Stephen Scott

Stephen Scott (born 13 March 1969 in Queens, New York) is an American jazz pianist. Scott played piano from the age of five, but it was while attending New York’s High School of the Performing Arts that he was introduced to jazz by alto saxophonist Justin Robinson, in particular the music of Wynton Kelly and Red Garland. Later, he took private lessons at the Juilliard School of Music.

In 1986 he received the Young Talent Award from the National Association of Jazz Educators and within the year was hired as accompanist to Betty Carter. Scott was soon a welcome addition to bands led by artists such as Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, Ron Carter, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Craig Handy, Roy Hargrove, the Harper Brothers, Joe Henderson (appearing on the Grammy-winning tribute to Billy Strayhorn, Lush Life), Jon Hendricks, Bobby Hutcherson, Victor Lewis, appearing on Eeeyyess!, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins and Bobby Watson.

He led his own small groups on record from 1991, employing as sidemen musicians such as his mentors Carter and Lewis, and he also played on a trio date with Hargrove and Christian McBride.

As a solo artist he has recorded for Verve Records and Enja Records.

Discography

As leader

• 1991: Something to Consider (Verve, with Roy Hargrove, Justin Robinson, Joe Henderson, Craig Handy, Peter Washington, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Jeff "Tain" Watts)
• 1993: Aminah's Dream (Verve)
• 1994: Renaissance (Verve)
• 1996: Beautiful Thing (Verve)
• 1999: Vision Quest (Enja)

As sideman

With Betty Carter

• Look What I Got! (1988)

With Ron Carter

• Eight Plus (Victor (Japan), 1990)
• The Bass and I (Somethin' Else, 1997)
• Orfeu (Somethin' Else, 1999)
• When Skies Are Grey... (Somethin' Else, 2001)
• Dear Miles (Somethin' Else, 2007)
• Jazz & Bossa (Blue Note, 2008)

With Ray Drummond

• 1-2-3-4 (Arabesque, 1997 [1999])

With Frank Foster

• Leo Rising (Arabesque, 1997)

With Joe Henderson

• Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (1991)

With Freddie Hubbard

• MMTC: Monk, Miles, Trane & Cannon (Music Master, 1995)

With Sonny Rollins

• Sonny Rollins + 3 (Milestone, 1995)
• Global Warming (Milestone, 1998)
• This Is What I Do (Milestone, 2000)
• Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert (Milestone, 2001)