Tom Scott

Tom Scott established himself early as a reliable and skilled multi-reed player who showed scant enthusiasm for venturing into avant-garde jazz forms. Coming from a musical family where his mother performed on piano and his father wrote compositions, he quickly transitioned into session work as both a performer and an orchestrator during his formative years. His proficiency extended to nearly all reed instruments, allowing him to join ensembles led by Don Ellis and Oliver Nelson. Furthermore, the group he fronted, known as the L.A. Express, emerged as a standout success among pop-jazz acts throughout the 1970s. In the realm of popular music, he lent his talents to projects involving Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and George Harrison, among other notable endeavors. While his 1992 album Born Again on the GRP label displayed unexpected creativity, this effort represented an isolated break from his usual crossover style.