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Scott Colley
Scott Colley’s stature as a leading bassist in the field of improvised music is well known, and easily measured. He’s been called “one of the leading bassists of our postbop era, and a composer-bandleader of quietly serious resolve” by The New York Times, while musical colleagues, like saxophonist Joshua Redman, praise him for being “one of the most musical bassists playing today. To me, he seems to have…this natural, intuitive, empathic sense of how to bring the most out of the other musicians and the music he’s playing.”
Colley, a three time Grammy nominee, has performed on over 200 recordings, eight of those as bandleader and composer. He is a first-call sideman, as renowned for his role in groups led by well-known headliners—John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Chris Potter, many others—as he is for being part of all-star projects like “Still Dreaming” with Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, and Brian Blade; and “Steel House” with Edward Simon and Brian Blade.
Significantly, Colley is a leader of note, having assembled and composed music for a number of his own ensembles of top-level talent. His new recording Seven benefits from the combined prowess of Colley alongside trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, keyboardist/singer Kevin Hays, and drummer Nate Smith. The recording serves as an earnest, effective example of the personal and the musical becoming one, and is dedicated to a number of important mentors who have passed away recently, including Andrew Hill, Michael Brecker, Jim Hall, Charlie Haden, Fred Tinsley and Colley’s father.
“This last decade has been a big shift for me personally, and has made me appreciate the importance of being present in the moment, in life, as well as in music,” says Colley. “These moments happen only once. I believe that because I'm more aware of this fact, I’ve come to a deeper understanding of my various experiences—how I’ve arrived at this point in my career, and my life.”
Colley’s musical journey began in his hometown of Los Angeles. He was born in 1963 where at the ripe age of 11 he set his sights on the bass as his instrument of choice. At 13, he began studying with bassist Monty Budwig, and later, attending Eagle Rock High School, with John Rinaldo the school’s musical director. A full scholarship to the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) greeted him after graduation. He focused on composition and jazz studies, while also studying privately with jazz legend Charlie Haden and classical bassist Fred Tinsley of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
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If saxophonist/composer/bandleader Benjamin Koppel has proven anything over the last few years, it is that he has no trouble finding sources of inspiration for his work. Whether it is just for the sake of blowing with a redoubtable rhythm section in the form of bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade on Perspective (Cowbell Music, 2023) or illustrating his own range of style with The Ultimate Soul & Jazz Revue (Cowbell Music, 2020) and The Art of The ...
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by Neil Duggan
Billy Childs, one of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz, is in high demand as a modern classical composer. He has played and composed music ranging from orchestral to chamber works to contemporary small ensemble jazz. This has brought him five Grammy awards to date. Starting as a pianist in his native Los Angeles, he then spent six years with Freddie Hubbard's band before becoming a leader in his own right. He has performed with a ...
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by Ian Patterson
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by Chris May
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read moreJoshua Redman's New Album, "Still Dreaming"—Featuring Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade—Out Now
![Joshua Redman's New Album, "Still Dreaming"—Featuring Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade—Out Now](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/9dae96cd67fdc51e39f9dad653a71bd7.jpg)
Source:
Nonesuch Publicity
Saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman is joined by drummer Brian Blade, bassist Scott Colley, and cornetist Ron Miles for Still Dreaming—an album inspired by his father Dewey Redman's 1976–1987 band, Old and New Dreams—released on Nonesuch Records on May 25, 2018. Along with the senior Redman, Old and New Dreams featured an all-star lineup of Ornette Coleman collaborators—cornetist Don Cherry, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Ed Blackwell—who continued pushing musical boundaries as they had with Coleman even after their former ...
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ArtistShare Is Proud To Submit Scott Colley's "Seven" For Nomination Consideration In The 60th Grammy Awards
![ArtistShare Is Proud To Submit Scott Colley's "Seven" For Nomination Consideration In The 60th Grammy Awards](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/a0bb3feb13d8fc2314b09dbc646d8138.jpg)
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Brian Camelio
Multi-Grammy nominated Scott Colley, “one of the leading bassists of our post-bop era, and a composer- bandleader ofquietly serious resolve,” has composed incredible new works for his recently formed band, Current, which features trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson, drummer Nate Smith, and pianist Kevin Hays. ArtistShare is proud to submit Scott’s stunning new recording, Seven, for nomination consideration in the 60th Grammy Awards. The writing and performance is unparalleled, combining beautiful melodicism with exhilarating rhythmic structures. The band navigates sometimes surprising territory, ...
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Brooklyn Jazz Wide Open Season Finale with Dave Liebman & Scott Colley and May 19th!
![Brooklyn Jazz Wide Open Season Finale with Dave Liebman & Scott Colley and May 19th!](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/redcatpublicity100x100b.png)
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
CONNECTION WORKS PRESENTS The Season Finale of BROOKLYN JAZZ WIDE OPEN @ The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Concert Hall The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is located at 58 Seventh Ave (at Lincoln Place), Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, Tel 718 622 3300, reduced admission! FINAL Concert of the 2011-2012 season Saturday, May 19 @ 8:00 PM (two sets) WORKS with special guests DAVE LIEBMAN & SCOTT COLLEY Dave Liebman - saxophones Michel Gentile ...
