Scott Henderson
Encyclopedia
Scott Henderson is a fusion
and blues
guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech
.
, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age. His formative musical years were spent listening to rock, blues, funk and soul, while his interest in jazz developed later on, thanks to the music of John Coltrane
, Miles Davis
and others. He still professes to being a blues player at heart.
After graduating from Florida Atlantic University
, Henderson moved to Los Angeles and began his career in earnest, playing and recording with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty
, bassist Jeff Berlin
and "Players", and Weather Report
's Joe Zawinul
. Henderson first began receiving serious attention as the original guitarist for the Chick Corea Elektric Band
. But he stayed only six months with Corea and left after some major clash, with amongst other reasons, Chick's scientological beliefs.
with bass player Gary Willis
in 1984. Under the direction of Henderson and Willis, Tribal Tech became one of the most highly-regarded fusion bands of the 1990s. He toured and recorded with the band up until their dissolution following the 2000 album Rocket Science, and during that time brought himself to the forefront of modern jazz/fusion guitar playing. In 1991 he was named '#1 Jazz Guitarist' by Guitar World magazine, and in January 1992 he was voted best jazz guitarist in Guitar Player magazine's Annual Reader's Poll.
, and Kirk Covington on drums. His latest solo release Scott Henderson Live (2005) follows in this vein, and his work has also moved into funk/jazz fusion. He has repeatedly stated that he is enjoying playing in bands which do not have keyboard players, as it allows him to branch out more and properly explore the guitar's full potential as an instrument.
Henderson is also a member of the fusion supergroup Vital Tech Tones
with Victor Wooten
and Steve Smith
, which has released two CDs as of 2006.
Henderson has appeared as a guest artist on a number of recordings including Scott Kinsey
's 2006 CD Kinesthetics
, Amber Whitlock's The Colours Of Life, and Rob Whitlock's Sketchin and Sketchin' 2.
Henderson teaches at the Guitar Institute of Technology, which is part of the Musicians Institute
in Hollywood, California. He has released two instructional guitar videos.
:
With Vital Tech Tones
(Henderson, Victor Wooten
and Steve Smith
):
Solo:
Compilations:
Other:
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech
Tribal Tech
Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band, originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis. From 1993 forward the band included Scott Kinsey on keyboard and Kirk Covington on drums, and has produced nine albums that stretch the borders between blues, jazz, and rock...
.
Early days
Born in West Palm Beach, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age. His formative musical years were spent listening to rock, blues, funk and soul, while his interest in jazz developed later on, thanks to the music of John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
and others. He still professes to being a blues player at heart.
After graduating from Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
, Henderson moved to Los Angeles and began his career in earnest, playing and recording with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty is a French virtuoso violinist and jazz composer.- Early years:Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians on 29 September 1942 in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano...
, bassist Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
and "Players", and Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
's Joe Zawinul
Joe Zawinul
Josef Erich Zawinul was an Austrian-American jazz keyboardist and composer.First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul went on to play with trumpeter Miles Davis, and to become one of the creators of jazz fusion, an innovative musical genre that combined jazz with...
. Henderson first began receiving serious attention as the original guitarist for the Chick Corea Elektric Band
Chick Corea Elektric Band
Chick Corea Elektric Band is a jazz fusion band, led by pianist Chick Corea. Following the demise of Return to Forever, Corea established the musical ensemble in 1986. Following a long hiatus, the band reunited to produce "To the Stars" in 2004....
. But he stayed only six months with Corea and left after some major clash, with amongst other reasons, Chick's scientological beliefs.
Tribal Tech
Henderson formed Tribal TechTribal Tech
Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band, originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis. From 1993 forward the band included Scott Kinsey on keyboard and Kirk Covington on drums, and has produced nine albums that stretch the borders between blues, jazz, and rock...
with bass player Gary Willis
Gary Willis
Gary Willis is an American bassist and composer known foremost as the co-founder of the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. Aside from his work in Tribal Tech, Willis has worked with numerous other jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Dennis Chambers, and Allan Holdsworth...
in 1984. Under the direction of Henderson and Willis, Tribal Tech became one of the most highly-regarded fusion bands of the 1990s. He toured and recorded with the band up until their dissolution following the 2000 album Rocket Science, and during that time brought himself to the forefront of modern jazz/fusion guitar playing. In 1991 he was named '#1 Jazz Guitarist' by Guitar World magazine, and in January 1992 he was voted best jazz guitarist in Guitar Player magazine's Annual Reader's Poll.
