| Jazz |
This is not the first time we’ve talked to you about the fascinating musician Dred Scott. Indeed, in June 2023, we already mentioned his previous album, “The Pacific Jazz Group” (read here). The project benefits from a musician who has matured quickly. Mambo, Mambo when you hold us! Mambo is a difficult art that Dred Scott masters to perfection, delightfully surrounded by Tom Beckham on piano, Matt Pavolka on bass, and Moses Patrou on percussion for a breathtaking result that at times gives you the impression of being in front of a large orchestra. Dred has been based in New York for 23 years and is currently rebuilding the remnants of his pre-Covid musical life. Dred was the resident pianist at Del Posto for 8 years until a combination of Mario’s indiscretions and Covid led to the venue’s closure. His new release, “The Pacific Jazz Group,” on Ropeadope Records, came out in June 2023. His next album, “Cali Mambo,” inspired by the George Shearing/Cal Tjader collaborations of the 1950s, will be released in May 2024, also on Ropeadope.
Dred has recorded 13 albums as a leader and has played on over 50 others, notably with Anthony Braxton, Cecil McBee, Andrew Cyrille, Joe Morello, Charlie Hunter, Bob Mintzer, Dave Samuels, Don Byron, Paul McCandless, and Marshal Crenshaw. These varied and multiple experiences intelligently nourish this album, particularly evident in the melodic writing that allows Dred Scott to expressively retell the many stories he shares across the nine tracks of this album. An album that will surprise you, as I said, listen deeply to the piano parts where you’ll find the jazz structure, unconventional I agree, but truly fascinating. This time, for the “Cali Mambo” album, it’s almost a cinematic atmosphere that’s offered to us—an adventure with Mambo and the enjoyment of delicious rums at the rococo bar counter under a beautiful late evening sun, naturally in December, as you won’t be able to taste this nectar until then.
Dred has shone as an on-screen sidekick and musical director for 51 episodes of the children’s music and yoga TV show “Yogapalooza” with Bari Koral for Veria Network. Dred composed the music for the film “Home,” featuring Woody Allen, Liam Neeson, Mike Myers, Susan Sarandon, Al Molina, Rosie Perez, Colin Quinn, and Fran Leibowitz. In the 90s, Dred composed music and performed in six productions of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, which toured the country with their live stage productions. Dred has composed music for choreographers Alan Danielson, Mary Lisa Burns, Maxine Steinman, SQUAD, and Jo Kreiter of Zaccho, and has worked for choreographers Margaret Jenkins, Joe Goode, Oberlin Dance Collective, Mark Morris, and Merce Cunningham. Dred has also composed for and performed in dozens of commercials, documentaries, and PSAs.
As you can see, Dred Scott is an artist who touches on everything that interests him and often on very inspired subjects. This will probably be one of the most interesting albums of the season, not just for its originality—Mambo being a highly structured art with its own rules—but mainly for the truly incredible piano parts you’ll find on each track of this album. “Indispensable” for any Mambo enthusiast, but not only…
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 3rd 2024
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