PROFESSIONAL BIO
Scott Gwinnell is one of Detroit's most outstanding Jazz pianist/ composer/ arranger/ educators. The award-winning Gwinnell is a bandleader and one of the most requested sidemen, playing in concerts, clubs, and Universities nationally and internationally.
Gwinnell is the leader of the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra. This creative, large ensemble, now 10 years old, is dedicated to performance of contempory arrangements and compositions written by Gwinnell and other talented musicians. The SGJO is the recipient of many awards, and has been featured nationally and internationally. The group has had performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators confrence, the Detroit Jazz Festival, Firefly Club, Baker's Keyboard Lounge, Music Menu Cafe, Cadieux Cafe, and Cliff Bells. Cliff Bells has been the home of the SGJO where they have played weekly for 3 years now. The group has released two recordings, Basement Vibes (2002- WSG Records) and the brand new Brush Fire (2009 WSG Records). The SGJO has been chosen by the Detroit Jazz Festival to premiere, this summer, a new work written by legendary bassist/ bandleader/ composer, John Clayton. Clayton was asked to write the composition for the SGJO and DJF. More information is available on the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra page.
As a sideman, Gwinnell has toured/ recorded/ played with many famous, top-notch Jazz and popular musicians. A partial list: Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Heath, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Roberta Flack, Steve Turre, Dave Liebman, James Carter, Claudio Roditi, Rodney Whitaker, Delfayo Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Aria Hendricks, Terry Gibs, Allen Vizzutti, Billy Hart, Marcus Belgrave, John Clayton, and Jon Hendricks, who Gwinnell was music director for, for 3 years.
Gwinnell has been on numerous recordings- this is an incomplete list:
Justin Walter (Set to be released 2010)
Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra- Brush Fire (2009)
Carl Cafagna and Northstar, Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival (2008)
Detroit Jazz Festival Artist Compilation (2007)
Kelly Godin- For the Love of Jazz (2007)
Scott Gwinnell Trio (2006)
Urban Transport- Live at Kerrytown (2006)
Kathleen Matthews- Ode to the Past (2005)
Meri Slaven- Dream Dancing (2005)
Leo Rea- Real Deal (2004)
Mike Gabriel Quartet (2003)
Carl Cafagna and Northstar with Marcus Belgrave (2002)
Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra- Basement Vibes (2002)
Don Ambory (2001)
Hamid Dana Jazz Orchestra- Jive at Five (2001)