUTIFUL THING

Pianist and keyboardist Stephen Scott has secured his membership in what author Stanley Crouch calls, “the inventive elect.”  Scott’s recordings, Something to Consider, Aminah’s Dream, Renaissance, The Beautiful Thing and The Vision Quest all written, arranged and produced by Scott, document his evolution as a pianist, composer, band leader and 'one of the leading lights not only of his generation but also of the mainstream jazz renaissance.'

With a career that spans over nearly 30 years, he has performed and or recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Sonny Rollins, Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard, Pieces of a Dream, Dr. John, Ron Carter and many others. He began his career at age 14 performing with former 'Basie' trumpter Dave Burns and soon after at age 18, landed the gig with Vocalist Betty Carter. He spent nearly ten years as the pianist with saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Among the many recordings he has been involved with are the Grammy Award winning recordings of Betty Carter’s LOOK WHAT I GOT, Joe Henderson’s LUSH LIFE, and THIS IS WHAT I DO and WITHOUT A SONG: THE 9/11 CONCERT both with Sonny Rollins.

Scott has appeared on ”THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, numerous live performances for various BET ON JAZZ programs and the movie CAFÉ SOCIETY. Scott’s compositions and arrangements have been played and or recorded by many other artists. JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, recognizing his talents as a composer commissioned him to compose a musical work. The piece entitled POSTCARDS FROM HOME was performed by the Lincoln Center orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and premiered in the winter of 1996.

Over the years Mr. Scott participated in many master classes, lectured at many universities and music/jazz education programs around the world including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center's Jazz Ahead program. He is presently a clinician at the Dillard Center for the Arts, Jazz piano teacher at Broward College and also instructs many private students.