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Scott R. Looney

About:

Scott R. Looney has always been interested in the creation and performance of compelling sounds across a broad spectrum of contemporary, improvised, and experimental music. He has studied composition and improvisation with Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Morton Subotnick, David Rosenboom, and Frederic Rzewski, obtaining his MFA in Composition from California Institute of the Arts.

After moving to New York, and finally to the San Francisco Bay area, he became more interested in expanding the timbral possibilities of the piano, and using pianists such as Denman Maroney as a starting point, has forged a signature style using the inside and outside of the piano, plucking strings, using metal implements and other quick preparations, in combination to playing the piano normally. He has also developed a flexible, expressive voice with electronics using Max/MSP which is as effective as his many piano textures are.

Scott has recorded and/or performed with Oliver Lake, Frank Gratkowski, Wolfgang Fuchs, Jon Raskin (of the ROVA Saxophone Quartet), Joelle Leandre, Henry Kaiser, Gianni Gebbia, Gino Robair, Joe Morris,, and Paul Smoker, to name a few. He has played in numerous west coast music festivals such as the Olympia Experimental Festival, Big Sur Experimental Music Fest, Line Space Line Festival in LA, and the San Francisco Electronic Music Festival. He recently toured Israel and Germany w/ saxophonist Ariel Shibolet and bassist Damon Smith, and recently played at the Ulrichsberger Kaleidophon in May of 2009 with Tanja Fechtmair, Damon Smith and cellist Hugh Livingston.

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100

Recording

Nate Wooley / Scott R. Looney / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter - Scowl (Ugexplode, 2011) ****a1/2

Nate Wooley / Scott R. Looney / Damon Smith / Weasel Walter - Scowl (Ugexplode, 2011) ****a1/2

Source: Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels

By Paul Acquaro I wonder what would make music like 'Scowl' of interest to the 'lay' listener? I suppose this is a question that has been asked in varying ways many times before, and no doubt will continue to be asked as members enter and (dare I say?) leave the fold of avant-garde jazz. I don't pretend to have an answer, nor will I even posit a theory, all I can offer is that It is a compelling listen that ...

106

Recording

New CD Urban Ruminations with Oliver Lake, Paul Smoker, Scott R. Looney, and Lisle Ellis

New CD Urban Ruminations with Oliver Lake, Paul Smoker, Scott R. Looney, and Lisle Ellis

Source: Michael Ricci

Metaphysical Records announces the release of its newest CD, Urban Rumination, an innovative improvising quartet featuring free jazz veterans Oliver Lake on saxes, Paul Smoker on trumpet, and Lisle Ellis on bass, combined with unique sounds by newcomer and Bay Area pianist Scott R. Looney, who straddles the boundaries between traditional free jazz piano ala Cecil Taylor and Marilyn Crispell, and the more adventurous textures and timbres of prepared pianists like Denman Maroney and Agusti Fernandez.

The music ranges from ...

"Scott R. Looney is a piano madman playing on the keys or inside of his instrument with lightspeed accuracy and an un-erring sense of harmony and movement." Weasel Walter

“'Repercussions', ... reveals a combination of technical skill and creativity that is truly engrossing...My hat is off to (him) for actualizing this wonderfully eclectic body of improvisational music." Ian Hall - Chain DLK

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

1510

Stash Records
2010

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Urban Rumination

Self Produced
2010

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Rent Romus' Jazz On...

Edgetone Records
2008

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Sonic Conspiracy

Edgetone Records
2002

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Solo Piano

Stash Records
0

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Videos

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