When 24-year-old Christian Scott released his first album last year, he was hailed as "the new voice in jazz trumpet." It earned a Grammy nomination, and by Scott's own admission, completely changed his life. VOA's Doug Levine brings us up-to-date with Scott, who hopes to keep the momentum going with his latest effort, Anthem.
With the eyes and ears of the jazz world upon him, eagerly awaiting the young jazz artist's next move, Christian Scott delivers a powerful follow-up to his daring debut.
Count on more fusion of jazz, rock, funk and soul, but there's also a mix of rap and hip-hop, with Scott finding different moods and tempos on trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn.
Christian Scott was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was given his first trumpet at age 12. With lessons on jazz basics from his uncle, noted saxophonist Donald Harrison, Scott entered the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. Known locally as NOCCA, it's the same school where Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick, Junior, and Terence Blanchard got their start.
Next came a full scholarship to the Berklee College Of Music where Scott graduated in half the time it takes the average student. By age 22, he was already in the studio recording a self-titled, self-produced album. When he released his major label debut Rewind This, Billboard Magazine tapped him as one of the 10 Faces To Watch in 2006.
2007 is proving even more promising for Christian Scott. In April, he wrote and recorded two songs for Prince's new album, recorded a track for Randy Jackson's soon-to-be-released American Music, Volume 1, and he will appear in the upcoming George Clooney film, Leatherheads. Ebony Magazine recently chose him as one of its "30 Young Leaders Under 30" in 2007.
Much of Scott's new album, Anthem, pays tribute to those uprooted by Hurricane Katrina in and around his native New Orleans, including a tune called "The 9."
