David Thorne Scott: News

Last night I got to sing with some amazing musicians and singers under the auspices of Bill Elliott and the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra. Thanks to all you dancers for making my night! Everyone had a big smile on their faces dancing to good solid swing music played by some of the best of the best.

After Syncopation shows, I love talking to our fans. They always have interesting comments, questions and suggestions. The number one question we get -- at least one person asks this every show -- is "Why aren't you guys famous?"

The glib answer is, "Hey, we're working on it!". But, more seriously, a...part from the vagaries of showbiz, our number one barrier to success is TIME (and we don't mean the kind the drummer plays). You should be at a rehearsal when we try to schedule a meeting or performance. Finding a blank spot in the schedules of these four working musicians/teachers is like trying to find a missing purl in a quilt. Now, don't get the wrong idea: this is a good problem to have. It means we are busy doing the thing we love. But it also means that our ability to promote the band is limited.

Our goal for 2010 is to work with individuals who have the expertise and enthusiasm to take Syncopation from a top regional act to a top international act. We are consulting with an entertainment attorney who believes that we have what it takes to attract booking agents and managers to our cause. But there are a few things we need to take care of.

Did you see Christine get a makeover on TLC's "What Not To Wear?" You can see from that show what a creative, diligent stylist can accomplish. Syncopation needs a makeover, too, and we're visiting a top NYC stylist to establish an overall look for the group that will send a strong visual message that is fully in tune with our music. We have engaged an extraordinary Boston photographer to create images that capture the essence of Syncopation.

Another comment we frequently hear is, "I love your recordings, but they can't capture the energy of your live show". A high-quality DVD video of our performance will be the group's ambassador to busy entertainment professionals. We will work with an award-winning video production company to make this happen. We will make an audio demo with cutting-edge production values by teaming up with an producer with platinum and gold records to his name. Finally, a newly-designed web site tying all these threads together will be Syncopation's front door, telling our story at a glance.

In case you haven't guessed where this is going, here it is: we need money to accomplish these goals. It is because of you, the attenders of our concerts and buyers of our CDs, that we have been able to accomplish so much in the years since our inception. We need your help again to break through the ceiling that faces us.

Click this link to donate NOW via PayPal: http://www.jazzsyncopation.com/spc2010.htm
Here is the budget for our 2010 promotional campaign:
Syncopation 2010 Promotional Campaign Budget

Stylist and wardrobe
$1,500.00
Photography
$2,000.00
Video demo
$15,000.00
Web site
$2,000.00
Graphic design
$1,000.00
Service mark registration
$1,200.00
Investment agreement for Angel Investors
$2,000.00
CD demo
$10,000.00
TOTAL
$34,700.00

Can you help us? If each of our fans gave us $20, it would get us a long ways toward our goal. If a few contributed more, we could make this dream a reality. We have already raised $5,000.

We're not a non-profit. We're just artists trying to spread our music, music that you love as much as we do. This is the social networking version of passing the hat at a gig. It's the 21st century version of the great classical composers finding patrons to underwrite their music, much of which is still beloved today. We can't promise that orchestras will be playing our songs in 200 years, but we can promise that we will keep you apprised of every step along our way so you can share first-hand in the success we achieve thanks to your profound support.

We are also looking for a few "angel investors" to provide gifts and loans in larger amounts for this project. Please contact us if you'd like to discuss our loan agreement and terms.

Click this link to donate NOW via PayPal: http://www.jazzsyncopation.com/spc2010.htm
If you would rather send a check, write it to "Syncopation" and put "SPC 2010" in the memo field. Mail to Syncopation at P.O. Box 230973, Boston MA 02123-0973

Thanks to those who have already given, and thanks for your consideration.

Just got back from singing the tenor solos in Handel's Messiah with the Axtell Oratorio Society. Conductor J. Rodney Wendell brought out the yearning in the piece, most notably in the finale, "Amen". It was a very moving experience and one I was proud to be part of. The tenor solos are so much fun, because he sets the stage with optimism ("Comfort Ye"), then admonishes "Thy Rebuke"), then finally metes out justice ("Thou shalt break them"). Whew! Heavy stuff. What a role.

Got to perform with Scott Metcalfe. He is such a joy to work with. He conducts with intelligence, technique, diligence, and -- most important -- love.

A few lines from a recent review: "Scott Metcalfe and his virtuoso a cappella ensemble Blue Heron Renaissance Choir cast a comprehensive glance over what awakening 16th-century Spain had to say on the subject of passion. Mr. Metcalfe’s nicely judged juxtaposition of small forces and large, of a cappella textures and rich-hued accompanied tapestries, entertained and engaged the sizable audience in First Church, Cambridge."

The rest of the review is available here:
http://classical-scene.com/2010/03/17/blue-heron’s-16th-c-spain-with-song-of-songs-songs-of-love/

Syncopation was BUSY this month! Who knew the dead of winter could be so lively? A cappella shows at Belmont High School, Merrimack College, and First Church Cohasset. Shows with rhythm section at jazz clubs: the Hi-Hat in Providence and Ryles in Cambridge. And next month we're at the beautiful Performing Arts Center in Chelmsford.

