Mark Scott III SOFT LIGHT
MARK SCOTT III
SOFT LIGHT
Miller Three Publishing
Mark Scott, guitar/composer; Ben Triesch, bass; Mike Gordon, drums.
Mark Scott has composed all eleven songs on this, his debut album. Opening with “Carpals” he shuffles onto the jazz scene with his trio presentation, proudly standing center-stage as their bandleader and guitarist. The next song is called “Food Court.” It reminds the composer of days he sat in the Mall ‘s food court plucking at his guitar and composing new tunes.
His tune called “Rhythm-Ding” is a nod to the magnificent pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. Ben Triesch walks his bass with power and punch beneath Mark Scott’s inventive solo.
The trio lays down a moderate groove during their introduction to “News Blues” with Mike Gordon stroking the groove on trap drums, using his brushes. Scott has a nice way of adding tasty little harmonic parts when playing his guitar solos. Gordon is given several bars to solo with his brushes towards the end of this tune.
Track #5 is called “Sneak Peak.” It’s arranged Straight-ahead, with Mark Scott III leading the trio at an up-tempo pace. They change to a funk groove on “Monster Beat” with Mike Gordon slapping the rhythm in place. The album’s title tune, “Soft Light” is an introspective ballad.
Mark Scott III is a native of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas and his journey to jazz began at age twelve, when he first heard John Coltrane’s mind-bending tune “A Love Supreme.” He was also greatly influenced by Pat Metheny’s “Still Life (Talking)” production. However, it wasn’t until college that the young guitarist became seriously interested in discovering America’s classical music: jazz! At first, he played around with indie and alternative rock music, writing songs and performing around town as a singer/songwriter. He studied at the University of North Texas, earning a degree in Jazz Studies and completed his Master’s at the University of Texas in Austin. It was in Austin that he met bassist Ben Triesch and drummer Mike Gordon. When not recording and composing music, Scott currently works at Tarleton State University as a professor.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
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