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Introduction / Biography
An exciting acoustic guitarist, singer, and composer of powerful music that furthers
the ideals of ecology, justice, and peace, Jim makes an impact on hearts and
minds across the world.
One of the
rare musicians who have transcended stylistic boundaries, Jim has recorded
or shared the stage with luminaries
from the jazz, classical
and folk music worlds. From Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival
with the Paul Winter Consort; to a concert at the end of the Great
Peace March with folk legends Pete Seeger and Peter Yarrow, Jim’s
travels have taken him around the world, including a European tour
with the Griffith
Singers performing his choral music; recording in the gardens of
Findhorn Scotland with jazz flautist Paul Horn; touring Nicaragua
with Holly Near
and performing in Australia for colleges and the Institute for Earth
Education international conference.
In his years as guitarist for the Paul Winter Consort, Jim led
thousands in the song "Common Ground" and his own eco-anthem, "A Song For
The Earth." He was co-composer of the Consort's monumental choral work, "Missa
Gaia/Earth Mass," and recorded “A Concert for the Earth” in
the Great Hall of the United Nations. While a member of the Consort, Jim also
wrote several PBS soundtracks and composed and arranged an entire concert for
the group with the Indianapolis Symphony.
Lately, Jim has devoted more time to composing and arranging. Performing often
with choirs, he has created a lengthy catalog of choral compositions and arrangements.
His choral song cycle "Vessels of the Sun" involves Latin, Celtic,
African and Caribbean rhythms. "The Tree and Me," Jim’s stage
musical, is largely in an american folk style and tells a story of saving the
ancient forests of the Northwest. This past year, sponsored by a grant from
the Untarian Universalist Associaton, Jim has compiled, edited and arranged
an anthology of songs of ecology and peace, The Earth and Spirit Songbook.
Book One is now out and Book Two should follow in early ‘04.
A testament
to Jim’s artistry is the community of musicians that
he has performed and recorded with. Former Eastman School of Music classmates
- renowned drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Tony Levin - back Jim on “Earth,
Sky, Love and Dreams.” Jazz greats, Nelson Rangell (sax and other
woodwinds) and Ed Tossing (keyboards) also grace Jim’s recordings.
Departing from the Consort, Jim formed the instrumental group Radiance
with fellow Consort veterans oboist Nancy Rumble, cellists David
Darling and Eugene
Freisen and other musicians in exploring the new convergence of jazz, classical,
folk and ethnic influences now often referred to as "world music." Out
of print for a while, some of their finest recorded collaborations are now
available on “Instruments of Peace.”
Jim regularly performs and offers workshops for young people in elementary schools and libraries. The CD and companion video of songs for children, "Big and Little Stuff" includes some songs he has written in workshops with kids. Drawing on another side of his repertiore, he takes his music to high schools and colleges. Further description of workshops in Improvisation and Self-expression as well as Guitar and Song writing are described in the Workshops section. His book on guitar technique, “All Scales in All Positions” was published in 2000 by Hal Leonard.
Jim has long
been active in the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church. and has visited
over 300 UU churches across the country,
leading services,
presenting concerts, and offering workshops. Three of Jim's songs
are included in the new Unitarian Universalist Hymnbook, and "Gather The Spirit," has
become a favorite across the denomination. Jim has served on the board
of the UU Musicians Network and was Co-Chair of the ecological/spiritual
activist group the UU "Seventh Principle Project." Their "Green
Sanctuary” program for church congregations to become more environmentally
conscious, is described in the Ecology section.
An informal resume
Education
1963-8 B Mus - Eastman School of Music
1971-2 Graduate Assistant at Univ. of MD
1969-72 Classical Guitar with John Marlow American University, Wash.
DC
1974-75 Classical Guitar with Aaron Shearer Peabody Conservatory,
Baltimore MD
1976, ‘79, ‘81 (Summer) Eastman School - Arrangers Worshop
1977-9 Berklee College -
Professional Experience
1969-71 U.S, Army Band, guitar and arranger - Jazz Ambassadors, Washington
DC
1971-76 Freelance musician Washington DC and New York Studio work,
some classical perf., pit orchestra for musicals, Helen Reddy, Dorsey Bros.
Band, Four Lads and others, nightclub bands, etc.
1976 Composed orchestral soundtrack for The Arts in America USIA
multi- media show for World Trade Fair
1977-84 Full time member of the Paul Winter Consort.
1980-2 Composed soundtracks for Mc Dowel’s Ride a PBS feature film,
NOVA programs, and other PBS projects at WGBH Boston.
