The Dave Scott Quintet features several of New York's finest improvisors. Although the harmonies and forms of Dave's compositions are very specific, the music has an open quality which allows each piece to develop interactively and organically and allows each musician to express his own individuality. The group performs regularly in the New York City area including the Knitting Factory and the Cornelia St. Cafe and has been featured on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art concert series and at Jazz City on the campus of the University of Southern California. Other venues include the Deer Head Inn, the Blue Room in Kansas City, MO, Southern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University and St. Charles Community College.
Trumpeter and composer Dave Scott has performed and/or recorded with: Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, the Tom Harrell Big Band, Joe LaBarbera, Ben Monder, Vinny Golia, Tony Malaby, Clay Jenkins, Billy Mintz, Ed Schuller, Kim Richmond and Bob Sheppard.
He received an N.E.A. Grant in Jazz Performance in 1984.
Rich Perry is a widely experienced tenor saxophonist who has been living and performing in New York City since 1976. His beautiful tone and sophisticated harmonic conception have given him a unique creative voice which critics have described as "eloquent", "inventive", "thoughtfully lyrical" and "impassioned yet cerebral."
In 1977 he joined the big band of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis which at that time included Pepper Adams and Jerry Dodgion, and spent the next two years touring the U.S. and Europe. After Thad Jones left the band, Perry continued playing with Mel Lewis, recording three LP's with him. The band, with Perry still a key member, is now known as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and continues to tour and record. Two of their recent cds have been nominated for Grammy awards.
Perry has performed with some of the most talented musicians in jazz. Currently, he is a member of the Rufus Reid Quintet, the George Mraz Quartet with Richie Beirach and Billy Hart, the Dave Scott Quintet, the John Fedchock New York Big Band and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. He has also played in several groups led by the pianist Fred Hersch.
Perry has recorded on over 60 cds for SteepleChase and other labels with artists like Harold Danko, Paul Bley, Lee Konitz, Renee Rosnes, Peter Washington, Victor Lewis, Scott Colley, Tom Rainey, Al Foster, Ron McClure, Tim Hagans, Mark Copland, Andy LaVerne, and the Joe Henderson Big Band.
Leonard Thompson-Piano
Raised in the quiet Orange County suburb of Capistrano Beach, Leonard was exposed to the music at an early age, both by way of his father, a first rate musician and jazz pianist, and his mother, who had a passion for jazz and played bass as well. Leonard has studied both jazz and classical music since age 8, starting with his father, Rex, and continuing privately with others.
He started playing professionally in 1993, while attaining his degree in Geology from UC Santa Cruz. Since that time, Leonard has kept busy as a freelance sideman for instrumentalists and vocalists throughout the Bay Area. He has appeared at many area performance venues, including Yoshi's, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, The Jazz Store, Garden City, Jazz at Pearls, and The Monterey and San Jose jazz festivals.
Aside from gigs, Leonard is currently enjoying a renewed focus on writing original material.
Leonard was heard here previously with the Mitch Marcus Quintet, and most recently with the Charlie McCarthy Quartet.
Peter Barshay - bass.
A veteran bassist who has established a strong reputation over the
years from his sideman work on both the New York City and Bay Area jazz
scenes, Peter Barshay has performed with such jazz luminaries as Milt
Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Woody Shaw, Pharoah Sanders,
Blue Mitchell, Tony Williams, Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano, Johnny
Griffin, Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Rowles, Tommy Flanagan, the Mingus Big
Band, Victor Lewis, Lou Donaldson, Lew Tabackin and Joe Chambers.