Scott is a band-leader, composer/arranger, pianist, and educator.
As a performer, Scott has played on over 20 professionally released recordings including 5 under his own name. Basement Vibes (2002), Scott Gwinnell Trio (2006), the award-winning Brush Fire (2008), Cass Corridor Story (2011- Detroit Music Factory) and Mulgrew-ology (2018- Detroit Music Factory). Scott has toured/recorded/performed with the following jazz luminaries: Joe Lovano, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, Richie Cole, Jimmy Heath, Billy Hart, Terry Gibbs, John Clayton, Steve Turre, Marcus Belgrave, and Jon Hendricks, for whom Scott was three year music director.
As a composer/arranger, Scott has written over 400 works, from solo piano, big band, symphony orchestra, to marching band. He has received awards/recognition from Downbeat Magazine, International Association of Jazz Educators, and Detroit Music Awards, who have granted him 11 awards over the past 10 years. Scott writes for his 16-piece big band, “The Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra”, and the 10 piece, “The Scott Gwinnell Dectet”. Both have held residency at Cliff Bells, one of Detroit’s famous jazz clubs.
As an educator, Scott’s credentials and reputation have led him to full and part time collegiate professorships at: University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Wayne County Community College, and Oakland University, where he presently serves as a lecturer, instructor of jazz piano, theory, arranging and director of the Oakland University Jazz Singers. Scott is also the director for Music Hall’s Jazz Vocal Education Program. He has given clinics and adjudicated at schools and festivals around the country, and holds a private studio for a select group of talented pianists, composers, and arrangers.
The Oxford high school band will open for Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.