Recent recordings
Henderson has more recently moved back to his blues roots, releasing the blues album Dog Party in 1994, and Tore Down House (1997). He recorded Well To The Bone (2003) with bass player, John HumphreyJohn Humphrey (bass player)
John Michael Humphrey is a bass player who has toured with guitarist Scott Henderson since 1998, performing with drummer, Kirk Covington, as a trio. Together they recorded Well To The Bone in 2003...
, and Kirk Covington on drums. His latest solo release Scott Henderson Live (2005) follows in this vein, and his work has also moved into funk/jazz fusion. He has repeatedly stated that he is enjoying playing in bands which do not have keyboard players, as it allows him to branch out more and properly explore the guitar's full potential as an instrument.
Henderson is also a member of the fusion supergroup Vital Tech Tones
Vital Tech Tones
The Vital Tech Tones were an American fusion supergroup formed in the mid-1990s. It was composed of Vital Information drummer Steve Smith, Tribal Tech guitarist Scott Henderson, and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten. The group released two albums before breaking up due to time...
with Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
, which has released two CDs as of 2006.
Henderson has appeared as a guest artist on a number of recordings including Scott Kinsey
Scott Kinsey
Scott Kinsey is a keyboardist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Tribal Tech and for his contributions to soundtracks for major motion pictures, notably Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve...
's 2006 CD Kinesthetics
Kinesthetics (Scott Kinsey album)
Kinesthetics is a 2006 CD by keyboardist Scott Kinsey. It features contributions from Tribal Tech bandmates Scott Henderson, Gary Willis and Kirk Covington, as well as Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau and Steve Tavaglione...
, Amber Whitlock's The Colours Of Life, and Rob Whitlock's Sketchin and Sketchin' 2.
Henderson teaches at the Guitar Institute of Technology, which is part of the Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute is a privately owned for-profit music vocational school located in Hollywood, California. Although not a regionally accredited school, the school offers a variety of unaccredited Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate programs in fields including contemporary music...
in Hollywood, California. He has released two instructional guitar videos.
Discography
With Tribal TechTribal Tech
Tribal Tech is a progressive fusion band, originally formed in 1984 by guitarist Scott Henderson and bass player Gary Willis. From 1993 forward the band included Scott Kinsey on keyboard and Kirk Covington on drums, and has produced nine albums that stretch the borders between blues, jazz, and rock...
:
- SpearsSpears (Tribal Tech album)Spears is the 1985 debut album by fusion band Tribal Tech, a project led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis.-Track listing:#"Caribbean" – 8:13#"Punkin Head" – 5:10#"Ivy Towers" – 4:49#"Tribal" – 2:12#"Spears" – 7:10...
(1985) - Dr. HeeDr. HeeDr. Hee is the second album by fusion band Tribal Tech, a project led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis.-Track listing: #"Dr...
(1987) - NomadNomad (Tribal Tech album)Nomad is the third album by fusion band Tribal Tech, a project led by guitarist Scott Henderson and bassist Gary Willis.-Track listing: #"Renegade" – 5:51#"Nomad" – 7:18...
(1990) - Tribal TechTribal Tech (album)Tribal Tech is the fourth album by the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech, released in 1991.-Track listing:#"Signal Path"#"Big Girl Blues"#"Dense Dance"#"Got Tuh B"#"Peru"#"Elvis At The Hop"#"The Necessary Blonde"#"Fight The Giant"#"Sub Aqua"...
(1991) - Illicit (1992)
- Face FirstFace FirstFace First is the sixth album by jazz fusion band Tribal Tech. It was released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Face First" – 7:04# "Canine" – 6:24# "After Hours" – 7:23# "Revenge Stew" – 6:07# "Salt Lick" – 9:45# "Uh.....
