Andy Scott (saxophonist and composer) explained

Andy Scott
Birth Place:Bournemouth, England
Birth Date:15 June 1966
Instrument:Saxophone
Genre:Jazz, classical
Occupation:composer, saxophonist, educationalist
Years Active:Mid-1980s–present
Label:Astute Music Ltd
Nimbus Alliance, Decca/Argo, Black Box, BMG and Quartz
Associated Acts:Apollo Saxophone Quartet
London Saxophonic
SaxAssault
Foden's Band
Caliente
Trio Halata
Dave Hassell–Andy Scott Duo
Website:Andy Scott

Andy Scott (born 15 June 1966 in Bournemouth)[1] [2] is a British tenor saxophonist,[3] "equally at home in jazz and classical contexts",[4] and award-winning composer who has made "important and sometimes mould-breaking contributions to the repertoire".[5] He is currently Composer in Residence for Foden's Band.[6] [7] He has played with the Halle Orchestra, has formed and played with several ensembles whose musical style is rooted in big band jazz, Latin and funk.[8] [9]

Career

Saxophonist

Andy Scott is a founder member and saxophonist of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. Formed in 1985,[10] it won the 1992 Tokyo International Chamber Music Competition,[11] and has commissioned over 100 contemporary works for saxophone quartet.[12] He is the founder and lead saxophonist of SaxAssault,[13] that has collaborated with guest artists Bob Mintzer and Gwilym Simcock.[14] [15] He also plays as a duo with percussionist Dave Hassell, and formed Caliente, a trio with Clare Southworth and Lauren Scott,[16] in 2011.

His album, My Mountain Top, consists of works for tenor saxophone by contemporary composers; "Summer with Monika" is based on the words of Roger McGough's poem of the same name,[17] and he performed the "Concerto for Stan Getz" by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in the composer's 70th birthday concert on 2 March 2006, broadcast live by BBC Radio 3.[18]

Composer

Andy Scott won a British Composer Award in 2006[19] [20] for Dark Rain, a concerto for two saxophones and wind band, which was premiered by John Harle and Rob Buckland at the World Saxophone Congress XIV in Slovenia in 2006. He was shortlisted again in 2012, for his work "Spirit of Mingus", commissioned by Foden's Band, and premiered at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass, conducted by Michael Fowles, on 28 January 2012.[21] He was also shortlisted for the 2015 awards,[22] [23] for his work "A Child Like You", commissioned by PRS for Music Foundation's new Music Biennial, that premiered on 2 May 2014 at the RNCM by Foden's Band,[24] and performed at two special events in London and Glasgow to coincide with the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,[25] and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.[26]

He has written several commissions for the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, including a four movement work "His Phantom Sweetheart", and "My Mountain Top", with spoken words by poet Lemn Sissay, which are both on the album Words and Pictures.[27]

Since 2008 Andy Scott has been Composer in Residence with Foden's Band. Their CD of his works, A World Within, won British Bandsman CD of the Year 2010,[28] and recordings by Les Neish (tuba)[29] and Glyn Williams (euphonium) featuring his compositions won awards in 2011. His works feature on recordings by Gerard McChrystal (saxophone), Rob Buckland (saxophone) and Simone Rebello (vibraphone), Andy Findon (flute), Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, Veya Saxophone Quartet, Nigel Wood (soprillo saxophone), British Clarinet Ensemble, National Saxophone Choir, Arabesque Duo, and David Thornton (euphonium). His work, The Bad Tempered Flute – The Flute Music of Andy Scott, was released in 2011, with Paul Edmund-Davies, Clare Southworth and Andy Findon (flute), Peter Lawson and Tim Carey (piano), Lauren Scott (harp) and Craig Ogden (guitar).[30]

He has composed commissions for Aquarelle Guitar Quartet,[31] Park Lane Group,[32] James Gourlay, Les Neish and Foden's Band, RNCM Big Band, Apitos, Kintamarni Saxophone Quartet, Rob Buckland and Simone Rebello, British Clarinet Ensemble, SaxAssault, RNCM Saxophone Choir, Arabesque Duo, Clare Southworth, Mike Hall, Wigan Jazz Orchestra, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Tubalate and Lancashire Sinfonietta.[33] [34]

His work "Sin Bin" is a six-minute commission from the Arts Council that mimics a Warrington Wolves rugby league football match which sees two musicians 'sin binned' halfway through the piece.[35]

