Scott Tixier


Scott Tixier is a GRAMMY award-winning French jazz violinist and a recording artist. He is professor of jazz violin and alternative styles at the University of North Texas.

Life and career

Tixier was born in Montreuil, France, and studied classical violin at the conservatory in Paris. Following that, he studied improvisation as a self-educated jazz musician and under Florin Niculescu then Malo Vallois.
Scott Tixier has worked in many genres, in the theater, film scoring, Broadway shows, for Sony Pictures, ARTE Creative, Heineken, Dos Equis, Fisher-Price, America's Got Talent on NBC, with Zedd on the David Letterman Late Show on CBS, for Josh Groban, Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, Sting, Jean Reno, Whoopi Goldberg, Marc Jacobs, Keith David, Pierre Palmade, Pierre Richard, David Ackroyd, NBA player Allan Houston, Christina Aguilera, Chrisette Michele, Doug E. Fresh, JR, Ariana Grande, and Monica Dogra.
He has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists, including, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Roger Waters, Kenny Barron, John Legend, Chris Potter, Christina Aguilera, Common, Anthony Braxton, Joss Stone, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Wayne Brady, Chris Walden, Greg Phillinganes, Ray Chew, The Isley Brothers, Cory Smythe, Maceo Parker, Janet Cardiff, Siegfried Kessler, Tony Middleton, Lonnie Plaxico, Myron Walden, Clifford Adams, Helen Sung, Brice Wassy, Gerald Cleaver, Lew Soloff, Yvonnick Prene, Tigran Hamasyan, James Weidman, Marcus McLauren, Giada Valenti, and Tommy Sims.
He played at Carnegie Hall, the Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, the Golden Globes, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Apollo Theater, the Smalls Jazz Club, The Stone, Roulette, Smoke Jazz, Hammerstein Ballroom, Joe's Pub, Williamsburg Music Center, Prudential Center and the United States Capitol.
When he was a teenager, Scott was invited to several master classes with some of the finest jazz musicians, including Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Steve Coleman. Scott Tixier has also met and received letters of introduction from Jean-Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Mark Feldman, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, and Lonnie Plaxico.
In 2008, he was endorsed by Corelli Savarez and in November 2011, he was signed by the American record label Sunnyside Records.
In May 2013, Scott Tixier was the violinist for Harvey Keitel's 74th birthday. In 2014, featured on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the film John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves and Willem Dafoe.
In 2014 and 2015, he performed with Stevie Wonder for "Songs in the Key of Life" performance tour.
In 2016 Tixier released a new studio recording for Sunnyside Records at Avatar Studios in New York and collaborated with award winning photographer Franck Bohbot who did the album cover photography. The new album also featured Grammy Awards winner Chris Potter and Pedrito Martinez and was produced by Donald Brown.
On August 15, 2016, two of the songs "Dig It" and "100,000 Hours" from the album Cosmic Adventure were featured on NPR for the show Morning Edition hosted by David Greene, during This Week in Politics.Morning Edition is among the highest rated public radio shows.
On October 22, 2016 Tixier was performing with Kevin Spacey, Cassandra Wilson, Patti Austin, Andra Day, David Alan Grier and Lizz Wright alongside the Count Basie Orchestra at the Apollo Theater to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald.
Cosmic Adventure was selected as "Best Albums Of 2016" by Downbeat Magazine
On May 2017 Tixier was performing with Roger Waters for the release of Waters first album in 24 years Is This the Life We Really Want?. The show was held at the Stephen Colbert Late Show on CBS
In January 2018 Tixier performed with Chris Martin for Elton John at Madison Square Garden in New York City with special guests GRAMMY nominee Miley Cyrus, Kesha John Legend and special performance by Elton John
In 2018 Tixier joined the Faculty of the University of North Texas as the first Professor for jazz violin and alternative styles creating a new program dedicated to improvisation with string instruments.
In 2019 Tixier joined composer Hans Zimmer to record The Lion King Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. That same year he also recorded the Charlie's Angels doundtrack with composer Brian Tyler.

Reception

Tixier has earned international recognition for his playing. Grammy Award winning bassist Marcus Miller says that Tixier "is making an international name for himself. I heard him in France and was immediately struck by his individuality and his sound." Guitarist Pat Metheny says, " has found a place for himself within the elite community of New York jazz musicians, no small feat." In an interview with All About Jazz in 2010, violinist Mark Feldman called Scott "really up-and-coming and very talented." Jean-Luc Ponty said "I have heard Scott's recordings, seen his live performances and I think that he stands above the crowd of current jazz violinists around the world."

Awards and recognition

His violin is an 1889 Collin-Mezin. Tixier uses bows by French bow maker Emil Miquel. His violin case was originally owned by violinist Isaac Stern for his 1740 "del Gesù", it was specially made by Dimitri Musafia.

Performance credits

As leader
As sideman