Search - Scott DuBois :: Banshees

Many jazz guitarists burn out with clichéd, flashy solos filled with pyrotechnics but containing little substance. But Scott DuBois is not that kind of guitarist. He uses the instrument to convey ideas, taking advantage of all of the instrument s sonic possibilities in an interactive ensemble setting. Backed by tenor/soprano saxophonist/bass clarinetist Gebhard Ullmann, bassist Thomas Morgan, and drummer Kresten Osgood DuBois writes a new chapter in jazz guitar improvisation on his Sunnyside debut, Banshees.

DuBois owns a sound on the guitar that indebted to the past but is at the same time unique and forward looking. He has the ability to attack in the most abrasive free moments but can also caress beautiful, serene melodies akin to Pat Martino. Ullmann is a reeds player of prodigious talent and variation. As a long-standing member of the European avant-garde, he is a explosive addition to this ensemble. Kresten Osgood is a musician of extremes. He can play inside or out and stands as one of the greatest percussionist of his young generation. Bassist Thomas Morgan is a player in high demand. Based in New York, Morgan plays with many of today s top progressive musicians including Steve Coleman and Dave Binney.

The seven selections composed by the leader offer a six-string tour of modern guitar in a compositional setting where melody, tempo and dynamics are stated, implied, multiplied and morphed. Mid to the West begins in a reflective, spare mood that builds to a suspenseful climax, while Bend walks with a hip bassline tracked by Osgood s drumwork, contrasted by the pensive Canaria, and the stop-time, lickety-split tempoed Inverse. Mouse Song is a tricky, neo-free number laced by Ullmann s Dolphy-esque bass clarinet. Old Man on Platform has tinges of Trane s Crescent feel, and Apparition is a cauldron of swing-at-the-speed-of-sound improvising.

Scott DuBois s unique guitar voice is the result of nearly two decades of hard work. Born in 1978, he moved from the Chicago area to New York in 1996, played with Dave Liebman, Tony Malaby, and Chris Potter, and earned a Master s of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music. DuBois, a Semi-Finalist in the 2005 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, has toured in the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. He performed in Carnegie Hall in 2002. His recordings as a leader include: Monsoon (Soul Note, 2002) and Tempest (Soul Note, 2007).

With Banshees, Scott DuBois adds an exciting chapter to jazz guitar improvisation.