I just got back from performing at First Baptist Church in Hartford. They are starting a music series and invited a jazz ensemble to kick it off. I was singing, Mark Shilansky played piano, Neil Shilansky played drums, Keala Kaumeheiwa played bass, and Kris Allen played alto sax. What a fun night. The church has enormously high ceilings. It's the very picture of a classic New England church. The audience was incredibly engaged and gave us plenty of energy and permission to walk the high wire. Acoustics good. Band slammin'. What's not to like? The topper: baked goods afterwards. Lots of cookies, brownies and cakes. I'm still high on sugar, two hours later.

In 2009 I started making ambient music with just my voice, an effects pedal, a looper, and some random instruments/noisemakers. I have posted a couple of tracks on my MySpace page. Tell me what you think!

www.myspace.com/davidthornescott

Grown-up music is the kind where you can enjoy it sitting in the back row, chatting quietly with a drink and a friend, or sitting in the front row with your eyes closed, marinating in the sounds, reflecting on the poetry, and meditating on your life. The grown-up music I perform borrows a lot from jazz, but also has influences from western classical music, pop/rock, and country music.

Hey, what a couple of weeks it's been. Swampscott, Worcester's Mechanics Hall (what a beautiful room that is -- Mark Twain spoke there!), all our old friends at Ryles, radio appearance on WICN, the Center for the Arts at Natick... whew. Then after this Syncopation tour, I got to perform at Vernissage and Acton Jazz Cafe with the inimitable Mark Shilansky. Top that off with singing oratorio for the Boston Singers Resource select auditions, and I'm beat. Stick a fork in me for a little bit. I'll put my head up again soon, but for a bit I'll reconnect with my family and let myself get caught up in the holiday spirit. Hope you all do, too!

Thanks to everyone who came to Scullers on Tuesday for Syncopation. It was the first time we tried out our new toys: wireless mics. Oh yeah. I love music technology, especially when it makes it easy for everyone to walk around the stage (and even through the audience) without getting tangled or tripped. Of course, our sound man Bruce was the one who had to sweat all the technical aspects, but he did a fantastic job. As he says, if you don't notice the sound reinforcement, then he's done his job. We've been trying to move towards a better flow in our sets, and thanks to everyone's hard work I think we achieved it.

Gig at Ryles on Friday was a revelation. I played with several guys I've never worked with before. Greg Hopkins, who I have heard described as "world-class" and "the best trumpet player in New England", Dino Govoni, who plays positively Brecker-ish tenor saxophone. Then the phenomenal electric bassist Fernando Huergo and rhythmic wizard Bertram Lehmann on drums. And of course Shark Milansky on piano.

I called the band "The Hard Bop Sextet", which was a bit of a misnomer. We performed some aggressive modern jazz, some original songs, burning latin tunes.... Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Tom Harrell... stuff you don't often hear singers do.

Here is a video of Joe Henderson's "The Kicker".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDEVmXkzA34

Hey everybody, it was a grand pleasure to sing at Ryles last week with Ray Santisi on piano, Barry Smith on bass, Casey Scheuerell on drums, Jeff Stout on trumpet, and Larry Baione on guitar. We had a great turnout, especially considering that it rained cats and dogs. I especially got a kick when Jeff Stout would quote back little pieces of my scat solos -- three tunes later! These guys have experience, attitude, and a point of view. The last, especially, is often a rarity among younger players.

A couple of videos from that night. Enjoy!

Blame It On My Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boVRrqxnrxk
Desafinado
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEIAI4miyA

Last night at the Lily Pad in Cambridge I did a show like I've never done before. I had no fellow-musicians to share the stage with, just a few assorted instruments, a couple of microphones, a sonic effects device, and a looper. And you know what? It worked. Check my MySpace page for a song clip.

Sang the tenor solos in the Bach Magnificat with the Masterworks Chorale tonight. Those people have a good time! It really reminded me that music is all about F U N .

My goodness! What a whirlwind. My vocal group Syncopation performed on the Esplanade as part of a grand 4th of July tradition here in Boston, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

You can see one of the songs we did on line at WBZ TV.  Here is the link:

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=78572@wbz.dayport.com
And a news article about the performance:

http://wbztv.com/video/?id=78370@wbz.dayport.com

Here is a new YouTube video of the band singing "But Not For Me." This is one of our newest a cappella charts and we have been having a great time. When you don't have a band backing you up, you really have to concentrate on SWING! From a show at David Friend Recital Hall at Berklee on March 30 (the date on the video is wrong).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrfM0tzVFZY

Finals at Berklee are finally over, and it's time to take a little vacation and work on some things I've been mulling about in my head. Going to be doing some experimentation with live electronic vocal processing, maybe try it out at an upcoming show. Hope to do some writing, and learning a few new Syncopation charts. And find the time to exercise, play basketball, and meditate.

Awesome show at Acton Jazz Café! The seating was sold-out before the show even started -- standing room only. The AJC patrons are a little different than at other places. They are so eager and attentive and just plain nice that it makes it a pleasure to sing for them. Thanks everybody who came out! I'll be there again on May 22 with Mark Shilansky and band, singing some new original songs.

Cool kids at West Valley College. Today went in and sang a few songs, played piano, and had a little Q&A session. Some really thoughtful questions and comments. That school is in such a beautiful natural setting I thought it was a resort at first. Thanks to Gus and everyone for making it happen!

Having a fantastic time here in Stanford, California rehearsing with Cut Circle for the concert at Memorial Church on Wednesday. Hope you can make it! The music is from the 15th century, and it is POWERFUL. It makes 8 singers sound like an amplified guitar playing open 5ths with the amp turned up to 11.