Scott Giddens

Born in Jacksonville Florida into a very musically diverse family, Giddens’ formative years were immersed in every type of music from the Grand Ole Opry and Gospel to Jazz, Classical, Soul, and Rock and Roll. Scott began playing the organ at the age of five as he mimicked what he heard his Grandfather playing on the Hammond. Before his feet could reach the pedals he was also playing the piano, delving into classical music, boogie-woogie, and improvisation. During his teenage years he attended the award winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts while also studying classical piano with Mary Lou Krosnick and composition with Dr. William Schirmer of Jacksonville University. By his senior year in high school Giddens had decided to focus his efforts on the jazz idiom and was accepted into the University of North Florida’s acclaimed Jazz Studies Program. During his college years Scott was afforded the opportunity to play with some of the greatest musicians of our time including the Brecker Brothers, Joe Lovano, Russell Malone, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, and Nicholas Payton. While attending UNF Scott received many awards and accolades for his playing and contributions to various ensembles including recognition from Down Beat magazine as a member of the combo voted best small group two years in a row. Since earning his undergraduate degree Scott has been heard backing such jazz luminaries as Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ira Sullivan, Bunky Green, Vincent Herring, Andreas Oberg, Nathan Page, John Pizzarelli, Linda Hopkins and Diane Schuur. He has played in venues all over the United States as well as Russia, Australia, Amsterdam, and France. He has been featured in many festivals including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mobile Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Cocoa Beach Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival, in The Hague, Netherlands. In 2001 Scott took a full time position as instrumental director at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville Florida and is presently serving as the head of the music department. Scott maintains a busy performance schedule and can be seen touring all over the South Eastern United Sates with his own trio, whether it be on organ or piano, as well as backing many others in a variety of settings. His newest release, Expectations, is a tour de force organ trio recording steeped in the history of the instrument and, it features long time band mates James Hogan on guitar and Justin Varnes on drums.

Scott currently resides in Orange Park Florida with his wife Cathy and will be pursuing his Masters Degree at Boston University

Gear

Mid sixties Hammond C3 running through a 145 Leslie w/Hamptone EQ and a Fisher Spring Reverb Unit.