Biography
Kendrick Scott was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in a family of musicians. By age 8 he had taken up the drums and he later attended Houston’s renowned High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a school which has produced an impressive array of musical talent including Scott’s label mates Jason Moran and Robert Glasper, as well pop star Beyoncé and many others. While still attending HSPVA, Scott won several DownBeat Magazine student awards, as well as the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Award from the International Association of Jazz Educators. He was later awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where he majored in music education.
Scott has toured with Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, The Crusaders, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kurt Elling, and Terence Blanchard, also appearing on several of the trumpeter’s Blue Note albums including Flow (2005), A Tale Of God’s Will (2007), and Magnetic (2013). Scott’s first two releases on Blue Note as a leader presented his band Kendrick Scott Oracle: We Are The Drum (2015) and A Wall Becomes A Bridge (2019). Scott was also a member of the Blue Note All-Stars, a supergroup formed for the label’s 75th Anniversary featuring Ambrose Akinmusire, Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Lionel Loueke and Marcus Strickland who released the album Our Point Of View in 2017. Scott’s 2023 Blue Note album Corridors finds him paring down to a trio with saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Reuben Rogers.
Releases
Motion I - Out Of/Into
Corridors - Kendrick Scott
A Wall Becomes A Bridge - Kendrick Scott
Our Point Of View - Blue Note All-Stars
We Are The Drum - Kendrick Scott
Videos
Kendrick Scott “First Look” with Don Was
Kendrick Scott “Threshold”
Kendrick Scott “One Door Closes, Another Opens”
Kendrick Scott “What Day Is It?”
Blue Note x G-SHOCK: Kendrick Scott
BLUE NOTE ALL-STARS “CYCLING THROUGH REALITY”
Blue Note Records 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View
SPOTLIGHT
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OUT OF/INTO “MOTION I”
By Evan Haga The history of Blue Note Records — jazz’s preeminent record label, and one of the most storied imprints in all of music — is defined by a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. From the advent of hard bop to the label’s knack for elevating the greatest young talent in jazz, the Blue Note story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT “CORRIDORS”
Drummer and composer Kendrick Scott presents Corridors, his first compositional treatment of trio context — saxophone, bass and drums — and third album for Blue Note Records. The anticipated follow-up to A Wall Becomes A Bridge, Scott’s much-lauded 2019 release with his band Oracle, Corridors unveils an exposed rumination from the Houston-born artist and his acclaimed collaborators:... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT ORACLE “A WALL BECOMES A BRIDGE”
Drummer and composer Kendrick Scott kicked off his Blue Note contract four years ago with We Are the Drum. Expertly produced by Derrick Hodge, Scott’s creative confidant and musical brother, and featuring a stunning guest performance by vocalist Lizz Wright, it earned rave reviews and reiterated how Oracle, Scott’s long-running working group, is one of the most thoughtfully powerful jazz... read more
BLUE NOTE ALL-STARS POINT FORWARD ON “OUR POINT OF VIEW”
Jazz as an art form is a lifelong work in progress. While in some camps the music of past masters represents the genre’s heralded Golden Age, others disagree, noting that there are artists in the present day with fresh original voices and their own point of view who are forging ahead with their imaginative visions for where the music is excitedly heading. Certainly steeped in the tradition,... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT ORACLE “WE ARE THE DRUM”
“Kendrick Scott has become the Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams of his generation,” says the renowned trumpeter and bandleader Terence Blanchard of his longtime drummer who makes his own Blue Note debut with the release of a remarkable new album, We Are The Drum. “He’s a brilliant mind bringing innovation to the music at the same time as creating a safe place for young talent to... read more
News
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OUT OF/INTO RELEASE NEW SINGLE “GABALDON’S GLIDE”
The Blue Note Records story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its future, a seamless blend of tradition and innovation, and a mission to elevate the greatest young talent in jazz. Out Of/Into, the all-star collective that began its life earlier this year as the Blue Note... read more
ANNOUNCING “MOTION I” BY OUT OF/INTO FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON, JOEL ROSS, IMMANUEL WILKINS, KENDRICK SCOTT & MATT BREWER
The history of Blue Note Records is defined by a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. From the advent of hard bop to the label’s knack for elevating the greatest young talent in jazz, the Blue Note story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its future. Out Of/Into, the... read more
THE BLUE NOTE QUINTET TO EMBARK ON 2024 TOUR IN CELEBRATION OF BLUE NOTE’S 85th ANNIVERSARY
The Blue Note Quintet—an all-star collective comprised of Blue Note recording artists pianist and musical director Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, and drummer Kendrick Scott, as well as bassist Matt Brewer—will embark on an extensive North American tour next month in... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT RETURNS WITH MARCH 3 RELEASE OF “CORRIDORS” FEATURING WALTER SMITH III & REUBEN ROGERS
Drummer and composer Kendrick Scott returns with the March 3 release of Corridors, his third album for Blue Note and first compositional treatment of trio context: saxophone, bass, and drums. The follow-up to A Wall Becomes A Bridge, Scott’s much-lauded 2019 release with his band Oracle, Corridors unveils an exposed... read more
“BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES” GETS SEPT. 6 DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASE + MORE U.S. THEATRICAL OPENINGS
Following acclaimed theatrical runs in New York and Los Angeles, Mira Film and Eagle Vision have announced a September 6th DVD, Blu-ray, and digital release for the award-winning documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes – directed by Sophie Huber. The feature documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival... read more
“BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES” SET FOR THEATRICAL OPENINGS IN NY (6/14) & LA (6/28)
Mira Film and Eagle Rock Entertainment have announced the start of the US theatrical rollout for the award-winning documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes – directed by Sophie Huber. The feature documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018, has played at over 50 international film festivals,... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT ORACLE ANNOUNCES TOUR DATES & RELEASES NEW SINGLE “>>>>>>>>>VOICES”
Kendrick Scott Oracle returns April 5 with the release of A Wall Becomes A Bridge, an inspiring new 12-song cycle about overcoming obstacles both personal and collective. The album was produced by Derrick Hodge, and find’s the drummer and composer augmenting his long-running quintet with the addition of... read more
KENDRICK SCOTT ORACLE TO RELEASE INSPIRING NEW ALBUM “A WALL BECOMES A BRIDGE” OUT APRIL 5
Kendrick Scott Oracle returns April 5 with the release of A Wall Becomes A Bridge, an inspiring new 12-song cycle about overcoming obstacles both personal and collective. The album was produced by Derrick Hodge, and find’s Scott augmenting his long-running quintet with the addition of turntablist Jahi Sundance who... read more
CASIO G-SHOCK UNVEILS LIMITED-EDITION BLUE NOTE G-STEEL WATCH
Casio G-SHOCK has unveiled a limited-edition men’s watch made in collaboration with the legendary Jazz label, Blue Note Records. Created to honor Blue Note’s 80th Anniversary, the latest model is an updated take on G-SHOCK’s popular G-STEEL line of men’s high-end timepieces and arrives in a sleek black... read more
PRESENTING BLUE NOTE REVIEW: VOLUME TWO – SPIRIT & TIME
Blue Note Records presents Blue Note Review: Volume Two – Spirit & Time, the second edition of our vinyl boxset subscription series, which once again was curated by Blue Note President Don Was, and beautifully encapsulates the continuum of the legendary jazz label’s storied past and auspicious future.... read more
