Scott Hesse grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, where he began playing the guitar at age fourteen. After graduating from high school in 1989, Scott attended Eastern Illinois University. There he studied for three years with New Orleans piano legend Henry Butler. In 1994, Scott moved to New York City to attend Manhattan School of Music where he continued his music education with renowned guitarist/recording artist, Rodney Jones.
During the better part of 10 years spent living in New York, Scott performed at many of the city’s top jazz venues including Visione’s, Sweet Basil, Small’s, Smoke, Augie’s, Cleopatra’s Needle, and in Central Park. He also shared the stage with many jazz artists including Pete Yellin, Benny Powell, Harold Mabern, Dennis Mackrel, Mark Egan, Akira Tana, Grady Tate, Brad Mehldau, Ira Coleman, Mark Turner, Myron Walden, Stefon Harris, Regina Carter, Cameron Brown, Judi Silvano, Andy Bey, Phillip Harper, Teodross Avery, and David Amram.
Scott moved to Chicago in late 2004 and is now active in the city’s vibrant jazz scene. As a member of drummer Isaiah Spencer’s Quartet, Scott plays regularly at Fred Anderson’s legendary club, The Velvet Lounge. He has also played at Chicago’s top jazz spots including The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy’s, Hothouse, Katerina’s, The Cultural Center, and The Chicago Jazz Festival. Other collaborations in Chicago have included performances with Fred Anderson, Ari Brown, Greg Ward, Vincent Davis, Edward Wilkerson, Malachi Thompson, Harrison Bankhead, Tatsu Aoki, and John Goldman among others.
Scott holds a BA in jazz studies from Empire State College in New York and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Composition from DePaul University in Chicago.
To learn more, visit www.scotthesse.org.
