John Scofield

American jazz guitarist and composer (born 1951) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Scofield

John Scofield (born December 26, 1951)[2] is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock.[1] He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he has toured and recorded with many prominent jazz artists including saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, and Joe Lovano; keyboardists George Duke, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Larry Goldings, and Robert Glasper; fellow guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino, and Bill Frisell; bassists Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius; and drummers Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers. Outside the world of jazz, he has collaborated with Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Gov't Mule.[3]

Quick Facts Background information, Born ...
John Scofield
Scofield at the Moers Festival in 2021
Background information
Born (1951-12-26) December 26, 1951 (age 73)
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, acid jazz[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsEnja, Gramavision, Blue Note, Verve, EmArcy ECM
Websitewww.johnscofield.com
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Biography

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John Scofield was born in Dayton, Ohio; his family moved to Wilton, Connecticut, where he discovered his interest in music.[4] Educated at the Berklee College of Music, Scofield left school to record with Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan. He joined the Billy Cobham/George Duke Band soon afterwards and played, recorded, and toured with them for two years. He recorded with Charles Mingus in 1976 and replaced Pat Metheny in Gary Burton's quartet.[5]

In 1976, Scofield signed with Enja, which released his first album, John Scofield, in 1977. He recorded with pianist Hal Galper on Rough House in 1978 and then on Galper's album Ivory Forest (1980), where he played a solo rendition of "Monk's Mood" by Thelonious Monk.[6] In 1979 he formed a trio with his mentor Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum which, with drummer Bill Stewart replacing Nussbaum, became the signature group of Scofield's career.[7]

In 1982, he joined Miles Davis, with whom he remained for three and a half years. He contributed tunes and guitar to three of Davis's albums, Star People, Decoy, and You're Under Arrest.[8] After he left Davis, he released Electric Outlet (1984) and Still Warm (1985)

He began what is referred to as his Blue Matter Band, with Dennis Chambers on drums, Gary Grainger on bass, and Mitchel Forman, Robert Aries, or Jim Beard on keyboards. The band released the albums Blue Matter, Loud Jazz and Pick Hits Live. Marc Johnson formed Bass Desires with Peter Erskine, Bill Frisell, and Scofield. This "most auspicious [pairing] since John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana"[9] recorded two albums, Bass Desires (1986) and Second Sight (1987).

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Onstage in 2004

At the beginning of the 1990s, Scofield formed a quartet which included Joe Lovano with whom he recorded several albums for Blue Note.[10] Time on My Hands (1990), with Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden, and Jack DeJohnette, showcased Scofield's guitar and Mingus-influenced (Charles Mingus)[citation needed] writing. Bill Stewart became the group's drummer and played on Meant to Be (1991) and What We Do (1993). In 1992, Scofield released Grace Under Pressure, featuring guitarist Bill Frisell, with Charlie Haden on bass and Joey Baron on drums. Stewart rejoined Scofield and Steve Swallow for I Can See Your House from Here, a collaboration with Pat Metheny.

Near the end of the time he played with Blue Note, Scofield returned to a sound which included more funk and soul jazz.[citation needed] In 1994 and 1995, he formed a group with organist/pianist Larry Goldings, bassist Dennis Irwin, and alternating drummers, Bill Stewart and Idris Muhammad. The group toured extensively, and the albums Hand Jive and Groove Elation feature this funk/groove/soul-jazz dimension in Scofield's music with tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris, percussionist Don Alias, and trumpeter Randy Brecker. He recorded the 1997 album A Go Go with avant-garde jazz trio Medeski, Martin & Wood.

