About Scott

Baltimore City
Scott Patterson is a pianist, composer, lyricist and librettist of incomparable talent. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review describes Patterson’s playing as, “a masterly blend of virtuosity, singing style and beautiful voicing.” His blend of classical, soul and rock music is futuristic, emotive and luxuriant.
 
Since 2012 Patterson has toured with Camille A. Brown & Dancers. He is contributing composer of the Bessie Award winning Mr. TOL E. RAncE and Brown’s critically… more

Afro Punk Ballet

AFRO PUNK BALLET
An Afrofuturistic Opera-Ballet
Music, Libretto & Lyrics by Scott Patterson
Story by Scott Patterson, Eric T. Styles and Preston Andrew Patterson

Performed by Scott Patterson & Astronaut Symphony


DESCRIPTION
Afro Punk Ballet is an Afrofuturistic opera-ballet. Set years into the future, the story delves into the world of two sisters unable to agree on how to handle the catastrophic consequences of a decision made by their late father.
 
Levi, a brilliant military scientist with a unique spiritual knowledge of space and time creates a second sun. The unprecedented devastation of his sun brings the nation’s inhabitants near extinction. Levi’s unwillingness to face the realities of his creation, leaves his eldest daughter and successor, Corfaszia, to restore order to the land. Jakub, the younger of the two daughters, with a deep connection to the spirit world, is forced into exile.
 
Afro Punk Ballet is an exploration of the crossroads between African spirituality, mathematics, and physics, poetically weaving “time and space” within the movement and music. Inspired by the experience of spiritual possession in the black southern gospel tradition and similar experiences within the Afro Punk Movement, this piece utilizes a soundscape that encompasses the styles of punk music, 20th century French music, and southern gospel music. With contemporary ballet’s use of abstraction, the world of Afro Punk Ballet is futuristic and mythical. By using the grandeur of opera and ballet, this piece strives to tell an epic story that challenges popular notions of heroism, morality and futurism. 
 
Astronaut Symphony, a small contemporary ensemble, creates a lush, expansive soundscape. The instrumentation of the ensemble consists of: piano, Fender Rhodes, beatbox, cello, flugelhorn, mellophone, trombone, and electric bass. 
 

PERFORMANCES
Single Carrot Theater (Residency)
Work-in-progress performance of Act I
Baltimore, MD
July 14,  2018

The Peale*
Work-in-progress performance of  Act I
Baltimore, MD
October 4, 5 & 6 , 2018
*The performances were supported by T. Rowe Price Foundation and Artist/District.

CAAPA Opera Composer's Showcase
Excepts of Act I
The Clarice Smith
College Park, MD
October 28, 2018


NEXT STEPS
The remaining acts of Afro Punk Ballet are currently being written. The goal is to premiere Afro Punk Ballet in 2020. To get from here to there means applying for residencies to workshop the piece, grants to fund the development and production of the work, doing crowdsourcing campaigns, etc. In addition, the Afro House Concert Series will be used to workshop the music and librettto.



  • Afro Punk Ballet Poster
    Afro Punk Ballet Poster
    In the fall of 2018, Act I of Afro Punk Ballet was performed at The Peale in Baltimore, MD. This image was used to promote the performances. It was created by Scott Patterson.
  • Baltimore Magazine Article About Afro Punk Ballet
    Baltimore Magazine Article About Afro Punk Ballet
    An article about Afro Punk Ballet appeared in Baltimore Magazine prior to the three performances at The Peale in the fall of 2018. The article was written by Angela Carroll. It can be found at: https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/2018/10/4/afro-punk-ballet-is-a-sci-fi-futuristic-opera-like-nothing-youve-seen-before Image credit: Photos By Kintz
  • Performance at The Peale, Scott Patterson
    Performance at The Peale, Scott Patterson
    Scott Patterson performing during Afro Punk Ballet at The Peale in Baltimore, MD.
  • Documentary on Afro Punk Ballet
    This short documentary was filmed during a residency at Single Carrot Theater. The purpose of the residency was to workshop Act I of Afro Punk Ballet. In the film, co-creators Scott Patterson, Preston Andrew Patterson and Eric T. Styles discuss the process of creating Afro Punk Ballet. Filmed by Kurt Sensenbrenner
  • Afro Punk Ballet, Excerpts of Act I
    In 2018 Scott Patterson was invited to perform Afro Punk Ballet during the CAAPA Opera Composer's Showcase at The Clarice Smith in College Park, MD. Performers: Scott Patterson, Max Bent, V Savoy, Alicia Williams, Adrienne Ivey, Elise Jenkins, Jocelyn Hunt and Shannon Steed
  • Afro Punk Ballet at WTMD in 2019
    Afro Punk Ballet at WTMD in 2019
    In March 2019 Act I of Afro Punk Ballet will be performed at 89.7 WTMD in Towson, MD.

Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe

EBON KOJO: THE LAST TRIBE
A Sci-Fi Tone Poem
Story, Music and Lyrics by Scott Patterson

Performed by Scott Patterson & Astronaut Symphony


DESCRIPTION
What if a man struggling against being mechanical, could not accept his son as anything but a machine? Sent from a dying earth, General Kojo and Ra-7 have been ordered to “recolor” the distant and barren planet Beta-5. Upon their arrival to Beta-5, Ebon and Ra are immediately confronted with unprecedented realities that transform them both.
                                                          
Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe, a sci-fi tone poem written by Scott Patterson, utilizes the incomparable talents of Afro House’s Astronaut Symphony to tell a fresh story. Throughout the work members of the Astronaut Symphony morph in and out of mediums and genres, boldly taking on the roles of musician, singer, dancer, and actor.
 
The music of Sun Ra and his film Space is the Place, Christina De Middel’s photobook Afronauts and Frances Bodomo’s film of the same name inspired Patterson to imagine his own futuristic world inundated with sound. In this world, sound and music bend the laws of physics, becoming instruments of creation and destruction.
 
The Last Tribe challenges popular notions of heroism, morality, beauty and the role of art in society. Through sound design, film and equations of spirit and sound, Patterson weaves together a story of space exploration, environmentalism, father/son relationships and social greed.
 
PERFORMANCES
NextLOOK (Residency)                                   
Work-in-progress performance      
Joe’s Movement Emporium                                     
Mt. Rainer, MD                       
December 9, 2016   
 
WPFW Live @ 5
Washington, DC                          
December 8, 2016                 
 
Single Carrot Theatre (Residency)
Work-in-progress performance             
Baltimore, MD                                
June 12, 2016                                                                          
 
Charm City Fringe Festival
St. Mark’s
Baltimore, MD
November 12-15, 2015
 
Mondo Festo 10-minute Play Festival
EMP Collective
Baltimore, MD
August 21-22, 2015

NEXT STEPS
Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe is part of a trilogy that includes Afro Punk Ballet. It is the first story in the trilogy. The work done thus far on Afro Punk Ballet has greatly informed the direction Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe will go in, as work on completing it continues.
  • Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe Poster
    Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe Poster
    Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe was performed during the Charm City Fringe Festival in 2015. It was a one-man show at that time. The performances that followed featured the Astronaut Symphony. A desire to explore what the piece would be like with more instrumentation and voice prompted the shift. Image credit: Andrew Creelman
  • Charm City Fringe Festival
    Charm City Fringe Festival
    Scott Patterson performing his sci-fi tone poem, Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe, at the 2015 Charm City Fringe Festival. Image credit: Giovanni Lawrence
  • Beta 5 from Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe Album
    Beta 5 was recorded for the Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe album. Scott Patterson is on keyboards, piano and vocals. Image credit: Photos By Kintz
  • Sun Saw Her Face from Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe Album
    Sun Saw Her Face was recorded for the Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe album. Scott Patterson is on keyboards, piano and vocals. Image credit: Photos By Kintz
  • Work-in-progress Performance at Single Carrot Theater
    Work-in-progress Performance at Single Carrot Theater
    In 2016 Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe was workshopped during a weeklong residency at Single Carrot Theater in Baltimore, MD. A work-in-progress performance was held at the end of the week. Performers: Scott Patterson, Chua Phaik Tzihi, Jabri Exum, Wesley Patterson, Megan Livingston, and Tyler St. Clare. Image Credit: Photos By Kintz
  • Ra-7 and General Ebon Kojo
    Ra-7 and General Ebon Kojo
    This image captures Mateen Milan as Ra-7 (bassoonist) and Scott Patterson as General Ebon Kojo (piano, keyboard and Fender Rhodes) during the work-in-progress performance at Joe’s Movement Emporium for NextLook.
  • Excerpt of Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe, NextLook
    This work-in-progress performance was presented by NextLOOK at the end of a weeklong residency at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Performers: Scott Patterson, Mateen Milan, Chanel Whitehead, Ross Vincent, Lauren Vanden Broeck, and Mikela Murphy. Filmed by John William Patterson
  • Rehearsal of Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe in Preparation for NextLOOK
    This is an example of the movement work done during rehearsals for Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe in preparation for the weeklong NextLook residency at Joe's Movement Emporium. Movement coach: Kolleen Kintz

