My name is Jools, I have a lovely little studio where I record with a Bluthner piano, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer EP & Juno 6 Synth. Had my 70 min orchestral piece played in St. Paul's Cathedral. I've composed for 30 years, can write & record keys, string or brass parts for your tracks. Add that special something.. the magic touch to finish your song.
I've composed for 30 years. Written film scores for the BFI and Aardman. Had my orchestral and choral music performed by some of the world's top choirs and orchestras in venues including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall.
As a performer, I've performed and recorded with top artists including Mike Mills (REM) and Yola, in world class venues and recording studios, such as Koko, Real World , Air London and Metropolis.. to name but a few.
What I can offer you as an artist is the opportunity to have someone who really understands what you're trying to do give their time, thoughts and feelings, and reaction to your incredible music. I always believe that the song is king.. and want to write / record parts that will emphasise the meaning, rather than be fancy, or overly cerebral.
I have a studio which I can access daily, and can guarantee a quick turnaround for your project.
I will happily write string or brass parts for your tracks and arrange players to record them (at additional cost).
Or write a full score for your film/production.
Or add heartfelt and masterfully played piano/organ/wurly/synth to your song and give it that little extra shimmer of gold.
Get in touch with your project! I can't wait to hear from you.
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
Credits
Interview with Jools Scott
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Back in 2014 I completed The Cool Web, an oratorio based on the war poems of a young Robert Graves. It is 80 minutes long and took 18 months to compose, and it was a huge emotional journey. The piece features solo baritone, choir and orchestra. It has had 3 performances in the UK, and has completely changed my life.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm currently working on a commission for an anthem for a world-class choir. I am also recording piano for an EP by my very talented friend Ali George.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a choir boy aged 8 (30 years ago) and have not been separated from the piano since. It is my life. I've been lucky enough to work with some great musicians and work on some amazing projects. I've also written major classical works and had them performed by world-class ensembles such as the Flanders Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Classical, or classic perhaps, but with inspirations cross-referenced from the last 60 years of pop music.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to work with Jon Brion. He is a world away from John Williams in terms of his film composing style but his music somehow hits the spot in the films he has scored, and has been a big inspiration since I first heard his work on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Make sure you keep your first takes, and record your practise runs because sometimes the best ideas and performances come out first.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I often record piano for artists in the singer/songwriter genre, but am equally comfortable playing folk, soul and most popular genres.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is playing the right combination of notes in the right order, combining with your music in a natural way. I pride myself in writing lines that feel familiar and inevitable but with some lovely little surprises in there as well.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring contextual understanding to the meaning of the song by taking in and digesting the lyrics and feeling of the song. I bring years of musicality and instinct, and most importantly taste.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Typically, I put tracks I'm working on into my Dropbox and then save them to my iPhone so I can spend a little time living with them before I play a note. Quite often the musical ideas will arrive during this process and I will have a clear idea of what I'm going to do before a single finger has touched the piano (or keys).
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio setup includes a lovely Bluthner upright with a mellow but very clear tone. It fits perfectly into recordings. I also own a Hammond M102 Organ, a Wurlitzer A200, Fender Rhodes and Juno 6, so I can add my magic to your music with many classic key tones. Acoustically, I record with an AEA R84 ribbon mic combined with Oktava ML19 and Toshiba/RCA ribbons. These go through Seventh Circle Audio C84 preamps, or A12 API clones, into a Lucid 88192 convertor.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Gani Tamir, an incredible vocalist.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I love John Williams the film composer. Chorally, Eric Whitacre. Piano-wise I am particularly enjoying Max Richter's Blue Notebooks at the moment. I have played Bach to the Beatles and Joni Mitchell to Tom Odell in bars and restaurants over the years and have been inspired by all the songsmiths I've discovered over this colourful journey.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: People really love my piano on their recordings. One of my strongest skills is listening to the song (lyrics / feel) and understanding the context. e.g. a song about time or waiting might have a repetitive piano note indicating time passing. I also write a lot of choral pieces for commission. I love choirs (and quite similarly string sections too) and have found a unique and powerful way of writing for them.
- PianoAverage price - $150 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $100 per song
- String ArrangerAverage price - $250 per song
- Songwriter - MusicContact for pricing
- AccordionAverage price - $70 per song
- Film ComposerAverage price - $100 per minute
- Composer OrchestralAverage price - $250 per song
My working philosophy is to work with the essence of the song, not against it. I will make 2 revisions stages for set fee. Typical turnaround 2 days. I require writing credits for any song-writing.
- Johnny Flynn
- Ludovico Einaudi
- Ed Sheeran
- Upright Bluthner Piano
- Wurlitzer 200
- Hammon M102
- Juno 6
- Alpha Juno 1
- Yamaha DX7
- Millenium
- API & Neve Preamps
- Ribbon mics
- Calrec mics
- Heil mics
- Lucid converters
- Composition features in concert at St. Paul's CathedralDec 14, 2019
In November 2018, my 70 minute piece The Cool Web was the central piece in Flanders Remembers at St. Paul's Cathedral. The concert was conducted by the incredible Dirk Brosse, with Flanders Symphony Orchestra and the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir.
