Scott Colley is the bassist of choice for jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Jim Hall. Colley’s remarkable empathetic abilities, strong melodic sense, and improvisational skills have made him a great choice for groups that include Kenny Werner, Kenny Werner, Adam Rogers and Brian Blade. Colley’s greatest accomplishments have been as a musician and bandleader. Colley has collaborated with many musicians, including guitarists Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, as well as saxophonists Michael Brecker and Clifford Jordan, and pianists Kenny Werner and Herbie Hancock; as well drummers Roy Haynes, Antonio Sanchez and Bill Stewart. Born November 24, 1963. Scott currently resides in New York. At the age of 11, he began to study bass. He began studying bass with Monty Budwig at the age of 13. He attended Eagle Rock High School, Los Angeles, where John Rinaldo was the school’s renowned director. After graduating from high school, he was awarded a full scholarship to the California Institute for the Arts. He studied composition and jazz studies and also took private lessons with Charlie Haden (of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) and Fred Tinsley (of the classical bassist). He began recording and touring with Carmen McRae, the jazz singer. He graduated from Cal Arts in 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music. -1988: He moved to New York City. From 1988 to 1989, he performed on U.S. and European tours along with Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie and Clifford Jordan. From 1990 to 1995, Jim Hall, John Scofield and Joe Henderson were among the bands. From 1996 to 1998, his work included tours with Joe Lovano and Jim Hall; Tours with Toots Thielemans and Bobby Hutcherson; Bob Berg; and extensive touring with Andrew Hill’s “Another Point of Departure” sextet. Colley was a member Herbie Hancock’s touring trio, and also toured extensively with two other quartets (one featuring Gary Thomas as a saxophonist, and the other featuring Bobby Hutcherson), at concerts all over the globe. Hancock’s trio also has performed with American symphonic orchestras in concert. He also toured extensively with the Andrew Hill trio, sextet and the Chris Potter Quartet. 2005-2007: Extensive touring in collaboration with Terri Lyne Carrington, Herbie Hancock and Micheal Brecker; Trio concerts and tours with Pat Metheny; Teaching residencies at The Banff Center and Virginia Commonweath University; Concerts with Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez; U.S. and European tours with Chris Potter’s Quartet. 2006-07: Extensive tour with his own trio and quartet. His recordings include Luciana Souza, Chris Potter, Adam Rogers, Donny McCaslin, Abbey Lincoln, Luciana Souza, Adam Rogers and Donny McCaslin. He also recorded 2 recordings with Kenny Werner. From 2008 to Present: He has been touring the US with his quartet and trio over the past few years. He has also been touring with Edward Simon, Brian Blade, Chris Potter’s Underground, The Antonio Sanchez Quartet, Dave Douglas’ “Magic Circle”, a quartet featuring Craig Taborn (Brian Blade), and David Binney; and The Kenny Werner Quintet. He is currently a faculty member at SUNY Purchase College and teaches residencies in Europe and the U.S. Scott has recorded CDs with The New Gary Burton Quartet and with The John Scofield Quartet in the past few months. Scott will tour extensively with both groups in 2011, as well as his own trio, which includes Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, and Scott. Scott’s new album Empire was released worldwide on the CAM label in September 2010. It features all original compositions by Bill Fresell and Ralph Alessi, Brian Blade, and Craig Taborn. from http://www.scottcolley.com