1981 Composed and arranged an entire concert for the Paul Winter
Consort with the Indianapolis Symphony
1981 Co-composer of the Missa Gaia - Earth Mass with Winter Consort
1984 Tour of Nicaragua with Holly Near.
1985 Organized the first of three Songs for a Small Planet one week
schools for songwriters
1986-89 Peace work highlights - Performed for The Great Peace March,
The Florida Peace Pilgrimage, The Soviet- American Peace Walk (organized
combined choir), arrested at the Nuclear Test Site NV.
1987 Artist in Residence at Denison University, Greenville OH.
1988 Taught the first of six Winter Terms (month of Jan.) at Oberlin
College in Improvisation for all instruments.
1990 Taught first of three Winter Term courses in Guitar, Oberlin
College.
1990 Tour of Australia
1991 Premier of The Tree and Me original musical at Jamestown (NY)
Comm. Col.
1993 Second production of The Tree and Me Albion MI - Artist in Residence
Albion College and Battle Creek MI schools (Kellogg Foundation).
1993-97 Tours as solo artist, released several recordings and self-published
songs and choral pieces
1997 European tour with The Jonathan Griffith Singers
1999 Soundtrack music for Body and Soul documentary series on PBS
Telivision
1999 Premier of Vessels of the Sun choral oratorio at First Parish
UU Church, Worcester MA
2000 Performance of original music with Choir of CA State LA
2000 Performances of Missa Gaia and other choiral works with church
choirs
2000 -01 School resedencies in Marin County CA for Young Imaginations
2001-2 Residencies at public schools in Los Angeles CA, Meadville
PA, Ames IA, Northport NY and others
2002 Performance with the Los Angeles High School Honors Choir
2002 Performaed Missa Gaia and other choral works with College of
Du Page Choir
Chicago IL
Concerts of original choral music with Pomona College CA, Univ. of OR Singers,
Pacific Lutheran Univ. Tacoma WA, The Concord Choir Portland OR, The Eugene
Concert Choir, Eugene OR; The Hallalisa Singers Boston MA, College of Du Page
Choir Du Page Il,
Recordings and Publications
1977 Composed, arranged and performed music on Common Ground album with
the Paul Winter Consort.
1980 Composed,arranged, performed on Callings album - Winter Consort.
1981-3 Recorded JimScott Alone - solo guitar, A Song for the Earth
- by the group Radiance, Lake Unto The Clouds and Inverness
by Radiance, all original compositions.
1981 Co-composer of the Missa Gaia - Earth Mass recorded with Winter Consort
1984 Composed and recorded music for A Concert for the Earth live at the U
N with Winter Consort and the Back Bay Chorale of Boston.
1985 Recorded The First Winds of Autumn
1986 Recorded Big and Little Stuff - songs for kids.
1994 The Jim Scott Song Notebook vol. 1 - updated annually since
1994 Three pieces included in the new Unitarian Universalist Hymnbook
1995 Earth Sky Love and Dreams album released.
1996 For A Time album released.
1996 Jim Scott Choral Collection book of 20 SATB choral pieces
1997 Sailing with the Moon album released.
1998 The Jim Scott Song Notebook vol. 2 - songs with piano accomp.
1998 Just the Words book of poetry, song lyrics and short stories.
2000 All Scales in all Positions for Guitar to be published by Hal Leonard
2000 Big and Little Stuff video for kids, released by Sidewalk Songs
2000 Choral piece (The Rainforest Song) published by Henry Leck Choral Series
2001 Instruments of Peace album released - Re mastering of intsrumentals
recorded by Radiance group
2003 Three Choral pieces published by The Roger Wagner Choral Series
2003 Choral pieses selected for publication by Boosey and Hawkes
2003 The Earth and Spirit Songbook Book One published
2004 Book Two - Earth and Spirit Songbook
2004 Missa Gaia / Earth Mass to be published
1985-present Averaged 120 concerts a year as a solo performer or with a group
and with many choirs. Contributions to numerous albums by other musicians.
To drop a few names - shared the stage one time or another with: Paul Winter,
Pete Seeger, Paul Horn, John Denver, Holly Near, Tracy Chapman, Joan Baez,
10,000 Maniacs, Joni Mitchel, Jackson Brown, Dan Fogelberg, Odetta, Peter Yarrow,
and Tom Chapin.
Workshops in Improvisation, Guitar and Songwriting at schools, colleges and other institutions for 20 years (see promo materials). Currently publishing seven recordings, two songbooks, Jim Scott Song Notebook, Vessels of the Sun oratorio, The Tree and Me musical and Just the Words, a book of poems, song lyrics and short stories (see catalog). Performed in 49 US states (not Alaska yet), England, Scotland, Italy, France, Greece, Australia, Nicaragua, Mexico and Canada.