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Scott Routenberg Trio

Routenberg, Scott  ©2018 Mark Sheldon-5959 (1).jpg

ABOUT THE SCOTT ROUTENBERG TRIO 



 

The Scott Routenberg Trio is an Indianapolis-based jazz piano trio specializing in Routenberg's award-winning compositions, Brazilian jazz, and fresh interpretations of the standard repertoire. The dynamic, intense and critically-acclaimed trio has been lauded as "an example of moving forward in jazz music" (Chamber Music America), with Routenberg hailed as a "rising-star jazz pianist...who has found his own voice in the modern mainstream" and a "superior modern jazz pianist offering an individualistic take on the classic piano trio" (JAZZIZ).  The trio's debut album 
Every End Is A Beginning, released on Grammy-winning label Summit Records in 2017, reached #65 on the JazzWeek radio chart, #33 on the Roots Music Report Top 50 Jazz Albums, and was named Jazz Album of the Week by soulandjazz.com.  The Creative Source's Dr. Brad Stone calls the album "an early candidate for jazz record of the year." September 7, 2018 the Scott Routenberg Trio released their second studio album on Summit Records, Supermoon, which features 10 new original compositions by Routenberg inspired by his young children.  Supermoon received critical praise as "a work of unified expression from a charismatic trio...with substantial moments of gratification" (Jazz Trail).  Jazz Weekly describes the album as "a decalogue of Routenberg's compositions...rich in lyricism," declaring that "the modern jazz piano trio is alive and well."  SUPERMOON received wide airplay on dozens of jazz stations nationwide and abroad, including Jazz on PRI's "Jazz After Hours," the Jazz Network (Chicago) and The Creative Source.

 

"The trio often seems to think as one, sounding quite tight but also spontaneous..." (Scott Yanow, Jazz Journalist/Historian, on Supermoon). The trio has performed across the United States and in Canada at such festivals and venues as Indy Jazz Fest 2015-2018, Elkhart Jazz Festival 2018, the International Trombone Festival (2019 house band), The Green Mill (Chicago) with multiple Grammy-winner Howard Levy, The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis), The Velvet Note (Atlanta), Rudy's Jazz Room (Nashville), The Home Smith Bar at the Old Mill (Toronto), The Palladium (Carmel, IN), the Chatterbox (Indy), has opened for legendary jazz guitarist John Scofield, and backed MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón.   

 

THE BAND

 

As jazz educators, Scott Routenberg and Cassius Goens III serve on the Jazz Faculty of Ball State University's School of Music, where Dr. Routenberg is currently Associate Professor of Jazz Piano. Nick Tucker is house bassist for the American Pianists Association Jazz Piano Competition, and Cassius Goens III is a Sakae Drums Regional Artist. 

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SCOTT ROUTENBERG                                             NICK TUCKER                                                          CASSIUS GOENS III

PIANO                                                                        BASS                                                                         DRUMS

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Scott Routenberg Trio (copyright Mark Sheldon 2016).jpg

Every End is a Beginning (2017)
 

Every End is a Beginning is the Scott Routenberg Trio's debut album, featuring Routenberg's original compositions alongside a cover of Björk's Joga. The trio navigates intimate, dynamic and expansive sonic landscapes in this musical celebration of nature and life.  The title track is a quote from American Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 

"Routenberg has found his own voice in the modern mainstream."
-JAZZIZ (Scott Yanow, from "Keys to the Kingdom")

 

"Early candidate for Jazz Record of the Year in my book."
-Dr. Brad Stone, Host of THE CREATIVE SOURCE

"This trio is on the money.  Effortless and in command of the music."
-Karen Hildebrand, WRUV, Burlington, Vermont

"Embrace is just about perfect as a representation of ballad playing for piano trio."
-Jay Harvey, JAY HARVEY UPSTAGE

#65 JazzWeek Radio Chart
#33 Roots Music Report

Jazz Album of the Week at soulandjazz.com 
 

Supermoon (2018)
 

Supermoon is the Scott Routenberg Trio's second studio album on Grammy-winning label Summit Records.  It features 10 original compositions by Routenberg all inspired by his young children.

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"The modern jazz piano trio is alive and well...a decalogue of compositions...rich in lyricism."

-George W. Harris, JAZZ WEEKLY

 

"A work of unified expression from a charismatic trio...with substantial moments of gratification."   

—Filipe Freitas, JAZZ TRAIL

 

"The trio often seems to think as one, sounding quite tight but also spontaneous..."

—Scott Yanow, L.A. JAZZ SCENE

 

"All original material, nicely done."    

Tom Hull 

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Photography by Mark Sheldon.

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