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Scott McLemore

Scott McLemore (b. Feb. 1, 1973 Norfolk, VA) is a drummer based in Reykjavik, Iceland. He began playing music professionally at age 16 with a rock band in high school and joined the rock/funk band Ant Man Bee in 1990 with which he recorded an album and toured the east coast playing the college circuit.

McLemore attended the University of Virginia's Writers Workshop in 1990 where he met trumpeter John D'earth. McLemore has since performed countless times with D'earth in various groups and has also brought the trumpeter to New York to perform at the Knitting Factory.

He attended Old Dominion University 1992-93 where he studied jazz performance and composition. He also studied drums privately with Howard Curtis and started subbing for Curtis with Toomey and bassist Jimmy Masters around the same time. Although no formal lessons took place, McLemore owes a debt of gratitude to Masters for his giving nature and relentless encouragement.

In 1993 Scott transfered to William Paterson College and started playing jazz professionally in nearby New York City. In 1997 he graduated from William Paterson College with a B.M. in Jazz Studies where he studied drums with John Riley, composition with Vic Juris and had various ensembles lead by Rufus Reid et al. While attending WPC he also toured the US with guitarist Tim Reynolds.

In 1997 he moved to New York where he lived for 8 years and played with such talented musicians as: Sunna Gunnlaugs, Ben Monder, Michael Kanan, Tony Malaby, Angelica Sanchez, Russ Lossing, Chris Cheek, George Colligan, Kerry Politzer, John Hebert, Mark Helias, Drew Gress and Tim Berne.

His work as a leader has resulted in two albums: "Found Music" with Tony Malaby, Ben Monder and Ben Street on Fresh Sound New Talent Records, and "Remote Location" with Sunna Gunnlaugs, Óskar Guðjónsson, Andrés Thor and Róbert Þórhallsson on Sunny Sky Records.

Gear

early Sonor Phonic rosewood.


Tags

1
Album Review

Sunna Gunnlaugs: Becoming

Read "Becoming" reviewed by Neil Duggan


Raised on a small peninsula in Iceland and later educated in New York City, Sunna Gunnlaugs, could easily have followed a different musical path if it hadn't been for the gift of a Bill Evans record in her teens. That gift set her on a path that has led to Becoming, the fifth album Gunnlaugs has released with her trio, comprising fellow Icelandic bassist Thorgrimur Jónsson and drummer (and husband) Scott McLemore. Gunnlaugs reached number two on the ...

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Album Review

Scott McLemore: Remote Location

Read "Remote Location" reviewed by John Kelman


While musicians relocate all the time, moving from the vibrant New York scene to more remote environs might seem an odd choice. After eight years in NYC playing with artists including guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Tim Berne, drummer Scott McLemore relocated with wife Sunna Gunnlaugs to her native Iceland following the pianist's decade-plus American stay. McLemore's second album as a leader, Remote Location is his first with an all-Icelandic lineup, suggesting there's plenty of talent on this small island ...

3
Album Review

Scott McLemore: Remote Location

Read "Remote Location" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard


A change of scenery is a change of sound. At least, this seems to be case with the Virginia-born drummer Scott McLemore, who has been a vital presence on the music scene in New York, but now is part of the significantly smaller, but nevertheless bourgeoning Icelandic jazz community.When McLemore released Found Music on Fresh Sound New Talent in 2006, he enlisted a group of likeminded musicians who reflected the dynamic pulse of the city. Especially saxophonist Tony ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Scott McLemore

Read "Take Five With Scott McLemore" reviewed by Scott McLemore


Meet Scott McLemore: Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1973, Scott McLemore spent over a decade in New York where he was equally at home playing in the trios of saxophonist Tony Malaby, guitarist Ben Monder, pianist Michael Kanan and George Colligan. Although he is best known for his work with Icelandic pianist Sunna Gunnlaugs (who is also his wife), Scott's own efforts as a leader have resulted in two recordings: Found Music (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2006) and ...

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2

Contest

Enter the "Scott McLemore - Remote Location" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Scott McLemore - Remote Location"  Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Sunny Sky Records “Scott McLemore - Remote Location“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on March 1st. Click here to enter the contest (Becoming a fan of Scott McLemore at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at Sunny Sky Records About Remote Location It's an album about fond memories and fast friends, homesickness and new beginnings, musical heroes ...

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Recording

New Album By An American Drummer In Iceland

New Album By An American Drummer In Iceland

Source: Scott McLemore

Scott McLemore, the American drummer living in Iceland has a new album. Remote Location features a quintet of Icelandic musicians, including Sunna Gunnlaugs on piano, saxophonist Óskar Guðjónsson (known for his work with Mezzoforte, Søren Dahl Jeppesen and Skúli Sverrison), guitarist Andrés Thor and bassist Róbert Thórhallsson. The album is a collection of original music that revolves around three chapters in McLemore's life, or rather the three places he has lived: Virginia, New York and Iceland. The songs are filled ...

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Recording

Pre-Release Deal For "Remote Location" By Scott Mclemore

Pre-Release Deal For "Remote Location" By Scott Mclemore

Source: Scott McLemore

An American drummer living in Iceland, Scott McLemore has a new album. “Remote Location" features a quintet of Icelandic musicians, including Sunna Gunnlaugs on piano, Óskar Guðjónsson (known for his work with Mezzoforte and Skúli Sverrison), guitarist Andrés Thor and bassist Róbert Thórhallsson. The CD will be released on the Reykjavik Jazz Festival, August 28th, but until then it is available for pre-order exclusively from Bandcamp, including an immediate download of the album and a 5 page pdf of extended ...

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Radio

The Jazz Session #246: Scott McLemore

The Jazz Session #246: Scott McLemore

Source: AAJ Staff


"Caught the drummer a couple of times with Tony Malaby and fell for the itchiness he brought to the music. Like Tom Rainey, who's become a master of hyperactive grace donchaknow, McLemore can reveal the sublime side of any and all storms." – Jim Macnie, Village Voice

"McLemore gives his bandmates the space to breath and create a sound that lets the listener sit back imagine and enjoy… this young talent means business behind the kit as well as a being the composer." – Stephan Moore, Jazz Wrap

"The group develops the music on this album with slow patience that allows everything spaciousness and room to breathe. There's nothing showy or obtrusive about this music, the artists involved sacrifice any ego they may have in order to serve the greater good of the music." – Tim Niland, Music and More

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Becoming

Sunny Sky
2023

buy

Remote Location

Sunny Sky
2013

buy

Remote Location

Sunny Sky
2012

buy

Waking

From: Remote Location
By Scott McLemore

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