Educationalist

Scott is a saxophone tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.[36] [37] In 2010 with his wife, the harpist Laurent Scott, he co-founded and is also artistic director of the Sandbach Concert Series,[38] which provides a platform for local youngsters to perform on the same bill as professional musicians.[39] Scott is also co-founder with co-director Rob Buckland,[40] of the RNCM Saxophone Day, the UK's largest annual event of its kind,[41] takes masterclasses in the UK and France,[42] has run courses in association with the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and their musical director and conductor, Nigel Wood,[43] and co-directs the RNCM Saxophone Orchestra with Rob Buckland/[44]

In 2003 he formed the World Tenor Saxophone Consortium[45] in order to co-commissioned a work from Graham Fitkin, "Passing", that was premiered in 10 countries simultaneously.[46] [47] He was vice-chairman of the International Saxophone Committee 2009–2012,[48] and director of the tenor saxophone programme in the World Saxophone Congress XVI in St Andrews, Scotland in July 2012. Andy Scott is an endorsee of Selmer and Vandoren.

In 2012, Scott conceived and co-founded with Matt London and Jenni Watson,[49] the Tenor Saxophone Index,[50] an online repertoire resource, funded by an RNCM Small Research Grant.[51] The site was official launched at the World Saxophone Congress,[52] and its patrons are James Houlik and Branford Marsalis.[53] Scott has also contributed pieces that are on the examination syllabuses of ABRSM[54] and Trinity Guildhall.[55]

Ensembles

Discography

Saxophonist

Bow Out (1992), First and Foremost (1994), Words and Pictures (1998), Works for Us (2001), Short Cuts (2004), Three Quartets (2006) (by Barbara Thompson)[64] [65] Perspectives (2014)

Bang! (1996), Sax of Gold (2007)[66]

Sax Pax for a Sax (1997), An Eye for a Difference - Music of Michael Nyman (1998)[67] Pineapple Express (Original motion picture soundtrack) (2008)

My Mountain Top (2006)(solo), Sand Dancer (2005), with Dave Hassell, Xilitla: Stairway to the Sky (2010), with Dave Hassell and Evaristo Aguilar

