Atlanta native Scotty Barnhart is a gifted jazz trumpeter, educator, and clinician known for his long association with the Count Basie Orchestra. After graduating from Florida A&M University with a degree in music education, Barnhart found work performing with a bevy of name artists including pianist Marcus Roberts, with whom he recorded three studio albums. An in-demand performer, Barnhart has also performed and recorded with such luminaries as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Ray Brown, Take 6, Max Roach, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Jon Hendricks, Barbara Streisand, and many others. In 1993, he joined as trumpeter and featured soloist with the legacy Count Basie Orchestra, a role he expanded to director in 2008. When not touring, Barnhart holds the position of Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Florida State University. In 2009, he released his debut solo album, Say It Plain, which featured guest appearances from Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis. Two years later, he appeared with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on the album Sundays in New York. In 2015, Barnhart backed British vocalist Rebecca Ferguson on her Billie Holiday tribute, Lady Sings the Blues. ~ Matt Collar