If I have a jazz gig, a piano trio or quartet, some of my favorite bass players to call are Andrew Simmons, Chuck Kisler, Ev Stern, Doug Miller, Larry Halloway, Jeff Cook, Tom Anastasio, Jeff Johnson, and I'm sure I've forgotten a few.
For drums, first on the list are guys like D'vonne Lewis, Scott Mercado, Grant Wilson, Jeremy Jones, Cary Stevens, Mike Bajuk, Jud Sherwood, and all those others.
Sometimes I get calls for quartets or larger groups and the first guy I call is my brother Travis Ranney who is well known in the musician world as being one of the top sax guys around. If he can't make it there are a handful of other people I'd call, but this rarely happens because I usually can sell the trio gig. Who needs a horn when a trio can give you more?
Influences
Walking down a sunset boardwalk with a beer in one hand and a bottle of mezcal in the other.
A little it of this, a little bit of that, don't eat too much or you'll be a big, fat, cat.
Sounds Like
Well, if I'm playing jazz piano, it sounds like me playing jazz piano. If I'm playing Mozart piano, it sounds like me playing Mozart piano. Same with funk, reggae, and everything else piano.
I guess it just sounds like me playing music.
Music for me is based on rhythm first, melody second, harmony third. More music can come out of one note being played rhythmically than can come out of a symphony orchestra losing time. A lonely melody (Rite of Spring, anyone?) can be the most poignant voice in a piece of music, yet played in a haphazard way, rhythmically, it would lose everything. As will a good harmony. If the melody isn't played with harmony in mind, whether you're reading music or improvising, then both rhythm and melody might be wasted.
Success is through finding balance, not only in music, but in everything.
I look at the piano like a chromatic percussion instrument, but one that is sensitive enough to evoke any emotion so that something soft and sweet is just as powerful as a ten minute double time reggae funk jam with a band.
I play solo piano and put together groups for any kind of event from Vancouver, B.C. down to Portland, Oregon. Go to http://www.scotranney.com for more information or to contact me about availability.
I'm a pizza fanatic, it's almost a religion, definitely a way of life. I'm all about the simple pleasures. Pizza in the morning.
Sometimes you just have to take a dandelion break. In the meadow or in a crack of a sidewalk, sometimes that's just what you have to do.
We sought it with thimbles, we sought it with care;
We pursued it with forks and hope;
We threatened it's life with a railroad share;
We charmed it with smiles and soap.
I don't really like poetry, unless it's kind of dirty and has clever rhymes, those kind are almost always fun.
"But what really worried me was the ether. There is nothing in this world more helpless and irresponsible... and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge. And I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff pretty soon. Probably at the next gas station."
In addition to all those things that keep my tendrils of curiosity waving crazily like a giant worm covered Medusa head, I enjoy music, playing it, writing it, listening to it.
I'm pretty sure music is a verb.
I play music for all kinds of reasons and enjoy solo piano as much as playing with a group. The music is fun and full of life, with just as many unanswered questions and unplanned adventures.
Thanks for being a friend! Do you know about the Electric Ball in London on Wednesday November 18? JEFFERSON STARSHIP + QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE + TOM CONSTANTEN (original Grateful Dead pianist) + more! Please try and make it. It’ll be a ball! Details and tickets from: http://www.rhythmgigs.com
Thanks for the add Scot Ranney, I love your music btw! If you get a chance, please take a listen to our first New Age release "Instrumental Piano Music" by Solo Piano Relaxing Music. We'd love to know what you think of it! WE have free downloads at our labels site for you to download. http://www.sanfrescorecords.com/SR/New_Age_Music.html Click Free New Age Music to visit our New Age Music page Regards LR
Hello Scott! Hope you can join us September 17th at the Wild Buffalo if you'll be around... Snug Harbor will be releasing their debut funk album, "Sounds from the York" ! Thanks for all the support this past year =)
Snug Harbor w/very special guests Three on a Tree Thursday, September 17, 2009 @ the Wild Buffalo Downtown Bellingham, WA 9pm $5 or $13 w/ a CD 21+
love, funk, and groove.
have a wonderful week and please spread the word about the show! We'd love to see your smilling face there... New music from the album is up now for your listening pleasure on our myspace media player page.
myspace.com/snugharbormusic support local music
now accepting pre-sale for album, contact us for more info!
Howdy Scot! Cool stuff! Thanks for reaching out to B.O.T. and sending us a friend request...hope all's well! Here's some more Big Organ Trio stuff below if you're interested:
Note that Big Organ Trio has a new studio album set for release in 2009!
Also, you can visit the B.O.T. MySpace profile to hear free music samples. CD tracks can be downloaded through links there, and the full hardcopy CD is available via mail from www.CDBaby.com/bigorgantrio
You can also sign up for the B.O.T. mailing list, watch live concert footage, and all sorts of other cool stuff. Love to have you come check it out!
great to meet and HEAR you Scott I like your vibe here, also, pizza for me too is the most delicious food on earth, and please tell me the definition of a DANDELION BREAK only because I think I need one but not sure what to do elizabeth x
Great Tracks & PianoTouch Here ! I Love ! Thank you for have answered to my invitation. Welcome in my « FriendshipSpace ». it’s a Pleasure to have you among my Friends. All the Best Stay in touch
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