Also during that time he began to work with British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage. He appeared as a soloist on Turnage's Blood on the Floor: Elegy for Andy. They collaborated on Scorched, an album of Turnage's orchestrations of Scofield's compositions, largely from the Blue Matter period. John Patitucci and Peter Erskine performed at the live premiere of Scorched at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt in September 2002 with the Radio-Symphony-Orchestra Frankfurt and the hr-Bigband. The performance was recorded and released by Deutsche Grammophon.[11]

Scofield released Überjam in 2002 and Up All Night in 2003, two albums on which he experimented with drum and bass. He recorded in Europe with the Bugge Wesseltoft New Conception of Jazz in 2001–2002 and 2006. In 2004 EnRoute: John Scofield Trio LIVE was released with Steve Swallow on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. It was recorded live at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City in December 2003. That was followed the next year by That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles which led to performances with Mavis Staples, Gary Versace on organ, John Benitez on bass, and Steve Hass on drums. After sitting in for two engagements in December 2005 with Phil Lesh and Friends, Scofield has played numerous shows with the band.

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At the International Jazz Festival in Enschede, The Netherlands in 2007

On September 26, 2006, he released Out Louder, his second collaboration with Medeski, Martin & Wood.[12] The group, known collectively as MSMW, toured worldwide in 2006 and 2007. Scofield performed in a duo with John Medeski named The Johns and in a trio with Medeski and drummer Adam Deitch (Deitch is also a producer). He recorded music inspired by gospel on the 2009 album Piety Street with Jon Cleary and George Porter Jr.

On September 18, 2007, EmArcy released This Meets That, an album recorded with Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart, and a horn trio. In 2011 EmArcy released A Moment's Peace, recorded with pianist Larry Goldings, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Brian Blade. Scofield's 2010 album 54 had its origin in the 1990s when Vince Mendoza asked him to play on Mendoza's first album. As director of the Metropole Orchestra, Mendoza collaborated with Scofield on arrangements of Scofield's compositions that were performed by the orchestra.

Scofield has been an adjunct faculty member in the Jazz Department in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University.[13] Inside Scofield, a film by Joerg Steineck, a feature-length documentary about Scofield, was released in 2022.[14][15]

Guitars

Scofield's first electric guitar was a Hagstrom; his "workhorse" is an Ibanez AS200 from 1982.[16] He endorses Ibanez and the company has a line of semi-hollow bodied guitars named for him.[17] Steve Vai uses one on the road, for one of the songs from Inviolate.[18]

