Tom Scott (musician)
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| Tom Scott | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genre(s) | West coast jazz, Jazz fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Arranger, Bandleader, Composer, Conductor, Session musician |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor saxophone, Soprano saxophone |
| Years active | 1965 – present |
| Label(s) | Verve Records |
| Associated acts | The Blues Brothers The L.A. Express Neoteric Trio |
Tom Scott (born May 19, 1948, Los Angeles, California) is a multiple award-winning saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble, the L.A. Express.
His best-known works are the theme songs for TV series from the 1970s — Starsky and Hutch and Streets of San Francisco. In 1982, Scott also collaborated with Johnny Mathis to write & record two versions – lyrical and instrumental – of "Without Us", the theme to the 80's sitcom Family Ties.
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[edit] Background
Scott's professional career began as a teenager, as leader of a jazz ensemble Neoteric Trio, and then as a "first-call" (i.e. high-demand) session musician. He has dozens of solo recordings for which he collected thirteen Grammy nominations (three of which he won). He also has numerous film and television scoring credits, as well as appearances on records by such diverse artists as Paul McCartney, The Carpenters, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Blondie, Eddie Money, Steely Dan, Quincy Jones and Frank Sinatra.
[edit] Instruments
[edit] Saxophones
- Selmer Sopranino saxophone with a Selmer mouthpiece
- Yamaha Soprano saxophone with Dukoff D6 mouthpiece and Vandoren 2.5 reed
- L.A. Sax[1] 'Chicago Jazz' model Burnished Brass Alto saxophone with Guardala Custom mouthpiece and Fibracell Medium reed
- L.A. Sax 'Chicago Jazz' model Black Nickel Tenor saxophone with Guardala Custom mouthpiece and Vandoren "Jazz" 2.5 reed
- Selmer 'Low A' Baritone saxophone
Note: Scott subsequently became an official endorser for the LA Sax 'Saxgourmet'[2] range of saxophones. He possesses soprano, alto and tenor saxophones from this range[3]. The Saxgourmet range is made from high-copper brass, which gives the instruments a distinctive reddish colour.
[edit] Flutes/Clarinets
- Miyazawa Flute
- Rudall-Carte Alto Flute
- Larry Frank Bass Flute
- Buffet Clarinet
- Selmer Bass Clarinet
[edit] Notable appearances
He produced two CDs for tenor vocalist Daniel Rodriguez formerly ‘The Singing Policeman’. The first of which, "The Spirit Of America", has sold over 400,000 copies to date. Scott has also conducted over thirty symphony orchestras around the U.S. as music director for Rodriguez.[1]
Scott is a member of the The Blues Brothers musical ensemble, despite his absence in the 1980 motion picture of the same name. He was also the leader of the house band on two short-lived late night talk shows: CBS' The Pat Sajak Show and Fox's The Chevy Chase Show. He is also recognized as a prominent musical director on several major awards telecasts. He was the Musical Director of the 68th Annual Academy Awards in 1996, several Emmy Awards telecasts from 1996 - 2007, Ebony Magazine's 50th Birthday Celebration, several People's Choice Awards telecasts, and a variety of other shows.
[edit] Discography
- Honeysuckle Breeze, 1968
- 'Rural Still Life, 1969
- Hair To Jazz, 1970
- Paint Your Wagon, 1971
- Great Scott, 1972
- Tom Scott and The L.A. Express, 1973
- Tom Cat (with The L.A. Express), 1974
- New York Connection, 1975
- Blow It Out (features "Gotcha", the theme from Starsky & Hutch), 1977
- Intimate Strangers (partially live), 1978
- Street Beat, 1979
- Apple Juice (live), 1981
- Desire, 1982
- Target, 1983
- One Night - One Day, 1985
- Streamlines, 1987
- Flashpoint, 1988
- Them Changes (with The Pat Sajak Show house band), 1990
- Keep This Love Alive, 1991
- Born Again, 1992
- Reed My Lips, 1994
- Night Creatures, 1995
- Bluestreak (with The L.A. Express), 1997
- Smokin'Section (with The L.A. Express), 1999
- New Found Freedom, 2002
- Bebop United (live), 2006
- Cannon Reloaded, 2008