Composer

External links

Notes and References

  1. John Robert Brown, "Andy Scott In Conversation", Clarinet and Saxophone magazine, June 2007, Volume: 32, Number 2, The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. Reproduced online by the author, retrieved 28 November 2015
  2. Erin Royer, "A discussion into the careers of James Houlik and Andy Scott with regards to identifying the vital steps needed to establish a performance career as a specialist classical tenor saxophonist", Dissertation submitted for the degree of Bachelor of Music Honours 2011, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University. Retrieved 2 December 2015
  3. "Boys are back in Town for a feast of gigs", Western Daily Press (Bristol, England) - 1 March 2007, retrieved 1 December 2015 ($)
  4. Robin Lynam, "Sax assault: four top jazz saxophonists play Hong Kong in a week", South China Morning Post, Saturday, 30 May 2015, retrieved 28 November 2015
  5. "Case Study: The development and expansion of the repertoire base and practice of professional and amateur wind orchestras in the UK, Far East and North America through composition, performance, commercial recording and education", Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), on behalf of a steering group representing the UK Funding Bodies, Research Councils and the Wellcome Trust, commissioned by Digital Science, working in conjunction with the Policy Institute and Digital Humanities at King’s College London, 2014
  6. "Foden’s Brass Band performs Patron’s Concert", Crewe Chronicle, 6 August 2013, retrieved 27 November 2015
  7. "Andy Scott: Composer in Residence", Foden's Band web site, retrieved 26 November 2015
  8. Chris Thomas, "4BR Interview - Andy Scott", 4barsrest.com, retrieved 28 November 2015
  9. Christopher Thomas, "CD Review: A World Within - The Music of Andy Scott", 4barsrest.com, 5 January 2011, retrieved 29 November 2015
  10. "Barbara Thompson, Perpetual Motion. Apollo Saxophone Orchestra, Rob Buckland and Andy Scott: directors. Nimbus Alliance NI6200, 2012", Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, retrieved 28 November 2015
  11. "Musician’s Dystonia A Silent Plague", Clarinet & Saxophone, Publ. Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain, Winter 2013 Volume 38 Number 4, page 13 column 3
  12. Mark Wilkinson, "Composer In Residence", Foden's Band, retrieved 28 November 2015
  13. "Jazz Notes", broadcast BBC Radio 3, 15 February 2000 at 23.30, in Radio Times, Issue 3964, 10 February 2000, Page 146
  14. "Deux oeuvres pour saxophone d'Andy Scott", Fréquence: The Latest News from Selmer Paris, Supplement No. 20, retrieved 28 November 2015 (in English and French)
  15. http://www.sound-scotland.co.uk/site/2008/artists/SaxAssault.htm SaxAssault
  16. "Caliente: Clare Southworth with Lauren Scott (harp) and Andy Scott (saxophone)", Flute (The Journal of the British Flute Association), Vol. 31 Issue 3, publ. September 2012, p18 (abstract|text online)
  17. "Sax player promises sound and vision", Yorkshire Evening Post (England) - 1 March 2007, retrieved 27 Mov 2015 ($)
  18. "Performance on 3", broadcast on BBC Radio 3, 2 March 2006 at 19.30, in Radio Times, Issue 4273, publ. 23 February 2006, Page 134
  19. "Andy Scott shortlisted for British Composer Award", Brass Musician, retrieved 26 November 2015
  20. "Ceremony Archive " at the 4th British Composer Awards, British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, retrieved 26 November 2016
  21. http://www.britishcomposerawards.com/composer_profiles.php?idc=745&y=2012&u=7&idz=482&w=0 Composer Profile: Andy Scott
  22. "2015 British Composer Awards shortlist announced ", Classical Music magazine, 29 October 2015, retrieved 28 November 2015
  23. "Quartet short-listed for British Composer Awards", 4BarsRest.com, 30 October 2015, retrieved 26 November 2015
  24. http://www.britishcomposerawards.com/composer_profiles.php?idc=982&y=2015&u=7&idz=482&w=0 Composer Profile: Andy Scott
  25. "New Music Biennial", British Council, retrieved 2 December 2015
  26. "BBC Radio 3 - Hear and Now, New Music Biennial, London: Southbank Centre", BBC, Sat 12 July 2014, retrieved 2 December 2015
  27. "All fired up - Books", The Times (London, England) - 8 August 1998, retrieved 27 November 2015 ($)
  28. "Foden’s Band in Sandbach wins CD award for third consecutive year", Crewe Chronicle, 6 August 2013, retrieved 27 November 2015
  29. Gordon Eddison, "Shine: Tuba soloist Les Neish", National Association of Brass Band Conductors, retrieved 2 December 2015
  30. Rachel Smith, "The Bad Tempered Flute – The Flute Music of Andy Scott", Flute Journal, 29 August 2014, retrieved 2 December 2015
  31. "Dynamic guitarist quartet to entertain Basingstoke Concert Club", Basingstoke Gazette (England) - 1 December 2010, retrieved 27 November 2015 ($)
  32. Andrew Clements, "Park Lane Group Young Artists New Year Series London", The Guardian - 9 January 2010, retrieved 27 November 2016 ($)
  33. Alice Russell, "Jazz", The Times, (London, England) - 9 May 2009, retrieved 2 December 2015
  34. "Jazz at The Dukes", The Visitor, (Morecambe, England) - 28 April 2011, retrieved 2 December 2015 ($)
  35. "Wolves turned into musical show", Warrington Guardian (England) - 7 October 2008, retrieved 1 December 2015 ($)
  36. "Common Thread Is Golden - Classical Music", Manchester Evening News (England) - 2 May 2014, Features Page 9. retrieved 28 November 2015 ($)
