Scott Sawyer

Scott Sawyer is the kind of musician who displays his musical diversity like a badge of honor. He's been making music for years, playing venues of every description: music clubs, beer-soaked dives and prestigious festivals & venues around the world. From 1982-1996 he spent much of his time in the jazz & improvised music trenches. Since then, Sawyer has enjoyed a steady return to his rock & blues roots while continuing to explore the jazz tradition & beyond. An experienced bandleader, ?Go There? and ?Guitarspeak? are his current projects; he remains an active sideman/accompanist as well.

Sawyer has performed in Asia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Europe, The Middle East and throughout the USA. He's appeared on numerous recordings, produced recordings for other artists, collaborated with dancers & choreographers, and interpreted visual art through his own compositions.

Sawyer has shared the stage and/or appeared on numerous recordings with many notable artists including Nnenna Freelon, Charlie Byrd, Oteil Burbridge, David Murray, (actor) Danny Aiello, (prima ballerina) Marie-Christine Mouis, Scott Ainslee, Bob Cranshaw, Gongzilla, Willie Pickens, Ed Thigpen, Bill Anshell and Jon Lucien...to name a few. He was a member of the 1992 Philip Morris Superband and has performed with jazz singer Nnenna Freelon at clubs, concerts and festivals worldwide. Other tours include Central America with vibraphonist Jon Metzger (USIA Arts America Program).

His latest album, ?Go There? was independently released in May 2007. It charted on XM radio ?Beyond Jazz? and features performances by Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band) and Kofi Burbridge (Derek Trucks Band). Numerous recording credits include Nnenna Freelon's 1997 Grammy-Nominated release, "Shaking Free" and ?Live? (at Kennedy Center; 2003). Other credits include pianist Bill Anschell's "a different note all together" and Lois DeLoatch's ?Hymn To Freedom? (2008). He arranged & recorded ?The Glory Of Love? w/ actor Danny Aiello for the film "Once Around".

Sawyer has been a featured artist/clinician/speaker at many venues, including UNC-Chapel Hill (NC), UNC-Greensboro (NC), University of Wisconsin (Whitewater), University of South Florida (Tampa), Magellan School (Raleigh, NC) and The Institute of the Arts @ Duke University (Durham, NC). He's an experienced and active teacher, offering private instruction to guitarists and non-guitarists as well as clinics & master classes.