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Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Label: unsigned
Management: Ghezzi
Website: www.scottsawyer.net
Sounds Like: John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Jim Hall, Mike Bloomfield, John Abercrombie
Genre: Jazz
Scott Sawyer displays his musical diversity like a badge of honor, re-visiting his blues & rock roots while continuing to explore the jazz tradition & beyond… – (Philip Van Vleck)
He’s performed at major festivals, concert halls, and beer-soaked dives here and abroad (Asia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East) including Monterey Jazz Festival (CA), Herbst Jazz Festival (Austria), St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz, 2002 Silde Jazz (Norway); Ottawa Jazz Festival; Detroit Jazz Festival, Berlin Chamber Music Hall (Germany); the Blue Note (NYC); Joe’s Pub (NYC); Catalina Jazz Club (LA), to name a few.
Born in Chicago, Sawyer was introduced to jazz and other music at an early age via his father’s record collection, which included recordings by John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, Lou Rawls, Della Reese, Bola Sete and Nancy Wilson. But in the beginning, it was the music of Jimi Hendrix and other rock and blues musicians (including Mike Bloomfield, Son Seals, Buddy Guy, Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson) that inspired Scott to seriously pursue music. By the time he landed in Greensboro, NC as a junior in high school, Scott had lived in Texas, Maine, and Chicago-land. Already immersed in the Chicago blues, he was exposed to Southern roots music and blues; eventually “fusion” and then “jazz” became a priority. Guitarist Jim Hall got his attention and sparked a deeper interest in jazz guitar. He landed a regular gig in Greensboro at “Sammy’s” with vibraphonist Jon Metzger and bassist Charles Dungey, that lasted a couple of years. In October 1982, he traveled to NYC for two lessons with guitarist John Scofield. A few years later, he traveled to Boston for two lessons with guitarist Mick Goodrick.
Sawyer’s latest album “Dreamers” was released in November 2013 and garnered a bit of attention in 2014 via three Grammy Ballot nominations. His previous album “Go There” (2007) charted on XM Radio. Numerous recording credits include Stephen Anderson – 360° Jazz Initiative “Distracted Society” (2015); Keith Water’s “Carolina Tracks” (2012; guitar and Associate Producer); Bruce Piephoff’s “Soft Soap Purrings” (2014; Co-Producer, electric/acoustic gtr); “Still Looking Up at the Stars” (2012, Co-Producer, electric/acoustic gtr); Dave Fox’s “The Meldavians-Farewell to Arigemon” (2012); Nnenna Freelon’s “Homefree” (2010) plus her 1997 Grammy-Nominated “Shaking Free”, “Live” (Kennedy Center; 2003) and “Listen” (1993) albums; Lois Deloatch’s “Roots: Jazz, Blues Spirituals” (2010; guitar and Co-Producer); and Bill Anschell’s “a different note all together” (1998). He arranged & recorded “The Glory Of Love” w/ actor Danny Aiello; as featured in the Cinecom film “Once Around” (Lasse Halstrom, director).
Through the years, Sawyer has recorded/performed/toured with jazz singer Nnenna Freelon (including 1992 Philip Morris Superband World Tour), and has performed or recorded with countless artists of note in a variety of genres: John Abercrombie, Charlie Byrd, David Murray, Oteil Burbridge, (prima ballerina) Marie-Christine Mouis, Kate McGarry, Bruce Piephoff, Tony Williamson, Willie Pickens, Ed Thigpen, Bob Cranshaw, Dave Finucane, Melissa Reaves, Ghezzi, Lois Deloatch-Gomes, Jon Lucien, Bill Anschell, Mel Melton, to name a few. Other tours include Central America as a member of the Jon Metzger Quartet (USIA Arts America Program; 1985).
Scott is a Group and Individual Instructor at the Durham Jazz Workshop, works with a limited number of students at his home in Raleigh, NC and is an adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill; jazz guitar) and East Carolina University (Greenville, NC; Jazz Guitar, Jazz Improvisation).
