Brian Scarborough

Meet the Band: Jeff Harshbarger, bass

Jeff Harshbarger has a presence that is felt the moment he walks in the door, and then he picks up the bass. I love the sound that Jeff gets from his century-old instrument, but the presence it has has become a part of this quintet's sound from the very beginning. Jeff has been playing with my small group since the very first gig I ever had as a bandleader, and has played nearly every piece of music I've ever written. Jeff is always there for the music and has been there to push me, my music, and this group forward for more than a decade. Unsurprisingly, Jeff is one of the busiest bass players in Kansas City; it thrills me to no end that he continues to contribute his artistry to this group.

Jeff Harshbarger is featured on my upcoming release, We Need The Wind, which drops on February 23, 2024. Pre-Order and Pre-Save the new release today! (Links Below)

About Jeff - Jeff is top-call bassist based in Kansas City. Equally at home on acoustic and electric bass, he has recorded and performed around the world with such varied groups as Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Bobby Watson, Curtis Fuller, Milt Abel, Tango Lorca, The People's Liberation Big Band, and Alaturka. Jeff has received numerous grants and awards, including The Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Fellowship, the Steans Institute Fellowship, the Creative Capital Foundation’s Professional Development Grant and the 2015 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award. Jeff can be seen performing in virtually every musical setting imaginable throughout the greater Kansas City area, and can be heard hosting Jazz in the Afternoon on KKFI 90.1 FM (streaming world-wide online) every Wednesday from 1 - 3 PM (CST).

Pre-Order: https://www.brianscarboroughmusic.com/store/pre-order-we-need-the-wind
Pre-Save: https://found.ee/Brian_Scarborough_We_Need_the_Wind_Album

📸: Newbegin Photography

Happy 100th Birthday to the one and only, J.J. Johnson!

One year ago today; attended an incredible matinee performance and then sight read the very same show that evening for a sold out, Saturday night performance at the Kansas City Music Hall. To think that I’ve played more than 20 shows in 4 different cities since then blows my mind. I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for these experiences and am so happy and proud to be small part of the HADESTOWN family!

Looking forward to hitting in Greeley tonight to celebrate the release of Andrew Janak’s new record, No Second Guessing!

477 Distilling - Greeley, CO. 7 - 10 pm; come on out!

Andrew Janak, tenor saxophone
Brian Scarborough, trombone
Gavin Allen-Dunn, organ
Bobby Wiens, drums

The single for my new release, "3E", drops next Friday, January 19th!

Pre-Save the Single: https://found.ee/scarborough_3e_single

Pre-Save the Album: https://found.ee/Brian_Scarborough_We_Need_the_Wind_Album

Pre-Order a Physical Copy: https://www.brianscarboroughmusic.com/store

Meet the Band: Matt Otto, tenor saxophone

Matt Otto is one of my favorite musicians in Kansas City and has been playing with my small group since 2013. As an improviser, Matt plays in a beautiful and organic manner; committed to each musical moment and exploring wherever the music naturally develops. From the first time we played together, I absolutely loved the way our sounds blended. This blend is always in my mind when I am writing and preparing music for the group and is in the DNA of pretty much all of the small group music I write. I am so grateful for Matt's work on this project; he is truly remarkable.

Matt Otto is featured on my upcoming release, We Need The Wind, which drops on February 23, 2024. Pre-Order and Pre-Save the new release today! (Links Below)

About Matt - After having spent time in New York, Los Angeles, and living abroad in Japan, Matt moved to Kansas City in 2009 and quickly became a fixture in the music community. In addition to his talents as a saxophonist, band-leader, improviser, and composer, Matt is a world-class educator. He has published a number of excellent resources and released several albums of play-along tracks that are incredibly useful and very fun to practice with. Matt currently serves as the Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.

Follow Matt on social media and YouTube at and on his website - www.mattotto.org

Pre-Order: https://www.brianscarboroughmusic.com/store/pre-order-we-need-the-wind
Pre-Save: https://found.ee/Brian_Scarborough_We_Need_the_Wind_Album

📸: Newbegin Photography

Proud to be entering my second year as a Harvest 365 Member at Harvesters - The Community Food Network! Additionally, I will be making a small donation to the local Feeding America affiliate for each of the places I travel to for performances this year. Music has given me so much and I'm excited to give back and take this commitment on the road!

I encourage you, if you are in a position to do so, to make a one-time or monthly donation to help fight food insecurity in our area.

https://www.harvesters.org/how-to-help/donate

The release date for my new album, We Need The Wind, is getting closer and closer! The full album will drop on February 23rd and I cannot wait for you all to hear it; I am really proud of how this one turned out.

Pre-Order your copy today and grab some tickets for the CD Release Show here in Kansas City (2/25 - 2 PM) on my website (link below)!

https://www.brianscarboroughmusic.com/store

📸: Newbegin Photography

As I sit here and look back at 2023, I am filled with gratitude. Grateful for the people in my life. Grateful for the opportunities that I’ve been given. Grateful for those that I’ve shared the stage with. Grateful for those that support and encourage me.

I experienced things this past year that I wouldn’t have even imagined possible last January. 2023 was one for the books.

I do not know what next year will bring, but I do know that I am ready to live and experience all that 2024 has to offer.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Got to spend some quality time with my Royer R-10 today!

Always an absolute honor and privilege to take the stage with the Kansas City Symphony; an incredible way to close out my performance calendar for the year!

I’ve had a great time learning Danny Elfman’s iconic score to The Nightmare Before Christmas! Looking forward to a wonderful week with the Kansas City Symphony, as we perform the music live in Helzberg Hall while the movie is shown above the orchestra.

December 21 - 24, 2023

Had a great time working the Tina Turner Musical at the KC Music Hall last week!

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical this week at the Kansas City Music Hall!

Really honored and grateful to be back onstage with a Broadway tour. Come on out, KC!

Finally got to Q39 over the weekend. The amount of truly incredible barbecue in this city almost isn’t fair.

Almost.

I had a great time recording some big band charts with the cats this morning! Always a great time throwing down with these incredible musicians, not to mention the fantastic arrangements by Matt Baldwin.

A wonderful way to start the weekend!

Having a great time preparing the music for the Tina Turner Musical! So much great music and so many iconic songs.

Kansas City Music Hall; December 5 - 10.

- A few of my original promo shots taken in November 2009 by the one and only Mintra Rose!

A little Sunday cookery…

1.) Andouille Hash with Pumpkin Log

2.) Alton Brown’s Lentil Soup

Had a great time playing and talking jazz, freelancing, and improvisation with the students at Truman State University today!

Remember to eat your vegetables.

Married 8 years. Together 15 years. I am the luckiest man on the planet.

Roger Wilder. Matt Otto. Bob Bowman. Arnie Young.

No additional words are necessary.

An incredible week at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and a truly unbelievable experience being on the road with HADESTOWN the last few weeks! It’s an honor and a gift to get the opportunity to bring this beautiful work to life. I am filled with gratitude and my heart is full.

A great week of audiences and performances in San Jose!

Next stop on the road to hell; Los Angeles.

Kühnl & Hoyer, meet Hadestown. Hadestown, meet Kühnl & Hoyer.

$1 = 2 Meals at Harvesters!

If you are in a position to do so, please consider a one-time or monthly donation to help fight food insecurity (link in bio).

Excited to be heading west to join the North American Tour of HADESTOWN for a run of shows in California!

Filled with gratitude and excited for the opportunity to play my horn and do what I love!

- My first performances with Hadestown on January 21 & 22, 2023!

The adventure continues tomorrow!

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Meat Mitch is next level.