Recording artist Jim Scott prepares for local performance
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

PHOTO/SUBMITTED Guitarist Jim Scott

Region - The Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church in Hudson is inviting area residents to join them Sunday Dec. 23 at 10:30 a.m. for a multicultural intergenerational holiday service called "Dark Time - Story Time." Performing at the service will be recording artist Jim Scott, a Shrewsbury resident.

Scott's resume includes playing guitar for the Paul Winter Consort, co-composing that group's choral work, composing for several PBS documentaries soundtracks and more.

Scott, who has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, addresses issues of ecology, justice and peace in his compositions. His performances transcend musical style boundaries: he has played with jazz flautist Paul Horn in Scotland, toured Europe with the Griffith Singers performing chorale music, and performed with folk artist Pete Seeger.

Rev. Steven Schick of the UU Church will lead the service. He explained that during the holidays, his church celebrates the many diff erent religious historical traditions that parishioners come from.

"Two weeks ago we lit an Advent candle to celebrate the Christian tradition," he explained. "Last week we lit a Hanukkah candle to celebrate the Jewish tradition, and we will light the Yule log when Scott comes, to celebrate the winter solstice."

Schick explained that his church members believe in a reverence for life and that Scott would complement the church's celebration of the earth.

"Scott is a sensitive man and an accomplished musician … He has done outstanding work in promoting the environmental movement," Schick said.

"I came from a classical background," Scott said. "I am primarily a guitarist."

He explained that he has been a member of the UU Church since he was a child, and has visited and performed in over three hundred UU churches across the country. He is also the co-chair of the ecological/spiritual activist group promoting environmental consciousness among UU congregations.

"A lot of what I do is music about peace, justice and ecology … I do not think of my music as religious," Scott said.

He explained that his musical influence came from working with musician Paul Winter while playing with the Paul Winter Consort, a musical performing group that has recorded at the Grand Canyon and holds annual summer and winter solstice concerts at the Cathedral of St. John's in New York City.

The musical service, Scott explained, is going to be a celebration of the history of the season, a time of darkness with the winter solstice Dec. 22, the longest night of the year. The performance will celebrate the earth's movement towards spring and re-birth.

Scott has recently published a musical anthology, "Songs about the Earth" featuring several of his own works as well as ones by songwriters like Woody Guthrie. He also is currently organizing a local choral group at the Joy of Music program in Worcester. That group is open to people of all abilities who want to have fun and sing about peace.

For more information about Scott's recordings, publications, joining the chorus, or catching a performance, visit his Web site at www.jimscottmusic. com.