  37. http://www.rncm.ac.uk/people/andy-scott/ Andy Scott
  38. William Upton, "Sounds of Sandbach", Cheshire Life, August 2011. Online at the Sandbach Concert Series, retrieved 28 November 2015.
  39. "Plan to introduce classical music to Sandbach", Cheshire Chronicle, 15 September 2010, retrieved 27 November 2015
  40. "Buckland Rob (GB) ", Vandoren, retrieved 28 November 2015
  41. "RNCM Saxophone Day", Clarinet and Saxophone, The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2015
  42. William Upton, "Creative Vacances: To France for Andy Scott's saxophone masterclass", Clarinet and Saxophone magazine, September 2010, Volume: 35, Number 3, The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2015
  43. "Summer Saxophone Spectacular - NSC course", National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, 2010, retrieved 2 December 2015
  44. "RNCM Saxophone Orchestra ", Royal Northern College of Music, retrieved 2 December 2015
  45. Stephen Cottrell, The Saxophone (Yale Musical Instrument Series), Publisher: Yale University Press, 2012,, page 277 in particular note 15 page 369
  46. "Sax player promises sound and vision", Yorkshire Evening Post, 1 March 2007, retrieved 28 November 2015 ($)
  47. "Passing", Tenor Saxophone Index, retrieved 28 November 2015
  48. "Previous Members", International Saxophone Committee, retrieved 26 November 2015
  49. Robert Hugill, "Bringing the tenor saxophone out of the shadows - Speak Now from Matt London", Planet Hugill - A world of classical music, Saturday, 5 July 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2016
  50. William Upton, "2012 - The year of the tenor saxophone", Clarinet and Saxophone Society, Volume: 36, Number: 3, 1 September 2011, publ. Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain ($$$)
  51. "Andy Scott" staff page at the RNCM, retrieved 26 November 2015
  52. "Tenor Saxophone Index goes live ", Andy Scott, Wed 6 June 2012, retrieved 26 November 2015
  53. "Tenor Saxophone Index Launch", World Saxophone Congress 2012, St Andrews, 10–15 July 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012
  54. "Junior RNCM saxophonists record ABRSM Repertoire", Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain, 18 June 2015, retrieved 2 December 2015
  55. Casey Thomas, "Andy Scott shortlisted for British Composer Award", Brass Musician Magazine and Forum,, retrieved 2 December 2015
  56. "Apollo Saxophone Quartet, who share their 30th anniversary with the Lake District Summer Music", event on 4 August 2015, retrieved 26 November 2016
  57. "About ", London Saxophonic web site, retrieved 26 November 2015. See also "People"
  58. "An Eye for a Difference - Music of Michael Nyman", Gramophone, Sept 1998, retrieved 26 November 2015
  59. "Moondog & The London Saxophonic", Sax Pax For A Sax, Jazz Reviews, May 1998, retrieved 26 November 2015
  60. "Jazz duo to perform at Davenham Players Theatre", Northwich Guardian (England) - 9 February 2012, retrieved 26 November 2016 ($)
  61. "Top musicians bringing their music to East Yorkshire", York Press (England) - 26 August 2014, retrieved 27 November 2015 ($)
  62. "Trio Halata at Middlewich Concerts Society", Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain, retrieved 26 November 2015
  63. "Saturday 11th October 2014: Trio Halata", Middlewich and District Concerts Society, retrieved 26 November 2016
  64. Geoff Brown, "A Norwich choir embarks on a remarkable journey - Concerts", The Times (London, England) - 16 April 2003, retrieved 26 November 2015 ($)
  65. David Fingleton, "Setting poetry in motion", The Express on Sunday, (London, England) - 20 April 2003, retrieved 26 November 2015 ($)
  66. Alan Morrison, "The Art Of Noise James Macmillan Makes The Case For Modern Classical Music Interview By Alan Morrison", The Sunday Herald - 19 October 2008, retrieved 26 November 2015 ($) "Sax highlights at the festival include [..] a gig by Andy Scott's nine saxophone collective SaxAssault (who opened their 2007 album Sax Of Gold with Lip Service, a swingdisco hybrid that sounds like the Glenn Miller Orchestra stopping off in Studio 54)"
  67. Jennifer Rodger, "eye lights", The Independent on Sunday - 15 December 1997, retrieved 26 November 2015 ($)
  68. Steve Jack, "CD Review: Spirit of Foden's: The Music of Andy Scott", 4barsrest.com, retrieved 29 November 2015
  69. "Sandbach’s Foden’s Band celebrates new CD release", Crewe Chronicle, 6 August 2013, retrieved 27 November 2015
  70. "Andy Scott’s music is filling Sandbach...and reaching farther afield", Cheshire Life, 18 March 2014, retrieved 27 November 2015
  71. Gordon Eddison, "Double Trouble - Les Neish and James Gourlay", National Association of Brass Band Conductors, retrieved 2 December 2015
  72. Peter Bale, "CD Review: The Lure of the Red Jacket", 4barsrest.com, 11 November 2011, retrieved 29 November 2015
  73. "Album: Gerard McChrystal, Aria (First Hand Recordings)", The Independent on Sunday, (London, England) - 7 October 2011, retrieved 1 December 2015 ($)
  74. "Striking the right chord", Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph (England) - 9 April 2015, retrieved 1 December 2015 ($)
  75. "CD Reviews: Soprillogy ", The Sunday Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) - 27 December 2008, retrieved 1 December 2015 ($)

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