Awards and honors

Discography

Summarize
Perspective

As leader/co-leader

More information Year released, Album title ...
Year released Album title Line-up Label Recording date Notes
1978John Scofield
Also released as East Meets West (Black Hawk, 1987)
Trio plus Terumasa Hino on two tracksTrio (JP) 1977–08 Recorded in Tokyo
1978John Scofield LiveQuartetEnja 1977–11 Live in Munich
1979Rough HouseQuartet as John Scofield QuartetEnja 1978–11
1979Who's Who?Quintet and two quartet tracksArista Novus 1979 Re-released 1990 with the four originals from Bar Talk as bonus tracks
1980Bar TalkTrio w/ Steve Swallow and Adam NussbaumArista Novus 1980–08
1982ShinolaTrio w/ Swallow and NussbaumEnja 1981–12 Live in Munich
1983Out Like a LightTrio w/ Swallow and NussbaumEnja 1981–12 Live recording from the same concert venue as Shinola
1984Solarwith John Abercrombie, duos and three quartet tracksPalo Alto 1982–05,
1983–12
1984Electric OutletQuintet w/ David Sanborn and Ray AndersonGramavision 1984–04 –
1984–05
Scofield plays also bass and DMX drum machine
1986Still WarmQuartetGramavision 1985–06
1987Blue MatterQuintet and sextet, first w/ Gary Grainger and Dennis ChambersGramavision 1986–09
1988Loud JazzQuintetGramavision 1987–12
1990Pick Hits LiveQuartetGramavision 1987–10 Live in Tokyo
1989Flat OutQuintetGramavision 1988–12
1990Time on My HandsQuartet w/ Joe Lovano. Acoustic jazz supergroup featuring Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette.Blue Note 1989–11
1991Meant to BeQuartet w/ Joe Lovano, Marc Johnson, and Bill StewartBlue Note 1990–12
1992Grace Under PressureQuartet w/ Bill Frisell plus horn section on half of the tracksBlue Note 1991–12 Frisell and Scofield had previously partnered in Marc Johnson's Bass Desires
1993What We DoQuartet w/ Joe Lovano, Dennis Irwin, and Bill StewartBlue Note 1992–05
1994 I Can See Your House from Herewith Pat Metheny, quartetBlue Note 1993–12
1994 Hand JiveSextet. Soul jazz session featuring saxophonist Eddie Harris two years before Harris's death.Blue Note 1993–10
1995Groove ElationQuartet plus horn section and percussion. Soul jazz session featuring the New Orleans style drumming of Idris Muhammad and organ by Larry Goldings.Blue Note 1995
1996QuietTrio plus horn section, feat. Wayne Shorter on three tracksVerve 1996–04 Scofield plays exclusively acoustic guitar, focus on arrangements, some light jazz waltzing and bossa nova, appropriate title
1998A Go Gowith Medeski Martin & WoodVerve 1998? First collaboration with avant-jazz-funk organ trio
1999Old FolksDuo with David FriesenWest Wind 1993–04 Conceptual compilation of equally dealt four leaders with Kenny Garrett, Michael Brecker and David Friesen
2000BumpDuo to quintet in altering constellationsVerve 1999 Scofield plays acoustic guitar on some tracks and adds more sound effects, opens further up to (slightly) younger musicians like Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen and Mark De Gli Antoni introducing electronica
2001Works for MeQuintet w/ Kenny Garrett and Brad MehldauVerve 2000–01 Contemporary post-bop line-up and repertoire
2002ÜberjamÜberjam quartet up to sextet as The John Scofield Band, first time with Avi Bortnick and Adam Deitch plus John MedeskiVerve 2001–07,
2001–08,
2001–09
With more effects, reaching into dub reggae, jungle grooves, rap and samples
2003Oh!Acoustic jazz quartet as ScoLoHoFo w/ Joe Lovano, Dave Holland and Al FosterBlue Note 2002–07
2003Up All NightÜberjam quartet plus horns as The John Scofield Band with Andy Hess, bass guitarVerve 2002–12,
2003–01
2004Scorchedwith Mark-Anthony TurnageDeutsche Grammophon 2002–09
2004John Scofield Trio LIVE EnRouteTrio w/ Swallow and Bill StewartVerve 2003–12 Live in New York City
2005That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray CharlesVerve 2004–12
2006Saudadesas Trio Beyond w/ Larry Goldings and Jack DeJohnetteECM 2004–11 One-time Tony Williams tribute band
2006Out Louderas Medeski Scofield Martin & WoodIndirecto 2006–01 First recording of Medeski, Scofield Martin & Wood partnership with co-equal contributions from Scofield and Medeski Martin & Wood
2007This Meets ThatTrio w/ Swallow and Bill Stewart plus horn sectionEmArcy 2006–09 –
2007–04
2009Piety StreetQuartet feat. vocalsEmArcy 2009?
2011 A Moment's PeaceQuartetEmArcy 2011?
2011 MSMW Live: In Case the World Changes Its Mindas Medeski Scofield Martin & WoodEmArcy 2011? [2CD] Live
2013Überjam DeuxÜberjamEmArcy 2013–01 Follow-up to Überjam (2002) and Up All Night (2003)
2014Juiceas Medeski Scofield Martin & WoodIndirecto 2014?
2015Past PresentQuartet w/ Joe Lovano, Larry Grenadier and Bill StewartImpulse! 2015–03
2016Country for Old MenQuartet w/ Larry Goldings, Steve Swallow and Bill StewartImpulse! 2016–04
2017HudsonQuartet w/ Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier and John MedeskiMotéma 2017–01
2018Combo 66Quartet w/ Gerald Clayton, Bill Stewart and Vicente ArcherVerve 2018–04
2020Swallow TalesTrio w/ Steve Swallow and Bill StewartECM 2019–03
2022John ScofieldSoloECM 2021–08
2023Uncle John's BandTrio w Vicente Archer and Bill StewartECM 2022–08 [2CD]
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John Scofield in 2017

Compilations

As a sideman

Albums listed by year of release. (Links to artists and labels on first appearance.)

