I am excited to announce the release of my newest book project, Best Next Thing: Michael Dease's Improvised Trombone Solos!

Physical, spiral-bound copies available worldwide at www.lulu.com/spotlight/brianscarboroughmusic

Digital copies available worldwide at www.brianscarboroughmusic.com/store

Learn more below:

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Best Next Thing: Michael Dease’s Improvised Trombone Solos provides an in-depth look at Dease’s improvisational approach on his 2022 release, Best Next Thing. Featuring transcriptions for each of Dease’s improvisations from the recording, this book gives you a look inside the mind of one of the world’s great jazz musicians as he continues to push and develop even further as an artist. Dease notes, “Best Next Thing documented a raucously joyful day of collaboration with a fearless frontline of new friends; Rudresh Mahanthappa and Alex Sipiagin. This new direction in my musical aesthetic was the “Best Next” decision I could have made, as it pushed my colleagues and I towards the limits of our expressive capabilities.” 

“Whether you're seeking technical refinement, stylistic inspiration, or simply the sheer joy of musical discovery, you will find it all within these pages. Michael Dease's solos are on fire, and I cannot recommend this collection enough.” - Carol Jarvis

I’m excited to share that my books have a new home and are once again available worldwide at Lulu.com!

Click the button below to read the All About Jazz article about my 2024 release, We Need The Wind.

And Pre-Order your physical copy and get your CD Release Show Tickets today!

We Need The Wind

$15.00

Honored to have been voted Kansas City’s Favorite Jazz Trombonist in the 2022 KC Jazz Ambassadors JAM Awards! It was a privilege to even be nominated, and I am humbled by everyone’s support!

More music on the way, stay tuned…

To check out the full list of winners at, Click Here.

January 22, 2023

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Had the unbelievable opportunity to experience Hadestown from both the audience and the stage this weekend!

Yesterday’s matinee performance was absolutely unbelievable. Beautiful. Emotional. Just, incredible.

We got home from the show, and while I was getting a little trombone time in, my phone rang. By total happenstance it was the creative team from Hadestown, needing a last-minute sub for the evening performance. I got in the car and headed right back to the KC Music Hall, got backstage, met the team, then had about 30 minutes to look through the book before curtain. We did the show and it went great! Everyone was abundantly kind and it was just an unbelievable experience. I returned for one more show this afternoon, and once again, it was a powerful, moving, and wonderful experience that will stick with me forever. Just, wow!

To the band, cast, crew, and creative team of the North American tour of Hadestown, thank you for letting me be a part of your family for a couple days. I raise my cup to you!

Greetings Everyone,

As is common for all of us with a new calendar year, I’ve been reflecting on ways that I can do and be better. While I do not believe that it is necessary to wait until a new year is upon us to make some changes, the clean slate can provide us all with an opportunity to do so. Starting now, I will be using my platform to make, and hopefully facilitate, positive change in our community. While my platform may be small, I refuse to believe that I cannot make a difference, and I am committed to doing so.

I have recently committed $25 a month to the Harvesters Community Food Network. As we have seen in recent years, significant funds can be raised through a number of small donations. I share this information not because I seek credit, but in the hope that it inspires some of you to take action and support this cause if you are in a position to do so. 

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Harvesters provides food and related household products to more than 760 nonprofit agencies including emergency food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes and others. They also offer educational programs to increase community awareness of hunger and teach about good nutrition. Harvesters is a member of the Feeding America network and is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Food insecurity continues to be an issue for a number of people throughout the region, and throughout the country. In the 16 counties that Harvesters serves on the Kansas side of the state line, 1 in 10 people are at risk of hunger. In the 10 counties that Harvesters serves on the Missouri side, 1 in 7 KIDS are at risk of hunger. This data comes from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Study 2022 and reflects data collected in 2020.

To learn more about food insecurity in the Kansas City community, visit: https://www.harvesters.org/learn-about-hunger

To make a one-time or monthly donation, visit: https://www.harvesters.org/how-to-help/donate

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You are welcome to share this message (or write your own) to reach an even wider audience. My hope is that this single pebble dropped in the water creates a ripple that will keep going and going.

I have not partnered with Harvesters in any “official” capacity. I also seek no credit or accolades for my contributions or the work I plan to do to support this wonderful organization. I just want to help. In all honesty, I should have done this a while ago, but I’ve got a chance to make it right and make a difference, and I’m going to take it.

I cannot thank you all enough for your support. I look forward to seeing you all out and about.

Until next time,

Brian

Friends,

I am beyond excited to share that in just a few short months, my quintet will be going back into the studio to record another album! I am proud of this batch of tunes and look forward to a couple wonderful days in the studio with my band. This project will feature:

Brian Scarborough, trombone and compositions

Matt Otto, tenor saxophone

Roger Wilder, Fender rhodes

Jeff Harshbarger, bass

Brian Steever, drums

I am also excited to share that once again, Patty Scarborough will contribute brand new, original oil paintings to serve as the album artwork for this project!

I’m looking forward to watching this music and project grow over the next several months. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Honored to have been nominated for the 2022 Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors JAM Awards in the category of Favorite KC Trombonist!

Cast a vote and shine a light on your favorite Kansas City area jazz artists - http://www.kcjazzambassadors.org/jazzawards2022

As always, I am truly grateful for the support of my family, friends, and supporters!