(1993) - Reality Check (1995)
- ThickThick (album)Thick is an album by the fusion jazz band Tribal Tech released in 1999. As a contrast to Tribal Tech's previous recordings, the album features less compositional material and is based largely on improvization.-Track listing:#"Sheik of Encino"...
(1999) - Rocket ScienceRocket Science (Tribal Tech album)Rocket Science is the tenth album by the jazz fusion band Tribal Tech released in 2000.-Track listing:#"Saturn 5"#"Astro Chimp"#"Song Holy Hall"#"Rocket Science"#"Sojlevska"#"Mini Me"#"Space Camel"#"Moonshine"#"Cap'n Kirk"#"The Econoline"...
(2000)
With Vital Tech Tones
Vital Tech Tones
The Vital Tech Tones were an American fusion supergroup formed in the mid-1990s. It was composed of Vital Information drummer Steve Smith, Tribal Tech guitarist Scott Henderson, and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten. The group released two albums before breaking up due to time...
(Henderson, Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
):
- Vital Tech Tones (1998)
- VTT2 (2000)
Solo:
- Dog PartyDog PartyDog Party is a 1994 album by fusion / jazz guitarist Scott Henderson. It is a departure from his prior jazz fusion style releases, as he is exploring blues and blues-rock on this album.The album features mostly vocal tunes, mixed with some instrumentals...
(1994) - Tore Down HouseTore Down HouseTore Down House is a 1997 album from guitarist Scott Henderson. For this second solo-album , he once again wrote and recorded a collection of blues music. The album features mostly vocal tunes, mixed with three instrumental tracks...
(1997) - Well to the BoneWell To The BoneWell To The Bone is a 2002 album by fusion / jazz guitarist Scott Henderson. It's his third solo-album, again returning to his blues-roots.It features a re-recording of the Tribal Tech-song "Rituals".-Track listing:#"Lady P" – 7:14...
(2002) - Live!Live! (Scott Henderson album)Live! is a 2005 live album by fusion / jazz guitarist Scott Henderson. It's a double-CD, recorded at the La Vee club in Los Angeles, mixed by Michael Landau....
(2005)
Compilations:
- Tribal Tech: Primal Tracks (1994)
- Solo Albums: Collection (2007)
Other:
- Fables (Jean-Luc PontyJean-Luc PontyJean-Luc Ponty is a French virtuoso violinist and jazz composer.- Early years:Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians on 29 September 1942 in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano...
- 1985) - Champion (Jeff BerlinJeff BerlinJeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
- 1985) - Chick Corea Elektric BandChick Corea Elektric BandChick Corea Elektric Band is a jazz fusion band, led by pianist Chick Corea. Following the demise of Return to Forever, Corea established the musical ensemble in 1986. Following a long hiatus, the band reunited to produce "To the Stars" in 2004....
(Chick CoreaChick CoreaArmando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
- 1986) - Players (1987, Jeff BerlinJeff BerlinJeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
with T LavitzT LavitzTerry "T" Lavitz was an American jazz-rock/fusion keyboardist, composer and producer. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead.-Biography:Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey...
and Steve SmithSteve Smith (musician)Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
) - The Immigrants (Zawinul Syndicate - 1988)
- Black Water (Zawinul Syndicate - 1989)
- Forbidden Zone (Tom CosterTom CosterTom Coster is an American keyboardist and composer. Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies through college and a productive five-year stint as a musician in the U.S...
- 1994) - Just Add Water - Virgil DonatiVirgil DonatiVirgil Donati is an Australian drummer, frequent drum clinician and a producer. He is currently playing with the band Planet X and Seven the Hardway among other projects. Virgil is perhaps most well known for his fast, highly technical drumming skills...
, (1997) - Crossroads (Jeff BerlinJeff BerlinJeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
- 1999) - Manic Voodoo Lady (Elvis Schoenberg and the Orchestre Surreal—2009)