Scott Gwinnell

Scott is a  jazz pianist, composer, and arranger residing in the Metro-Detroit area of the United States. He is also an educator, a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo, in Ohio. He is the jazz piano instructor there as well as a teacher of jazz improvisation, arranging and composition, ensembles, and jazz history. Scott also the music director and accompanist for jazz vocal legend, Jon Hendricks, and his vocal group, Vocalstra.

As a performer, Scott has has performed, recorded, and/or toured with internationally known musicians such as:

Dizzy Gillespie- trumpeter, co-creator of bebop Jazz with Charlie Parker                                                                          Jimmy Heath- saxophonist, innovator of hard bop Jazz                                                                                              Terry Gibbs- vibraphonist legend                                                                                                                                      Billy Hart- drummer, one of the world's most requested sidemen since 1970s                                                                 Claudio Roditi- trumpeter in the tradition of Dizzy Gillespie                                                                                                  Marcus Belgrave- trumpeter, long-time member of Ray Charles group. Recorded and performed with Charles Mingus James Carter- saxophonist, recorded many CDs for major jazz labels in the past 15 years                                     Dave Liebman- saxophonist, member of late 60's Miles Davis Fusion groups                                                                  Joe Lovano- one of the world's premiere saxophonists of last 20 years                                                                         Steve Turre- trombonist, Saturday Night Live, veteran of Woody Shaw group                                                                Aretha Franklin- legendary R&B vocalist, "Queen" of soul                                                                                              Roberta Flack- legendary R&B vocalist                                                                                                                   Rodney Whittaker- bassist, sideman on many acclaimed jazz records of the 1990s                                              Delfayo Marsalis- trombonist, member of "Marsalis" jazz family                                                                                    Jon Hendicks- vocalist, member of famous vocalese trio, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross                                               Frank Morgan- alto saxophonist, bebop                                                                                                                             Terell Stafford- trumpeter                                                                                                                                             John Swana- trumpeter                             

             frank morgan                          steve turre                               dave liebman                       joe lovano

Scott has also performed as a sideman with most of Detroit's best artists and groups, such as:

Paul Keller and PKO, Larry Nozero, Larry Smith, Steve Wood, Harvey Thompson, Donald Walden, Kathy Kosins, Dwight Adams, Urban Transport, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Rob Pipho, Ed Nuccelli and Plural Circle, Ursula Walker, Shahida Nurallah, Everglade Carl, Robert Noll, Mike Gabriel, Johnny Trudell,  Mark Byerly, Carl Cafagna and Northstar, and Don Mayberry

        carl cafagna & northstar        urban transport                         steve wood                       rob pipho

Scott has professional performance experience in local, as well as international jazz festivals, concerts and clubs. He has played as a leader and sideman at places such as:           

Festivals and Concert Halls: Detroit Jazz Festival, West-Virginia Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival, Ferndale Jazz Festival, Ponitac Jazz Festival, Art Tatum Jazz Festival (Toledo), King Cobra Jazz Festival (Flint), Notre Dame Jazz Festival, Western-Michigan Jazz Festival, Aquinas College Jazz Festival, the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, Orchestra Hall (Detroit), Detroit Opera House, Music Hall (Detroit), Fox Theatre (Detroit), and State Theatre (Detroit)

Clubs (partial list): Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Detroit), Cliff Bells (Detroit), Bert's Marketplace (Detroit), Blue Moon Cafe (Detroit), Blue Note Cafe (Pontiac), Bluebird Inn (Detroit), The Bob (Grand Rapids), Cadieux Cafe (Detroit), Caucus Club (Detroit), Alvin's (Detroit), Andiamos (Detroit, Southfield, Grosse Pointe, Dearborn), The Ark (Ann Arbor), Club 336 Main (Pontiac),  Del Rio (Ann Arbor), Detroit Athletic Club (Detroit), Edison's (Birmingham), The Firefly (Ann Arbor), Fishbones (Detroit, St. Clair Shores), Ja Da (Detroit), La Dolce Vita (Detroit), Murphy's (Toledo, OH), Music Menu Cafe (Detroit), Rusty's (Toledo, OH), St. Regis Hotel (Detroit), Sweet Georgia Brown (Detroit), The Whitney (Detroit), Woodruffs (Royal Oak), 5th Avenue (Royal Oak), and Memphis Smoke (Royal Oak)

         Firefly Club (Ann Arbor)        Andiamos (Sterling Heights)       Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Detroit)

Honors and Awards:

International Association for Jazz Education: Outstanding Service to Jazz Education (2003)                                          ASCAP National Young Composer Competition (2003) Honorable Mention                                                                       Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz performer', 2005 (nominee)                                                                              Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz performer', 2004 (nominee)                                                                              Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz performer', 2003 (nominee)                                                                              Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz composer', 2003 (nominee)                                                                              Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz performer', 2002 (nominee)                                                                              Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz composer', 2002 (winner)                                                                                  Detroit Music Awards: 'Outstanding jazz composer', 2007 (winner)                                                                           Real Detroit Magazine: Best jazz band, Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, 2002                                                      Aquinas College: 'Best Composer/Arranger', 1998                                                                                                Aquinas College: 'Best Composer/Arranger', 1997                                                                                              American Red Cross: Certificate of Appreciation, 1992                                                                                         Semper Fidelis outstanding musician award, 1992

Discography:

Western-Michigan Jazz Orchestra: Spritely Overdue, trombone, composer 1994                                                  Pipeline Ensemble: self-titled, piano, trombone, composer, arranger, 1997                                                               Hamid Dana Jazz Orchestra: Jive at Five, composer and arranger, 2001                                                                     Don Ambory: self-titled, piano, 2001                                                                                                                           Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra: Basement Vibes, leader, piano, composer, arranger, 2002                                  Marcus Belgrave and Northstar, piano, 2003                                                                                                                Mike Gabriel Quartet: Green Dolphin Street, piano, 2003                                                                                                Leo Rea: Rea Deal, piano, arranger, 2004                                                                                                                 Shelia Slaughter: self-titled, piano, arranger, 2004                                                                                                       Meri Slaven: Dream Dancing, piano, producer, arranger, 2005                                                                                       K. Anderson Matthews, Ode to the Past, piano, arranger, 2005                                                                                      Urban Transport: Live at Kerrytown Concert House, piano, 2006                                                                              Scott Gwinnell: The Scott Gwinnell Trio, piano, arranger, composer, 2006                                                                 Kelly Ann Godin: 2007                                                                                                                                                         Detroit Jazz Festival CD Sampler, 2007

           basement vibes (2002)         scott gwinnell  trio (2006)      spritely overdue (1992)        urban transport live (2006)

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