Scott Sawyer/Keith Waters

Keith Waters received a PhD in Music Theory from the Eastman School of Music and a Masters degree in jazz piano from the New England Conservatory of Music. As a jazz pianist, he has performed with James Moody, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Sheila Jordan, and Chris Connor, and has recorded and performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Russia. His recording, Carolina Tracks (2012), assembles North Carolina’s top jazz musicians; its proceeds are in support of the North Carolina Jazz Scholarship. Keith is on faculty at University of Colorado, Boulder and has written highly acclaimed books including The Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68, published by Oxford University Press in 2011 and Postbop Jazz in the 1960’s: The Compositions of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, 2019.

Scott Sawyer has shared the stage and/or recorded with many artists of note, including John Abercrombie, Charlie Byrd, David Murray, Oteil Burbridge, ‘prima ballerina’ Marie-Christine Mouis, Bob Cranshaw, Buster Williams, Ron Brendle, Ed Thigpen, Grady Tate, Kobie Watkins, Dave Finucane, Bill Anschell, Ed Paolantonio, Keith Waters, Willie Pickens, Tony Williamson, Kate McGarry, Nnenna Freelon, Lois Deloatch, Carolyn Ghezzi, Danny Aiello (to name a few). He teaches at the Durham Jazz Workshop and formerly taught at UNC-CH and ECU. He has multiple recordings as a leader: Change of Scene, 2022, Night Visions, 2020, Dreamers, 2013, Go There, 2007 on Doll Records.