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Reviewed by John Barron, "All About Jazz"

Los Angeles-based trumpeter Scott Steen has made a name for himself as a long-time member of the popular swing band, Royal Crown Revue, and as a featured soloist for vocalist Bette Midler. On Playing Favorites, Steen, taking the reigns as leader, pays tribute to his musical heroes with a swinging set of standards and hard pop classics.

Steen reminds listeners of the controlled, yet tremendous power of Freddie Hubbard on Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” and “One Finger Snap.” The trumpeter displays a strong, focused tone with accurate well-phrased lines.

Something of a musical chameleon, Steen shifts with ease from the hard-edged echoes of Hubbard to the contemplative lyricism used to pay homage to Miles Davis. With his muted weaving on “I Could Write a Book,” patient melodic development on “Blue in Green” and fiery aggression on “Pharaoh Stance,” Steen proves himself a skillful interpreter of the various stages of Davis’ career.

Steen’s highly competent sidemen are eager to assist in the disc’s classic jazz re-creations. Alto saxophonist Jim Jedeikin, tenor saxophonist Mando Dorame and pianist Ken Charlson are all strong soloists with adept knowledge of the hard bop language. Bassist David Miller is rock solid throughout and drummer Daniel Glass is both supportive and electrifying.

Playing Favorites is a well-conceived collection of straight-ahead gems featuring heartfelt performances. Steen reveals himself as a dynamic trumpeter able to look forward while staying indebted to the past.

BIO

I've been a member of the Los Angeles based swing band Royal Crown Revue (RCR) for over 13 years. The band is most noted for pioneering the swing revival and appearing in "The Mask". During 2003, 2004 and 2005 I was the featured soloist on Bette Midler's "Kiss My Brass"tour. It was the number 5 top grossing tour in the world. Some of the band members included Sonny Emory, Taku Hirano, Lenny Castro, Jon Herrington, Mike Miller, and Sam Sims. Other artists I have shared the stage with include Mark Whitfiled, Steve Grossman, Teo Ciavarella, Phil Upchurch, Sherman Ferguson, and many more.

I have been fortunate enough to have performed and headlined with RCR at the Hollywood Bowl with the HB Orchestra, many rock and jazz festivals including Playboy, JVC New York, Newport Jazz, Roskilde, Peer, East Coast Blues & Roots, Big Day Out, Livid, and many more. I've had the pleasure of performing with Kiss, The B-52s, The Pretenders, sharing the stage with Brian Setzer, Solomon Burke, Gene Simmons, Stewart Copeland, Reba McEntire, Stephen Stills, Johnny Depp, The Pussycat Dolls, and more.

I've been featured on over 17 albums with RCR and many other artists. Even though Jazz is my passion, I have found great enjoyment in performing many diverse genres of music from classical to latin, experimental to R&B. I've performed in The Mask, Swingers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and Ellen DeGeneres to name a few.

Last year, Big Fish Audio released a sample library entitled "First Call Horns", now one of their hottest sellers, on which I recorded 900 note samples using 3 different mutes and various tounging effects.

As a strong advocate for music in education, I have appeared and been interviewed on many news shows including CNN, ABC World News Tonight, and NPR's All Things Considered, where I recorded a version of that show's theme. Over the last decade I have toured the world, performed with artists that I grew up admiring, and most importantly, taught and helped nurture the talents of young performers. That is a reward in itself.

I perform on a large bore Yamaha Xeno with a Monette BL5 or Holton Heim 1 "Miles Davis copy" mouthpiece and a Bach Flugelhorn with a fl5.

BIO ITALIANO: Scott Steen è da oltre tredieci anni il trombettista della Royal Crown Revue, la band di Los Angeles nota per essere stata allavanguardia del revival dello swing e vista in "La Mascara" can Jim Carrey. Oltre ad avere partecipato ad innumerevoli jazz festival in tutto il mondotra i quali il Playboy Jazz Festival, il JVC New York Jazz Festival, il Newport Jazz Festival. Scott ha inciso 17 dischi con i Royal Crown Revue e molti altri artisti come Brian Setzer, Solomon Burke, Stewart Copeland, Reba McEntire, e Stephen Stills . E stato trombettista della leggendaria cantante e attrice statunitense Bette Midler nel suo tour 2003-2005. E apparso in vari film e show televisivi americani tra i quali The Mask, Swingers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Ellen DeGeneres, e tanti altri. Oltre alla sua attività dal vivo, Scott si impegna attivamente per promuovere la musica nelleducazione scolastica ed in virtù di questo è apparso in vari programmi TV di approfondimento quali CNN, ABC World News Tonight, and NPR's All Things Considered. In questultimo decennio è stato in tour in tutto il mondo, ha suonato con molti degli artisti che ammirava in gioventù, e soprattutto ha insegnato prodigandosi per nutrire il talento di giovani musicisti.