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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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Album Review

Benjamin Koppel: White Buses: Passage To Freedom

Read "White Buses: Passage To Freedom" reviewed by Doug Collette


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 ...

1
Liner Notes

Christian Howes & Richard Galliano: Southern Exposure

Read "Christian Howes & Richard Galliano: Southern Exposure" reviewed by Howard Mandel


Christian Howes wants you to know that Southern Exposure is not simply another violin and accordion record, some light-hearted evocation of Parisian café music. “It's deeper than that," Howes, the 40-year-old violinist who is also an educator and online entrepreneur, says of his 13th album (counting self-produced projects from the 1990s). “I think there's a lot of passion on the record. There's a sort of tragic feel to some of it. “It's distinguished by the fact ...

7
Album Review

Billy Childs: The Winds of Change

Read "The Winds of Change" reviewed 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 ...

24
Album Review

Chris Potter: Got The Keys To The Kingdom: Live At The Village Vanguard

Read "Got The Keys To The Kingdom: Live At The Village Vanguard" reviewed by Ian Patterson


The title references an old gospel song, but for Chris Potter the keys in question could be those to the Village Vanguard. This is the saxophonist's third live recording from jazz's most storied club, not counting those with Paul Motian. For musicians and fans alike, this is hallowed turf. But it's not just about playing at The Village Vanguard. Documenting those dates is key--a rite of passage, to judge by the dozens of revered jazz musicians who have made live ...

33
Album Review

John Bailey: Time Bandits

Read "Time Bandits" reviewed by Jack Bowers


After working and recording for decades with some of the jazz world's best and brightest talents, trumpeter John Bailey released his first album as leader of his own group in 2018, the second in 2020 and, in 2023, his third, Time Bandits, which shares a name but nothing more with Terry Gilliam's 1981 film fantasy. Bailey leads an all-star quartet on this one, firmly anchored by drummer Victor Lewis (the timekeeper on all of Bailey's albums) and ...

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Album Review

Chris Potter: Got The Keys To The Kingdom (Live At The Village Vanguard)

Read "Got The Keys To The Kingdom (Live At The Village Vanguard)" reviewed by Chris May


There is a lot of heavy ordnance going off during this album. Indeed, the incoming only lets up once, and then briefly, during a performance of Billy Strayhorn's “Blood Count" at the halfway point. For the rest of the sixty-one minutes playing time, the watchword is eruptive. But no PPE is required. The barrage is benign. This is the third album Chris Potter has recorded live at the Vanguard. The attraction is no surprise. Saxophonists, especially those ...

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Album Review

Franco Ambrosetti: Nora

Read "Nora" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Franco Ambrosetti's album is called simply Nora. Short and sweet, four letters, two syllables. But it could easily have been called “Franco Ambrosetti with Strings," as the Swiss flugelhornist & trumpeter follows the orchestral path of alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and his groundbreaking Charlie Parker With Strings (Verve, 1950), trumpeter Chet Baker's Chet Baker with Strings (Columbia, 1953) or trumpeter Clifford Brown's Clifford Brown with String (Verve, 1955). Those early forays into orchestral jazz set the template of ...

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Recording

Joshua 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

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 ...

3

Recording

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

Source: 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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Performance / Tour

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!

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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Performance / Tour

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!

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 Lovano—saxophone Michel Gentile—flute ...

144

Recording

Scott Colley - Empire (Cam Jazz, 2010)

Scott Colley - Empire (Cam Jazz, 2010)

Source: 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 ...

103

Performance / Tour

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

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 ...

154

Recording

Preview Scott Colley's upcoming release "Empire"

Preview Scott Colley's upcoming release "Empire"

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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Recording

Preview "Empire" from Scott Colley!

Preview "Empire" from Scott Colley!

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 ...

213

Recording

Preview Scott Colley's "Empire"

Preview Scott Colley's "Empire"

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 ...

167

Recording

"Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley

"Empire" an Upcoming Release from Scott Colley

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 ...

Bruno Raberg
bass, acoustic
Ben Hedquist
bass, acoustic
Jonathan Andersen
bass, acoustic

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Time Bandits

Freedom Road Records
2023

buy

The Winds of Change

Mack Avenue Records
2023

buy

Got The Keys To The...

Edition Records
2023

buy

Dance of the Elders

ECM Records
2023

buy

Mulberry Street...

Cowbell Music
2022

buy

Amelia

From: Dance of the Elders
By Scott Colley

The End of Innocence

From: The Winds of Change
By Scott Colley

Time Bandits

From: Time Bandits
By Scott Colley

Ah-Bop

From: Ah-Bop
By Scott Colley

Tango Doblado (Bent Tango)

From: Southern Exposure
By Scott Colley

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