He performs regularly, leading his own groups, freelancing, and with Bruce Piephoff, the Camel City Collective, and The Meldavians. – 4/20/2016
“Creative musicians, in essence, work the seam between anything-is-possible openness and structural specificity, marrying these strange bedfellows time and again. …Guitarist Scott Sawyer’s Dreamers is a sonic manifestation of the aforementioned line of thinking. Sawyer balances head and heart, displaying a deep, in-the-moment emotional connection to his work while remaining ever-watchful of the big picture. – Dan Bilawsky (All About Jazz; Feb 2014)”
Dan Bilawsky - All About Jazz
“With a warm and inviting sound, guitarist Scott Sawyer offers an intriguing and engaging collection of songs in Dreamers…Sawyer’s style of playing is complex yet tastefully restrained and nuanced…By doing so, he allows the song itself to shine as an artistic work, rather than using the song merely as a vehicle to display his prowess on the guitar. – Jeffrey Uhrich (All About Jazz; Feb 2014)”
Jeffrey Uhrich - All About Jazz
“(Dreamers) But labeling Dreamers as just jazz is like appreciating only one color from the palette of a master painter. The deep blues shade every note Sawyer plays. He bends the strings, hesitates, surges and slurs, dipping the music into the dirty water of some mythical Delta.. ..(Kate) McGarry reprises Nick Drake’s melancholy masterpiece, “River Man,” with a wispy, vibrato-less reading that starts slowly, but culminates in an emotionally charged conversation with Sawyer as the sounds of two savvy improvisers embrace and intertwine. - Joe Vanderford (2013)”
Joe Vanderford - Scott Sawyer - Dreamers (liner notes)
“An eclectic collection -- At last ... an album that captures the eclecticism of Triangle jazz guitarist Scott Sawyer. ...Throughout this album, you’ll find that Sawyer is a superb self-editor and an inspiring leader. He knows what he wants to say ensemble-wise and solo-wise. There is no indecision, and the performances benefit immensely from his precision and concision.”
Owen Cordle - New & Observer
"Joining as special guests on this musical celebration are some of my most treasured musical friends...Scott Sawyer is an amazing world-class guitarist who has toured with the band and been a musical collaborator since the 80's..."---Nnenna Freelon
Nnenna Freelon "Homefree" (Concord Jazz); 2010 album liner notes
"The ABB will continue what’s being called the “40 Years of Highs and Lows” tour, all part of a 60 date US tour. While in NY, I got to do a gig with Go There, who I recorded with in 2006. Scott Sawyer and Kenny Soule are two of my favorite musicians to play with." - Oteil Burbridge
Chris Jisi - Bass Player Magazine
“Welcome to Scott Sawyer, the funk, rock, blues--and jazz-- player...With a preponderance of Sawyer tunes, (GO THERE) is all groove underneath...If you're looking for a pure, hard-line jazz album, this is not it. But if you think it represents a compromise, think again. It's its own species.”
Owen Cordle - News & Observer
“I remember hearing years ago about "...this guy Scott Sawyer...He's the one guy around here who has a totally cool vibe while being one of the best guitar players in the region." The guy who said that was Brian Dennis and he was right. - John Custer (Producer, Dag, Cry Of Love, COC)
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John Custer - myspace.com/scottsawyer
“I did do one CD with this great guitarist named Scott Sawyer. Its called “Go There”. My brother Kofi played on it and a great drummer named Kenny Soule. These guys are really amazing." - Oteil Burbridge”
badassbassplayers.com
“We just completed a project called Go There. Just ridiculous, man...They have a guitarist, Scott Sawyer and a drummer Kenny Soule...We went into the studio and did this and I felt like we had been playing together for thirty years. It was just amazing how natural it was. - Oteil Burbridge”
jambands,com
“Guitarist Scott Sawyer is the kind of musician who displays his musical diversity like a badge of honor. The North Carolinian, who is probably best known for his work with vocalist Nnenna Freelon, showcases his electrified playing and composing on Go There...”
John Barron - AllAboutJazz.com
“Scott Sawyer is one of North Carolina’s guitar masters... To this listener, Go There sounds like a righteous amalgam of jazz, funk, rock and blues performed by a crew of very solid players. For immediate inspiration, check the brilliant, funkified arrangement of George Harrison’s “Tax Man.””
Philip van Vleck - Metro Magazine
“...it’s in the delivery where artists are defined. Holding back behind the beat just enough to capture the right emotion, Sawyer demonstrates a real feel for statement and anti-statement.”
Thomas R. Erdmann - JazzReview.com
