scott chasolen
Ringwood, New Jersey, United States
Music
Press
"Keyboardist Scott Chasolen is a standout who commands an impressive repertoire of evocative synth voices, in addition to having the ability to get funky on Rhodes, organ, and clavinet."
- Jazz Times Magazine
"Charasmastic keyboardist shines on this solo release! Scott showcases his vocals and songwriting on this album. There's a Ben Folds-like
bounce to a lot of the tracks, which percolate with piano-driven, jazzy rhythms and somber melodies. A different side of this talented musician!"
- Home Grown Music Network
This album has the ability to make you want to make love and to cry. It reaches into a soul with the utter most honesty and clarity. Like a beam of sun light that pears through the window, 'the warm spot'. This is the cd thats always on top of rotation in my car. From "You Knew You Would" to "Harmony", you get to indugle into purity, truth, and one of the most beautiful records of the decade. It's a must have!!! Scott Chasolen is someone you should get to know better...
- CD Baby
The talented Scott Chasolen trades in piano-driven jazz-tinged pop; or, what Ben Folds learned from Todd Rundgren’s ’70s output.
- Starpolish
Clear, crisp vocals and piano playing that varies in style from jazz to almost classical best define Scott Chasolen’s “Solitude Speaks.” But just when you think you have Chasolen’s album figured out, he goes and adds a moog synthesizer – did not expect that, did you? Oscillating little from his original starting point, “Solitude Speaks” stays focused and presents eleven straightforward, likable songs.
Opening with the light and up beat “On and On,” Chasolen sets the pace for the album: a mix of jazzy and poppy instrumentation with introspective and thoughtful lyrics. “You Knew You Would,” which includes one of the album’s several well done piano passages, has a strong chorus set in a flowing structure that seems to have a free form feel to it. “Am I following your footsteps/Or are your footsteps following me?/I turn around to look/But there’s nothing to see,” Chasolen sings those memorable words on the slow and careful “Footsteps.” Introducing some new elements, specifically the addition of some electronic sounds, “Back Again” offers a nice change of pace while remaining smooth and serene, a theme “Just the Same” continues.
“The Lift,” a melodically driven song with an up beat tone, uses blending vocals reminiscent of Sean Lennon’s “Into the Sun” album. Chasolen changes things up with “Things Between” with well executed jazz focused instrumentation highlighted by his own piano playing and light percussion while “A Line Through Time” is more of an easy listening instrumental. Using piano and light percussion again on the understated “So Many Roads” as the album’s final and title track, “Solitude Speaks,” is a quiet piano and vocals ballad.
Chasolen provides several variations of his principal sound on “Solitude Speaks,” blending a variety of sounds, instruments and genres to create a smooth and soft album that still has the ability to get loud when it needs to. Thoughtful and positive lyrics make up many of the songs but it is Chasolen’s clean sound with both his vocals and piano playing that tend to stand out. - Plug In Music.com
Discography
ulu (1998)
Scott Chasolen - Pawns of the Game (1999)
ulu - Live at the Wetlands (2000)
ulu - What's the Deal (2002)
Scott Chasolen - Solitude Speaks (2003)
ulu - Nerve (2003)
Scott Chasolen/Katy Pfaffl Duo - Woven (2005)
Scott Chasolen - Magnify (2007)
Photos
Bio
Scott Chasolen was raised in Wayne, NJ and accidentally began playing the piano by ear at twelve years old. By the time he was 16 he was already performing in clubs in New York City and studying jazz. With a passion for improvising and composition, he later attended New School University in Manhattan while maintaining a hectic lifestyle of creating, touring and recording with the successful instrumental group ulu.
For 7 years he traveled the countryside from Maine to Texas and every point in-between, clearly marking his own place within the jam circuit, not to mention developing a stage presence that can reach the nosebleed seats in a small stadium! The use of vintage keyboards such as the Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, Hohner clavinet and Moog synthesizer have helped to shape his distinctive sound live and on all four ulu albums. Along the way Scott has shared the stage with John Scofield, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Soulive, Mickey Hart and De La Soul to name a few.
Scott has also honed a fine craft of songwriting, using an interesting blend of folk, rock and jazz elements along with introspective lyrics and his own heartfelt vocals. He reveals these abilities on his debut album, "Solitude Speaks" (2003). Further exploration continues on a collaboration with Katy Pfaffl titled “Woven” (2005). On his latest effort, “Magnify”, Scott was joined by engineer/producer Rob Harari, along with a cast of many players including Carlos Alomar on guitar. "Magnify" was released in March of 2007.
The Scott Chasolen Trio can be heard playing music from all of the mentioned recordings in and around New York City at the Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall and the Knitting Factory.
Along the way, in addition to touring and pursuing his own original music, Scott has performed and recorded with countless acts in the New York City area including The Machine, Stratospheerius, Illuminati, Katy Pfaffl Band, The Chesterfields, Topaz, Zen Tricksters, Robert Matarazzo, Suit of Lights, Michelle Citrin, Splintered Sunlight, Liam Goodwin and the Ramble, Waves of Life, Chris Berry and Panjea, Funk Monk, Tiberius, Alex Mitnick and the Kaleidescope Band and many small jazz ensembles...
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