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Brooklyn Jazz Wide Open Presents Joe Lovano and Scott Colley @ The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music!
![Brooklyn Jazz Wide Open Presents Joe Lovano and Scott Colley @ The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music!](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/b99443c04aad25738a28fe8f6446359c.jpg)
Source:
Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
CONNECTION WORKS PRESENTS The 4th SEASON OF BROOKLYN JAZZ WIDE OPEN The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Concert Hall 58 Seventh Ave (at Lincoln Place), Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 718-622-3300, Tickets are $15, and $10 for students and seniors NEXT CONCERT! Wednesday, April 13, 2011 2 sets at starting 8:00pm WORKS with special guests JOE LOVANO & SCOTT COLLEY Joe Lovanosaxophone Michel Gentileflute ...
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Scott Colley - Empire (Cam Jazz, 2010)
![Scott Colley - Empire (Cam Jazz, 2010)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/2010/helpinghands100x100.jpg)
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Music and More by Tim Niland
Scott Colley is one of the first call bassists on the modern jazz scene, having played with everyone from Andrew Hill to Chris Potter. On this album he is joined by a first class unit consisting of Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Bill Frisell on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano and Brian Blade on drums. The work on this album is atmospheric and subtle, with Frisell using effects to his guitar to add texture, and Blade keeping the percusssion shifting and ...
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Introducing the New Gary Burton Quartet: Featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez
![Introducing the New Gary Burton Quartet: Featuring Julian Lage, Scott Colley and Antonio Sanchez](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/cb6693d132edac959daea50a15caa4b2.jpg)
Source:
AAJ Staff
GROUP SET TO MAKE THEIR NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT AT BLUE NOTE, OCTOBER 19-24 The New Gary Burton Quartet, featuring guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Antonio Sanchez, is set to perform at Blue Note on October 19-24. The week long engagement will serve as the North American debut for the group, which made its world premiere at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in August 2010. For over five decades, Gary Burton, the Grammy® award winning vibraphonist and former ...
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Preview Scott Colley's upcoming release "Empire"
![Preview Scott Colley's upcoming release "Empire"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/ce7d44fdf8df7e2257ea03fa8d6444a5.jpg)
Source:
Brian Camelio
With the release of Scott Colley's latest album Empire" just around the corner Scott has teamed up with ArtistShare to allow fans to preview tunes from the record, check out photos from the recording session and Scott's gigs, as well as a special video performance. Fans can also access a .pdf lead sheet of Scott's tune The Gettin' Place" from the upcoming Empire." Click here to redeem your certificate log in number (6-66423969-76269) and access this exclusive preview of Scott ...
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Preview "Empire" from Scott Colley!
![Preview "Empire" from Scott Colley!](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/ce7d44fdf8df7e2257ea03fa8d6444a5.jpg)
Source:
Brian Camelio
With his new release just around the corner, Scott Colley would like to invite you to preview some tunes from his the upcoming record Empire." Scott's ArtistShare preview features tunes from his upcoming release as well as a bonus video performance with Jim Hall and Lewis Nash, tour photos, pictures from the Empire recording session and press photos. Click here to redeem your certificate log in number (6-66423969-76269)! Empire" will be released in the U.S. on August 31st, worldwide on ...
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Preview Scott Colley's "Empire"
![Preview Scott Colley's "Empire"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/ce7d44fdf8df7e2257ea03fa8d6444a5.jpg)
Source:
Brian Camelio
Due for U.S. release on August 31st 2010, Scott Colley's upcoming album Empire features an impressive line up of Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Bill Frisell on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano and rhodes, and Brian Blade on drums. Empire" is yet another strong example of Scott Colley's skills not only as an improviser, but also as bandleader and composer.
To preview the tune Five-Two" from the upcoming release and view Scott's tour and press photos simply redeem your certificate number ...
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"Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley
!["Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/ce7d44fdf8df7e2257ea03fa8d6444a5.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Scott Colley's upcoming album Empire is his seventh release as a leader and it seems as though his experience has served him well. It felt to me that writing the material for this recording flowed quite easily. I think that because I have listened to all these musicians so much over the years, and have been fortunate to play with them all in many different musical environments, it was very easy for me to imagine them all playing together and ...
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Bruno Raberg
bass, acousticJoachim Mencel
pianoBen Hedquist
bass, acousticTim Carmichael
bassJonathan Andersen
bass, acousticPhotos
Music
Amelia
From: Dance of the EldersBy Scott Colley
The End of Innocence
From: The Winds of ChangeBy Scott Colley
Time Bandits
From: Time BanditsBy Scott Colley
Ah-Bop
From: Ah-BopBy Scott Colley
Tango Doblado (Bent Tango)
From: Southern ExposureBy Scott Colley