Tony Scott (musician)
Encyclopedia
Tony Scott was a jazz clarinetist known for an interest in folk music
around the world. For most of his career he was held in some esteem in New Age music
circles because of his decades-long involvement in music linked to Asian cultures and to meditation.
, Scott attended Juilliard School
from 1940 to 1942. In the 1950s he worked with Sarah Vaughan
and Billie Holiday
. He also had a young Bill Evans
as a side-man. In the late 1950s he won on four occasions the Down Beat
critics poll for clarinetist in 1955, 1957, 1958 and 1959 He was known for a more "cool
" style than Buddy DeFranco
.
Despite this he remained relatively little-known as the clarinet had been in eclipse in jazz since the emergence of bebop
. In 1959 he left New York City, where he had been based, and abandoned the United States for a time. In the 1960s he toured South, East, and Southeast Asia. This led to his playing in a Hindu temple, spending time in Japan, and releasing Music for Zen Meditation
in 1964 for Verve Records
. In 1960 a Down Beat poll for Japan saw readers there name him best clarinetist while the United States preferred Buddy DeFranco
. More recently he did a Japanese special on Buddhism
and Jazz, although he continued to work with American jazz musicians and played at the Newport Jazz Festival
in 1965.
In 1967 he put out his first album in eight years entitled Tony Scott: Homage To Lord Krishna
. In the years following that he worked in Germany, Africa, and at times in South America.
He settled in Italy in the 1980s, working with Italian jazz musicians such as Franco D'Andrea
and Romano Mussolini
. In later years he began showing an interest in Electronica
and in 2002 his Hare Krishna was remixed by King Britt
as a contribution to Verve Remixed
.
In 2010, a documentary film by the Italian director Franco Maresco about the life of Tony Scott was released titled Io sono Tony Scott, ovvero come l'Italia fece fuori il più grande clarinettista del jazz
(I am Tony Scott. The Story of How Italy Got Rid of the Greatest Jazz Clarinetist).
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
around the world. For most of his career he was held in some esteem in New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
circles because of his decades-long involvement in music linked to Asian cultures and to meditation.
Biography
Born in Morristown, New JerseyMorristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
, Scott attended Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
from 1940 to 1942. In the 1950s he worked with Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
and Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
. He also had a young Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
as a side-man. In the late 1950s he won on four occasions the Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
critics poll for clarinetist in 1955, 1957, 1958 and 1959 He was known for a more "cool
Cool jazz
Cool is a style of modern jazz music that arose following the Second World War. It is characterized by its relaxed tempos and lighter tone, in contrast to the bebop style that preceded it...
" style than Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco
Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco is an American jazz clarinet player.-Biography:DeFranco began his professional career just as swing music and big bands — many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman — were fading in popularity...
.
Despite this he remained relatively little-known as the clarinet had been in eclipse in jazz since the emergence of bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
. In 1959 he left New York City, where he had been based, and abandoned the United States for a time. In the 1960s he toured South, East, and Southeast Asia. This led to his playing in a Hindu temple, spending time in Japan, and releasing Music for Zen Meditation
Music for Zen Meditation
Music for Zen Meditation is a 1964 album by jazz clarinetist Tony Scott The album is considered to be the first New Age record. Music for Zen Meditation is mostly improvised by Scott, Shinichi Yuize and Hōzan Yamamoto ....
in 1964 for Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
. In 1960 a Down Beat poll for Japan saw readers there name him best clarinetist while the United States preferred Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco
Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco is an American jazz clarinet player.-Biography:DeFranco began his professional career just as swing music and big bands — many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman — were fading in popularity...
. More recently he did a Japanese special on Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Jazz, although he continued to work with American jazz musicians and played at the Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
in 1965.
In 1967 he put out his first album in eight years entitled Tony Scott: Homage To Lord Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. In the years following that he worked in Germany, Africa, and at times in South America.
He settled in Italy in the 1980s, working with Italian jazz musicians such as Franco D'Andrea
Franco D'Andrea
Franco D'Andrea is an Italian pianist who plays mostly jazz and rock. He developed his style in the 1960s and won several awards in his home country...
and Romano Mussolini
Romano Mussolini
Romano Mussolini was the fourth and youngest son of Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943...
. In later years he began showing an interest in Electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and in 2002 his Hare Krishna was remixed by King Britt
King Britt
King Britt is an American DJ and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.King Britt is his actual legal name.- 1987: Tower Records Years :...
as a contribution to Verve Remixed
Verve Remixed
Verve Remixed is a series of albums released by Verve Records centered on the concept of classic Verve tracks, remixed by contemporary electronic music producers and DJs...
.
In 2010, a documentary film by the Italian director Franco Maresco about the life of Tony Scott was released titled Io sono Tony Scott, ovvero come l'Italia fece fuori il più grande clarinettista del jazz
Io sono Tony Scott, ovvero come l'Italia fece fuori il più grande clarinettista del jazz
Io sono Tony Scott, ovvero come l'Italia fece fuori il più grande clarinettista del jazz is a 2010 Italian documentary directed by Franco Maresco....
(I am Tony Scott. The Story of How Italy Got Rid of the Greatest Jazz Clarinetist).
As leader
- 1956: Both Sides of Tony Scott (RCA Victor)
- 1956: The Touch of Tony Scott (RCA Victor)
- 1957: The Complete Tony Scott (RCA Victor)
- 1957: The Modern Art of Jazz (Seeco)
- 1957: Free Blown Jazz (Carlton)
- 1957: My Kind of Jazz (PerfectPerfect RecordsPerfect Records was a United States based record label of the 1920s and 1930s. It was a subsidiary of Pathé Records, producing standard lateral cut 78 rpm disc records for the US market....
) - 1959: Golden Moments (MuseMuse RecordsMuse Records was an American record label which released jazz and blues music.Muse was founded in the early 1970s by Joe Fields, who had previously worked as an executive for Prestige Records in the 1960s...
) - 1959: I'll Remember (Muse)
- 1959: Sung Heroes (SunnysideSunnyside RecordsSunnyside Records is an American jazz record label.Sunnyside was founded in 1982 by Francois Zalacain and Christine Berthet. Its early releases consisted primarily of piano solo material and ensembles without drums, but in later years has broadened its selection of material.-Artists who have...
) - 1964: Music for Zen MeditationMusic for Zen MeditationMusic for Zen Meditation is a 1964 album by jazz clarinetist Tony Scott The album is considered to be the first New Age record. Music for Zen Meditation is mostly improvised by Scott, Shinichi Yuize and Hōzan Yamamoto ....
(Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
) - 1967: Tony Scott and the Indonesian All Stars - Djanger Bali (MPS RecordsMPS RecordsMPS Records was a German jazz record label founded in 1968. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" .-History:...
) - 1968: Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys (Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
) - 1977: Tony Scott Featuring Jan Akkerman - "Meditation" - (Polydor RecordsPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
)
As sideman
With Max RoachMax Roach
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
- It's Christmas AgainIt's Christmas AgainIt's Christmas Again is an album by American jazz drummer Max Roach recorded in 1984 for the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 2½ stars stating "It's Christmas Again is a project that for many did not work, but no matter how you slice it, an...
(Soul Note, 1984)
External links
- Tony Scott's home page
- [ All Music]