Afro House Concert Series

AFRO HOUSE CONCERT SERIES
Co-creators: Scott Patterson and Alisha Patterson
Composer, Music Director & Performer: Scott Patterson


DESCRIPTION
The Baltimore-based Afro House Concert Series is a celebration of the city’s extraordinary maker scene. The series features composer and pianist Scott Patterson on piano, Afro House ensembles (including the Astronaut Symphony), special guests, and local food, beverage and tech makers.
 
Located in the Northeast Baltimore neighborhood of Hamilton-Lauraville, every other month Afro House’s co-founders, Alisha Patterson and Scott Patterson open their home and invite people to join them in creating Disruptive. Music. Culture. The series serves as a laboratory for the food, beverage, tech and music makers involved. Experimentation is the rule instead of the exception. Thus, new ideas are explored in a safe and intimate setting.
 
The proximity inherent in these gatherings creates a unique shared experience, one in which all the senses are engaged. There are no barriers between the concert goers and the makers. As a result, genuine connections are made because of the organic, communal nature of the series.
 
CONCERTS
November 2017:  Scott Patterson (piano) and Max Bent (beatbox)

January 2018: Scott Patterson (piano), Max Bent (beatbox), and Larry Melton (bass)

March 2018: Scott Patterson (piano) , Max Bent (beatbox), Corey Emerson (bass, horn), Angeli Ferrette (voice), Jarrod Lee (voice), Simone Brown (voice)

May 2018: Scott Patterson (piano), Max Bent (beatboax), Corey Emerson (bass), Angeli Ferrette (voice), Pamela Simonson (voice), Shannon Steed (voice)

September 2018: Scott Patterson (piano), Corey Emerson (upright bass), Ronald Patterson (upright bass) and Robin Rhodes (upright bass)