Greetings Everyone,

I am excited to share that I’ve got another book project in the works, and recently completed the first draft during my residency at the Ragdale Foundation earlier this month. While it’s still a little early to release too many details, I can confidently say that if you enjoyed Gettin It Done: Steve Davis’ Improvised Trombone Solos, you will definitely enjoy this project!

Check back regularly for updates, or sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when this product becomes available!

I recently sat down with David Basse and Steve Davis to discuss my newest book project, Gettin’ It Done: Steve Davis’ Improvised Trombone Solos (available now in the store). Steve and I discuss our process for the project, and Steve also shares a few stories and words of wisdom.

You can check out the interview at: https://www.davidbasse.com/interviews.html

I’m excited to share the release of my latest book, Gettin’ It Done: Steve Davis’ Improvised Trombone Solos! It’s been a joy to work on this project and finally get it over the finish line and has been an absolute honor to work with one of my trombone idols in the process. 

Available Now In The Store!

Gettin’ It Done: Steve Davis’ Improvised Trombone Solos is a comprehensive collection of transcriptions featuring each of Steve Davis’ improvisations from his 2012 release, Gettin’ It Done. Including a foreword by Mr. Davis himself and all eight solo transcriptions, this book provides a unique look at Steve’s improvisational style, and an insightful perspective on the band, recording session, and album as a whole. “Making this record was a very special and personal experience,” Steve notes. “The band was comprised of my dearest, closest friends and musical collaborators. The resulting music from this session ranks among my very favorites that I have ever led, or played on as a sideman.”

Whether you are a trombonist, a student of jazz, or a hobbyist, this book is a must-have for your music library!

Proud and honored to be a founding member for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's new 10-piece ensemble, Riff Generation. Looking forward to getting to work with this exciting new group in the new year!

For more information on Riff Generation, visit the KCJO website - https://www.kcjo.org/

What a week! Honored to have found out that I've been nominated in two categories for this year's Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Awards - Favorite KC Trombonist and Favorite KC Jazz Band - Brian Scarborough Quintet!

Voting is now open - https://www.kcjazzambassadors.org/jazzawards2021

Cast your vote in all 14 categories!

As always, I'm grateful for the support of my family, friends, and supporters!

Honored to have been nominated for The Pitch's Best of Kansas City Awards in the category of jazz artist and jazz band, for my quintet! Lucky to make music with the wonderful musicians of my quintet, Matt Otto, Adam Schlozman, Jeff Harshbarger, and Brian Steever, and very thankful for the support of my family, friends, and supporters!

I will always view any award, or any nomination for that matter, as encouragement to keep fighting the good fight and to keep pushing. I just want to be better and to improve, and this will certainly fuel the fire!

If you wish to vote in The Pitch’s 2021 Best of KC awards, click the link below. Whether your vote is cast for me or one of the other nominees in the jazz categories (under Arts & Entertainment), or any of the other numerous categories, make your voices heard and shine the light on your favorite things in KC. Voting is open now until the end of September!

https://vote.thepitchkc.com/

This past August, a group of us recorded our parts from our home studios for this tremendous big band project - I had the privilege of playing lead trombone! With musicians from across the country, this was quite an undertaking; only the bass and drums were tracked together in Southern California. However, listening to this wonderful recording, you’d never know! You’d think we were all in the same studio, playing as one!

Featuring compositions and arrangements by Arthur White and the legendary Randy Brecker, this is definitely an album worth checking out. The charts are wonderful, the band sounds amazing, and the soloists are terrific across the board. 

Stream/Download UNIFY Today - Click Here!

This is also the second big band project I’ve been able to be a part of with Randy Brecker. When I was at DePaul, we recorded Dearborn Station - Live at the Jazz Showcase. If you haven’t checked that out, it’s also worth a listen.

Stream/Download DEARBORN STATION Today - Click Here!

Grateful for the opportunity to meet and make music with so many wonderful people! 

I am incredibly excited to share that I have signed on as an official endorsing artist for Kühnl & Hoyer. For more information about K&H, you can visit their website - https://www.kuehnl-hoyer.de/en/home/ or reach out to me and I’d be happy to speak with you.

“Like many musicians, for years I went from one horn to another in search of the perfect match for me. A couple of years ago, I tried out the .512 bore Bart van Lier K&H trombone of a colleague. From the first notes I played on his trombone, it was clear that this is what I was looking for.  From the moment I received my K&H trombone, I was in love with the sound, response, tuning, craftsmanship, and versatility of this instrument. Since I first got the horn a few years ago, it has continued to sound better and better, seemingly becoming even more comfortable and reliable. But most importantly, I feel that in this K&H trombone, I have found my voice as a trombonist.”

Instrument:

Bb-tenor trombone Bart van Lier, .512“ with variable weight system

I am incredibly excited to share that I have released my first ever book project, The Scales Handbook. The book was published by the IfCM Press and is available now on Amazon and on the Brian Scarborough Music online store.

The Scales Handbook is available in bass and treble clef.

To learn more about this book and to read the preface, click here.

A new review of Sunflower Song from Jazz Views. You can read the full review here.

I’m excited to share an interview I did with Simon Sargsyan at JazzBluesNews.com. It was great getting to dive into all of the questions and talk jazz, inspiration, and balance for this interview.

http://jazzbluesnews.com/2020/12/29/brian-scarborough/

Sunflower Song was listed at #6 on Plastic Sax’s list of the Top KC Jazz Albums of 2020. You can find the full list here, and read their review of the album again here. Honored to have my debut album included in this list.