ScottClark ToNow: cameron ralston, jason scott, bob miller, alan parker, tobin summerfield

Building off of the ScottClark4tet, the ToNow band adds two guitars to develop even more sonic possibilities.  Initially put together to perform, and record, a suite of music called ToNow (which will be released on Clean Feed Records in May 2018) this group is a continuation of Scott Clark’s dive into Native American history and current politics.  The suite “ToNow” was inspired by the Standing Rock protest that were/are taking place at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota.

photo by Lauren Serpa

ScottClark4tet: cameron ralston-bass, jason scott-sax, bob miller-trumpet,scott clark- drums

Initially inspired in part by Ornette Coleman’s classic quartet with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell and the strongly influential chicago free jazz  movement of the 1960′s, The Scott Clark 4-tet — led by drummer and composer Scott Clark — has quickly found its own way of working with time, space, and sound. Featuring Fight the Big Bull members trumpeter Bob Miller, saxophonist Jason Scott, and bassist Cameron Ralston, the Richmond, Virginia-based quartet was formed in late 2010, drawing in listeners with its musicians’ individual reputations and keeping them there with its unique interpertation of the post-bop/free-bop style.  Their latest release “Bury My Heart” was released on Clean Feed Records on November 3, 2015.

Natalie Prass:  natalie prass-vocals/guitar, trey pollard-guitar, michael libramento-bass, scott clark-drums
http://natalieprassmusic.com
The introductions have gone well. One of Rolling Stone’s “Ten New Artists You Need To Know.” One of Time Magazine’s “15 Artists To Watch in 2015.” The New Yorker raves it’s “a sound that’s crystal clear but somehow full and stripped down…this is a record that never feels retro, just timeless.” The poise and composure of Natalie Prass’ stunning debut album has been greeted with a resounding yes by critics and fans mesmerized by Prass’ refreshing take on the singer/songwriter tradition.
Read more at http://natalieprassmusic.com/bio#sjCDEXl33vdrkes4.99

Matthew E. White:  matthew e. white-guitar vocals, cameron ralston-bass, trey pollard-pedal steel & piano, gabe churray- churray station, pinson chanselle-drums, scott clark-percussion
http://www.matthewewhite.com/
Moving, redemptive and powerfully soulful, Big Inner is a timeless record told in seven songs that mingle memory with the rawness of any given human moment. The references — from the lyrics that echo the common conditions of love, death, seeking, and finding, to open tributes to artists like Washington Phillips, Allen Toussaint, Jorge Ben, Jimmy Cliff, and Randy Newman — are their own scavenger hunt through music history and through White’s place in it.
A gifted jazz arranger and exceptional guitarist, White’s vision for Big Inner was realised with the help of bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Pinson Chanselle,who make up the core of his Spacebomb House Band and then embellished with horns, strings, and a choir – all culled from and roused by the venerable landscape of Richmond, Virginia and recorded in the attic of White’s house in the city.

SCUO: scott burton- guitar, scott clark- drums
http://www.facebook.com/scuo1
Richmond, Virginia’s SCUO was borne from a mutual desire to meld the concepts of technical metal with the timbres of experimental jazz. On 5678765, their cassette debut for New Atlantis Records, the duo explore this juxtaposition, creating a fine offering of tricky, prog-inflected instrumental avant rock. SCUO’s rigorous compositional methods are evident upon first listen. The duo often start out writing traditional song forms, steadily deconstructing and rebuilding them with the hope of eventually composing music they are simply incapable of playing.
The duo of guitarist Scott Burton and drummer Scott Clark (a dUO of SCott’s, hence SCUO) are active in Richmond’s blossoming experimental music scene. SCUO have shared the stage with Rob Mazurek’s Starlicker, Ken Vandermark, Jason Ajemian & the HighLife, Zevious, Many Arms, No BS Brass Band, and a host of others. Outside of SCUO, they’ve collaborated with heavyweights Darius Jones, Matana Roberts, Jason Ajemian, and many more. For this special release, famed cosmic shredder Mick Barr offers up a special remix (as Ocrilim) of their tune ‘Arms.’

Glows in the Dark: scott burton- guitar, cameron ralston- bass, reggie pace- trombone, john lilley- saxaphone, scott clark-drums
http://glowingrealm.tumblr.com/
Since 2007, Glows in the Dark have created avant-garde jazz fueled by the storytelling qualities of film. It’s no wonder, then, that the latest creations by the band’s leader, Scott Burton, have imported the entirely different but similarly story-based genre of hip-hop, drawing collaborations with emcees like Count Bass D, Jneiro Jarel, Jawwaad Taylor, John Robinson, and 20/20. Their forthcoming release celebrates that intersection of jazz and hip-hop, while their most current EP, Tides of War, features remixes of their 2010 album Beach of the War Gods produced by Count Bass D, Tim Gane (of Stereolab), and others, and Jneiro Jarel included one of his remixes in his JJ DOOM Mixtape for Lex Records in 2012.
Taking cues and inspiration from everyone from J Dilla to Ennio Morricone to Yes, the band combines melody with chaos and processes the mix through its filter of five distinct personalities. By taking old films — like those of the kung fu and Italian crime variety — and adapting their story structures to music, Burton and company have come up with a unique songwriting process that leaves plenty of room for improvisation. In 2011, they joined Italian band Calibro 35 in recording music for the documentaryEurocrime!, directed by Mike Malloy, which was featured at the 2012 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. In their collaborations with hip-hop artists, they take less of a back seat than merely being beat creators. Instead, they explore a band/emcee dialogue that seems unparalleled in either individual genre.

Brian Jones Percussion Ensemble: brian jones, pinson chanselle, lance koehler, scott clark
http://www.brianjonesrva.com