NEXT STEPS
The Afro House Concert Series will contnue in 2019. Musically, the series has been used to build the Astronaut Symphony, an ensemble that appears in both Ebon Kojo: The Last Tribe and Afro Punk Ballet. It has also been used to workshop the music from Afro Punk Ballet and Scott Patterson's compositions for solo piano and other ensembles.
  • Excerpt of Afro House Concert No. 6
    The music performed during this concert was composed by Scott Patterson for three upright basses and a piano. This piece is entitled Cloud Nebula. Performers: Scott Patterson (piano), Corey Emerson (upright bass), Ronald Patterson (upright bass) and Robin Rhodes (upright bass).
  • BmoreArt, Issue 6
    BmoreArt, Issue 6
    In the fall of 2018 the Afro House Concert Series appeared in issue 6 of the BmoreArt print journal. The article was written by WTMD’s Sam Sessa.
  • September 2018 Concert, The Ensemble
    September 2018 Concert, The Ensemble
    This image was captured by Theresa Keil during the Afro House Concert held in September 2018. It appears in issue 6 of the BmoreArt print journal. The music performed at this concert was composed by Scott Patterson for three upright basses and a piano. Performers: Scott Patterson (piano), Corey Emerson (upright bass), Ronald Patterson (upright bass) and Robin Rhodes (upright bass).
  • September 2018 Concert, Scott Patterson
    September 2018 Concert, Scott Patterson
    This image was captured by Theresa Keil during the Afro House Concert held in September 2018.
  • Excerpt of Afro House Concert No. 2
    Afro House Concert No. 2 featured Scott Patterson on piano, Max Bent on beatbox and Larry Melton on bass guitar. Filmed by Kurt Sensenbrenner.
  • Excerpt of Afro House Concert No. 3
    During Afro House Concert No. 3 music from Afro Punk Ballet was performed. This piece is entitled Sun Saw Her Face. Performers: Scott Patterson (piano), Max Bent (beatbox), Corey Emerson (electric bass), Jarrod Lee (voice), Angeli Ferrette (voice), Simone Brown (voice) Filmed by Julia Golonka
  • Baltimore Magazine
    Baltimore Magazine
    The Afro House Concert Series appeared in Baltimore Magazine’s May 2018 Music Issue. Located on page 100 under “In Concert”, the magazine shares the following: “A hidden gem that boasts some of the city’s most imaginative musical experiences, like sci-fi tone poems and symphonic improvisations, fueled by renowned pianist Scott Patterson.”
  • Afro House Concert No. 2
    Afro House Concert No. 2
    This image of Scott Patterson was captured by Photos By Kintz during the Afro House Concert held in January 2018.

Camille A Brown & Dancers

CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS
Scott Patterson, Composer, Collaborator & Performer
 

DESCRIPTION
Since 2012 Patterson has collaborated with Camille A. Brown and toured with Camille A. Brown & Dancers. He is contributing composer of the Bessie Award winning Mr. TOL E. RAncE and Brown’s critically acclaimed work, BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play and ink. Camille A. Brown is a four-time Princess Grace Award winner, a Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award winner, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, and TED Fellow, among others.
 
Mr. TOL E. RAncE, BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play and ink make up the dance company’s trilogy about culture, race and identity. Scott Patterson’s compositions for each work have been performed for audiences at numerous venues, such as, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Belfast Festival at Queen’s, White Bird, and The Joyce Theater.
 
NEXT STEPS
In 2019, Scott Patterson will continue to collaborate with Camille A. Brown, as well perform with the Camille A. Brown & Dancers.

  • TED 2018 Performance
    In 2018 Scott Patterson returned to the TED stage with Camille A. Brown & Dancer’s to perform a New Second Line. He opened the performance of Camille A. Brown's New Second Line with an incredible piano solo. His first TED performance was in 2015 with Camille A. Brown, a TED Fellow.
  • TED 2018 Performance, New Second Line
    TED 2018 Performance, New Second Line
    These images were captured during the performance of Camille A. Brown's New Second Line at TED 2018.
  • Scott Patterson & Camille A. Brown Performing at Ted 2015
    Scott Patterson & Camille A. Brown Performing at Ted 2015
    This image captures Scott Patterson’s first performance at TED. In 2015 he performed with Camille A. Brown. Image courtesy of TED
  • ink Musicians at 2017 Kennedy Center Premiere
    ink Musicians at 2017 Kennedy Center Premiere
    ink is the third installation in Camille A. Brown’s trilogy about culture, race and identity. In 2017 the work premiered in Washington, DC at The Kennedy Center. Scott Patterson contributed compositions for piano to the piece and performed at the premiere. Pictured: Allison Miller, Wilson Torres, Scott Patterson and Juliette Jones
  • Excerpt of BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play
    BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play is the second installation in Camille A. Brown’s trilogy about culture, race and identity. In 2015 the work premiered in New York, NY at The Joyce Theater. Scott Patterson contributed compositions for piano to the piece and performed at the premiere. Tracy Wormworth contributed compositions for electric bass.
  • BLACK GIRL Piano Fantasy from Scott Patterson Piano Music Album
    BLACK GIRL Piano Fantasy was composed by Scott Patterson for BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play. It appears on the Scott Patterson Piano Music album.
  • Excerpt of Mr. TOL E. RAncE
    Mr. TOL E. RAncE is the first installation in Camille A. Brown’s trilogy about culture, race and identity. In 2013 the work premiered in New York, NY at The Kitchen. Scott Patterson contributed compositions for piano to the piece and performed at the premiere. COMPOSERS: Brandon McCune, Kurt “KC” Clayton, Jonathan Melville Pratt, and Scott Patterson
  • Mr. TOL E. RAncE Piano Sonata No. 3 from Scott Patterson Piano Music Album
    Mr. TOL E. RAncE Piano Sonata No. 3 was composed by Scott Patterson for Mr. TOL E. RAncE. It appears on the Scott Patterson Piano Music album.

