Cecil Scott was an American
jazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and bandleader.
Scott played as a teenager with his brother, drummer
Lloyd ScottLloyd Scott was an American jazz drummer and bandleader.In the 1920s Lloyd and his brother Cecil Scott co-led an ensemble which initially played locally in Ohio, then moved on to play in Pittsburgh and then Harlem...
. They played together as co-leaders through the end of the 1920s, holding residencies in Ohio, Pittsburgh, and in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the
Savoy BallroomThe Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....
. Among the members of this ensemble were
Dicky WellsWilliam Wells, , more famous under the name of Dicky Wells , was an American jazz trombonist....
, Frankie Newton,
Bill ColemanWilliam Johnson Coleman was a jazz trumpeter from the swing era.He had his musical debut in 1927. Coleman's first recordings were with the Luis Russell orchestra, but all solos on record went to the rising star Henry "Red" Allen. This led to Bill Coleman's departure from the band. By 1935 he...
,
Roy EldridgeRoy David Eldridge , nicknamed "Little Jazz" was an American jazz trumpet player. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos and his strong influence on Dizzy Gillespie mark him as one of the most exciting musicians of the swing era and a...
,
Johnny HodgesJohn Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
, and Chu Berry. Cecil took full control over the group in 1929, though Lloyd continued to manage the group.
Scott was hurt badly in an accident in the early 1930s, and his career was temporarily sidelined. After his recovery he played with Ellsworth Reynolds in 1932-33 and then with
Teddy HillTeddy Hill was a big band leader and the manager of Minton's Playhouse, a seminal jazz club in Harlem...
(from 1936), Clarence Williams, and
Teddy WilsonTheodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson was an American jazz pianist whose sophisticated and elegant style was featured on the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.-Biography:Wilson was born in Austin, Texas in...
(1936-37); in the latter gig he accompanied
Billie HolidayBillie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
. In the early 1940s he played with
Alberto SocarrasAlberto Socarrás Estacio, , was a Cuban-American flautist who played both Cuban music and jazz....
,
Red AllenHenry James "Red" Allen was a jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose style has been claimed to be the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong.-Life and career:...
, Willie "The Lion" Smith before assembling his own band in 1942, which at times included Hot Lips Page and
Art HodesArthur W. Hodes , known professionally as Art Hodes, was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:...
. He also played with
Slim GaillardBulee "Slim" Gaillard was an American jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, noted for his vocalese singing and word play in a language he called "Vout"...
later in the 1940s.
In 1950 he disbanded the group, and worked with
Jimmy McPartlandJames Dugald McPartland , better known as Jimmy McPartland, was an American cornetist and one of the originators of Chicago Jazz...
as a sideman. He occasionally led groups and continued to play as a sideman up until the time of his death in 1964. He is credited on some 75 albums.