The Multi-faceted Artist/Composer/Producer has Been a Force in Contemporary Instrumental Music Since the 2008 Release of His Solo Debut OTHER PLANETS.

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, May 23, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Living up to its transcendent title, acclaimed bassist, composer and producer Erik Scott's IN THE COMPANY OF CLOUDS rose above the competition to win both Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album honors at last weekend’s 2016 Zone Music Awards Concert in New Orleans. Scott wrote and produced the album, makes great use of instrumentalist friends on several tracks, and paints with beautiful gospel voices on two tracks. A consistent presence throughout is the graceful steel guitar of John Pirruccello, who is heard on his previous recordings as well. Erik plays melodic fretless, and in his own words “his fretted Frankenbass 1964 Fender, bass-generated sound fx, the keyboards, drum and percussion programs, some wee vocals, and that one mandolin.” The album is self-released by Erik Scott (www.erikscottbass.com), published by Hened Music, BMI, and is now available worldwide.

In a review of the awards show, John Diliberto, producer of the taste-making PRI-syndicated radio program Echoes, wrote, “Topping the night was the Album of the Year. In a competitive slate that included impressive albums like Jeff Pearce’s Follow the River Home, Fiona Joy’s Signature Synchronicity and GRAMMY® winners White Sun’s latest release, the award went to Erik Scott...IN THE COMPANY OF CLOUDS was a CD of the Month on Echoes last year, was #3 on Echoes’ Top 25 for 2016, and it deserved the award. Scott’s album also won in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category....”

Featuring a blend of Scott’s lush, melodic fretless bass, in addition to steel guitar, gentle percussion textures and touches of choir-like vocals, IN THE COMPANY OF CLOUDS creates an ambience that is all at once earthy and ethereal. Since its release in 2016, the album has been described as “warm”, “moody” and full of “jaw-dropping” sounds; apt descriptions of an album that delivers a heart-opening range of music across seven tracks that take their time to deliver what Scott sets out to give.

Ambient, New Age and Contemporary Fusion fans seeking those fresh sounds have been on board with the independent artist’s ever evolving sonic vision since he released his solo debut album Other Planets in 2008, followed by 2014’s And The Earth Bleeds, and Spirits, which led to beloved music writer Michael Diamond (Music and Media Focus) to comment “Erik’s album...introduced me to a most imaginative artist who has reinvented himself to break new ground and explore uncharted musical territory. Spirits is a “must-have” recording for sonic seekers.”

“It was very nice to win, especially considering that I was in competition with so many great talents in both categories,” says Scott. “Not a lot of former rockers have gone down this path that I’ve chosen, but I’ve been making music for 50 years. Why not try new things? Why do what’s already been done? Loud or soft, for me, it’s all about making great musical art. If it’s compelling, people want to listen.”

Earlier in his career, Scott played bass for the musical duo Flo & Eddie (featuring members of The Turtles) and Alice Cooper, for whom he also produced. In the 1990s, he was one of the founding members of Sonia Dada, a Chicago-based rock/soul/R&B band which reached #1 on the Australian music charts with their self-titled debut album. Scott was also the co-writer of “Father, Father,” the title track for gospel/R&B legend Pop Staples’ album that won a GRAMMY Award in 1994 for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Other artists Scott has worked with include Mavis Staples, Carl Palmer, and Kim Carnes. He also wrote and recorded music for a variety of hit TV shows and films, including “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and its sequels.

On Saturday May 13, 2017, Zone Music Reporter presented awards for more than a dozen music categories at Louis J. Roussel Hall on the campus of Loyola University in New Orleans. Scott attended the awards ceremony alongside musical contemporaries including Will Ackerman, Deuter, Seay, Byron Metcalf, Hennie Bekker, Hans Christian, Paul Speer, Fiona Joy and many more. Coincidentally, the album was mastered at Ackerman’s Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont by Tom Eaton, who was honored with this year’s Best New Artist award.

Zone Music Reporter (ZMR) is the industry source of global radio airplay reports for myriad musical styles. ZMR tracks radio airplay of both terrestrial and internet broadcast radio stations reporting their airplay from around the world. The site features weekly broadcaster playlists, monthly airplay charts, album reviews, and annual awards as voted upon by international programmers. ZMR is the premier Record Charting site for radio airplay reports in the New Age, World, Solo Piano, Acoustic Instrumental, Ambient, Celtic, Chill, Contemporary Instrumental, Electronic, Folk, Jazz, Meditative/Healing, Neo-Classical, Native American, Relaxation, and Instrumental genres. www.zonemusicreporter.com

IN THE COMPANY OF CLOUDS is available in physical and digital formats, and can be found in major online music stores and on all digital music outlets; it was a CD Baby Editor’s Top Pick in 2016 (http://cdbaby.com/cd/erikscott8).

To request music review copies or media interviews with Erik Scott, please contact Beth Ann Hilton, The B Company, at 310-560-8390 or bethhilton(at)theBcompany(dot)com.

For more about Erik Scott, please visit:
Website: http://www.erikscottbass.com
Bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Scott
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erik.scott
Amazon: http://a.co/hWodk32
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCn7CmRk92o
Reviews: http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=4&rvwbrdpstn=1&rvwbrdcmmt=12960

Beth A. Hilton
The B Company
3105608390
email us here

"Nine Lives" from IN THE COMPANY OF CLOUDS by Erik Scott