Other Live Performances

OTHER LIVE PEFORMANCES
Forum Theater Concert
Composer, Music Director & Performer: Scott Patterson
 

DESCRIPTION
During the 2013 run of Dan Dietz’s Clementine in the Lower 9 Scott Patterson performed in concert at the Forum Theater in Silver Spring, MD. He also served as the music director and performed in the role of Chorus during the run of Clementine in the Lower 9. The incredible set, designed by Baker Artist Award recipient, Lisi Stoessel, served a backdrop for the concert.
 
For the concert, Scott Patterson was joined by Eric T. Styles (voice), Preston Andrew Patterson (dance/piano), and Greg Lathan (voice). They performed original compositions composed by Scott Patterson for piano and voice.

  • Purple Dragon
    Scott Patterson composed Purple Dragon for Camille A. Brown’s Mr. TOL E. RAncE. Filmed by Sean Biffar.
  • Epoch God/ Better Human
    Epoch God/ Better Human was composed by Scott Patterson. Performers: Scott Patterson (piano, voice), Eric T. Styles (voice), Preston Andrew Patterson (dance), and Greg Lathan (voice). Choreography by Preston Andrew Patterson. Filmed by Sean Biffar.

100 Year Symposium

100 Year Symposium
Composer, Music Director & Performer: Scott Patterson
 

DESCRIPTION
In 2018 Scott Patterson received the Creative Baltimore Fund Project Support Grant to hold 100 Year Symposiums. 100 Year Symposium aims to serve neighborhoods in Northeast Baltimore through a unique experience that involves a futuristic opera and a robust discourse in homes/community gathering places about what 100 years into the future would look like.
 
In partnership with Belair-Edison Neighborhood, Inc. (BENI), Astronaut Symphony, a contemporary ensemble led by pianist and composer, Scott Patterson, will perform excerpts of the opera-ballet, Afro Punk Ballet. Set years into the future, Afro Punk Ballet delves into the world of two sisters unable to agree on how to handle the catastrophic consequences of a decision made by their late father, Levi, a brilliant military scientist. With a unique spiritual knowledge of space and time, Levi creates a second sun. The unprecedented devastation of his sun brings the nation’s inhabitants near extinction.
 
Through facilitated civil conversation, neighbors will engage in a meaningful discussion about what it means to be a steward of the future, in the intimate and familiar setting of a home/community gathering place. Thus, lifting up and closely examining existing conversations being held in their neighborhood about the future of their community. The story and music of Afro Punk Ballet will serve as an entry point and source of inspiration to delve into areas yet to be explored by the participants.
 
The 100 Year Symposium will serve the neighborhoods that make up Belair-Edison and Hamilton-Lauraville. Both Belair Edison and Hamilton-Lauraville are Healthy Neighborhoods and Main Street communities.
 
The symposiums will be recorded and made available online (e.g. BENI’s website, social media platforms, etc.). A summary of the conversation will be captured by the facilitator and shared with BENI and the participants, with an emphasis on how to include elements of the conversation held during the 100 Year Symposiums in the work being done by the community.
 
NEXT STEPS
A home or community gathering place is being secured for the 100 Year Symposiums that will be held in March 2019 and April 2019 and additional partnerships are being formed.
  • 100 Year Symposium
    100 Year Symposium
    Through the 100 Year Symposium, neighbors will come together to engage in a meaningful discussion about what it means to be a steward of the future, in the intimate and familiar setting of a home/community gathering place. Image credit: Photos By Kintz