With an infectious enthusiasm, Dr. Arvin Scott has taught, inspired and entertained students and audiences while making music for almost 40 years.
    Beginning Thursday, the University of Georgia professor will be in Statesboro working with several youth groups and giving three community performances featuring his eclectic drumming style.
    On Thursday, Scott will be an artist-in-residence at Statesboro High and William James Middle School. Then on Friday, students from the Statesboro steel drum band and William James African drumming circle will perform with Scott at the Emma Kelly Theater. Tickets are $5 to the 10 a.m. show. Later Friday, Scott will conduct a workshop at the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County at 3:30 p.m.
    Scott recently released a new album of original music entitled “World Beat Nu Jazz.”
    He described the album as “…funky, melodic, rhythmic, energizing, soothing, uncompromised, instrumental, music inspired by jazz, Latin, African, R&B, Caribbean, Brazilian, Eastern, Asian and beyond.”
    While many people may not have heard Scott's style of music before, he is confident they will enjoy it once they experience it.
    “If I do my job correctly, the simple act of listening will bring about appreciation,” Scott said. “One can hear on my new CD 'World Beat Nu Jazz' how the role of percussion is equal to the roles of all of the other instruments that I also play on the album via keyboard synth and various electronic percussion instruments.”
    An award-winning musician and professor of percussion at UGA, Scott blends African, Caribbean, Brazilian, classic jazz and R&B into his own unique World Beat Nu-Jazz style.
     “Percussion is rhythmic but it's also very melodic, even hand percussion,” he said. “Many of the melodic lines that I performed on the album on flute, piano, bass, strings were inspired by music I have performed on conga drums, african djembe drums and even the jazz drum kit.”
    During his career, Scott has played with Widespread Panic for sell-out concerts at Atlanta's Philips Arena. He performed at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and served as a guest artist at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He conducts classes for numerous community and youth organizations every year and has directed the award-winning Drumming for Success youth program, which he founded in 1997.
    Also, this week, Scott will perform on Saturday at the downtown Farmers Market from 10-11 a.m. and he will also be featured on the Celebration South stage at 2:45 p.m.
    Celebration South will be held on West Main Street and features two stages, local artists, a classic cars display, kids activities and more. Tickets for the Celebration South performance are $3 for individuals and $5 for a family.
    Scott's residency and performances in Statesboro are sponsored by Willingway Hospital, Bohler Family Practice and Pladd Dott Music.
    Tickets for the school matinee performance at the Emma Kelly Theater can be obtained at the Averitt Center box office or by calling 212-2787.