Scott Ibex returns to Moab

Scott Ibex is inviting the town to help him record his latest album, “Scott Ibex Live”.

There’s a $10 suggested donation for the concert at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, however it’s not required by those who may be suffering financially this far into the off-season.

“Anyone good at cheering, but not heavy in their pockets, is welcome to attend,” Ibex said. “We want a full house.”

Ibex will be joined by Tory Davis on percussion and Annie Willis on violin. The concert will be recorded for Ibex’s fifth international release and his first live album.

“Everyone who shows up will get a free download of the new record,” Ibex said.

Ibex and Davis just came off a three-month nationwide tour where they performed at universities, bars and for benefits. They even had a gig with Kool and the Gang trumpeter, Clifford Adams.

“It was an amazing, incredible experience. Our music became so much better,” Ibex said. “It’s been a great joy and I’m really excited to be back in Moab.”

He grew up in Southern California, but found Moab as a 16-year-old kid while doing a summer program.

“Moab is kind of like my adopted home,” Ibex said. He went to Matrimony Springs near the Colorado River, which as local legend holds, if you drink from the water you will always return.

He met Moab percussionist Tory Davis after one of his tours. The two found a rhythm they could share and played together from April to July last year, then took another three month national tour they just completed.

Ibex is a mostly self-taught musician. He began singing and playing violin at the age of six. At 10, Ibex performed his first classical piano recital, and by 13, he taught himself guitar, bass, and drums. Throughout high school and college Ibex wrote, produced, and arranged original music for many different groups. After college, he played drums for New York based rock band, The Power Apes.

In 2003, Ibex moved to Costa Mesa, California and began his solo career. Upon graduating Whittier Law School in May of 2006, Ibex released his debut album, ‘At Love’s New Dawn’. Shortly after, he released a well-received folk album, ‘1968’.

In the fall of 2006 Ibex performed in over 20 states on “The Homemade Tour.” The overwhelming positive response helped cement his sterling reputation as an artist in demand.

In addition to his national tours, Ibex is also a recently published author. His first book “Low-Budget Rockstar: The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Booking, Surviving, and Making a Profit on Your Own Indie Tour” was released in January of 2012

Ibex explored new ways to make music while on the road.

He will be featuring finger-style compositions on a 12-string guitar that feature both eastern and western styles of music at the concert Friday.

He studied with a professional singer who taught him the patterns of raga, a Southern Indian style of music where each raga represents a different holy vibration.

“It’s very haunting,” he said.

The experience of working with her left a mark on Ibex.

“It is fusing the passion of that style of music with the style of music that naturally comes out of me. That’s where east meets west and becomes this music,” Ibex said. “As an artist I always need to push the boundaries and the envelope. And I always am attracted to new things I haven’t done, and new instruments I haven’t played before.”

This is new territory for Ibex.

“It’s almost like playing piano on the guitar: Tonal layers over melodies,” Ibex said.

Davis’ style of percussion matches well and the two have been working together perfecting a rhythm together.

“Most play the drum open-handed, but he uses all of his fingers like I do,” Ibex said of Davis. “He turns one drum into ten because he gets so many tones into it.”

This recording is a way for Ibex to celebrate what he and Davis have been able to create together.

“I really want to feature something that has just gotten better and better for us. And make a record out of it,” Ibex said. “We need the good Moab energy and we’ll have an awesome time.”

Author: Kristin Millis

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