More information Year recorded, Artist ...
Year recorded Artist Album title Label Notes
1974Gary MarksGatheringArewea
1974Gerry Mulligan and Chet BakerCarnegie Hall ConcertCTIReleased in 1975
1975Billy CobhamA Funky Thide of SingsAtlantic
1976Billy CobhamLife & TimesAtlantic
1976Billy Cobham & George DukeLive on Tour in EuropeAtlantic
1977Chet BakerYou Can't Go Home AgainHorizon
1977Charles MingusThree or Four Shades of BluesAtlantic
1977Jeremy SteigFireflyCTI
1977Urbie GreenSeñor BluesCTI
1977Terumasa HinoMay DanceFlying Disk
1977Chet BakerThe Best Thing for YouA&MReleased in 1989
1977Jay McShannThe Last of the Blue DevilsAtlanticReleased in 1978
1978Billy CobhamInner ConflictsAtlantic2 tracks
1978Miroslav VitousGuardian AngelsTrio (JP)Released in 1979
1978Jay McShannThe Big Apple BashAtlanticReleased in 1979
1979Jim McNeelyThe Plot ThickensMuse
1979Niels-Henning Ørsted PedersenDancing on the TablesSteepleChase
1979Zbigniew SeifertPassionCapitol
1979Martial Solal, Lee Konitz, John Scofield, Niels-Henning Ørsted PedersenFour KeysMPS
1979Jack WalrathDemons in PursuitGatemouth
1979Larry CoryellTributariesArista Novus
1979Joe Beck & Larry CoryellTributariesArista Novus
1979Hal GalperIvory ForestEnjaReleased in 1980
1979Dave LiebmanDoin' It AgainTimelessReleased in 1980
1980Dave LiebmanWhat It IsColumbia
1980Ron McClureDescendantsKen
1980Dave LiebmanIf They Only KnewTimelessReleased in 1981
1981Bill GoodwinSolar EnergyOmni Sound Jazz
1982Peter WarrenSolidarityJAPO
1983Miles DavisStar PeopleColumbia2 tracks
1983Jim PepperComin' and Goin'Antilles
1983Miles DavisDecoyColumbiaReleased in 1984
1984George AdamsMore SightingsEnja
1984Eero KoivistoinenPicture in Three ColoursProThree further tracks of this 1983 session in New York were released by the Finnish Rytmi magazine
1984Bennie WallaceSweeping Through the CityEnja
1984,
1985
Miles DavisThe Complete Miles Davis at Montreux 1973–1991Warner SwitzerlandScofield on seven of the [20CD] box set released in 2002
1984,
1985
Miles DavisYou're Under ArrestColumbia
1985George Adams-Don Pullen QuartetLive at MontmartreTimeless
1985Paul BleyHotSoul Note
1985Bennie WallaceTwilight TimeBlue Note
1985Marc JohnsonBass DesiresECMreleased in 1986
1986Tal Farlow, John Abercrombie, Larry Carlton, Larry Coryell, John Scofield, John Patitucci & Billy HartAll Strings AttachedVervePart of the 1986 concert series Jazzvisions: Made in America in Los Angeles
1986L'Orchestre National du JazzOrchestre National du Jazz '86Label Bleu
1986Franco AmbrosettiMoviesEnjareleased in 1987
1987Ron McClureHome BaseODE
1987Bennie WallaceArt of the SaxophoneDenon
1987Bennie WallaceBorder TownBlue Note
1987Roberto GattoAskInak
1987Marc JohnsonSecond SightECM
1988Franco AmbrosettiMovies TooEnja
1988Ray AndersonBlues Bred in the BoneEnja
1988Gary BurtonTimes Like TheseGRP
1988Tommy SmithStep by StepBlue Note
1988Missing LinksGroovinMCA2 tracks
1988Mike Gibbs OrchestraBig TimeVenture
1988Tom HarrellStoriesContemporary
1988Niels Lan DokyDaybreakStoryville
1989Richie BeirachSome Other TimeTriloka
1989Terri Lyne CarringtonReal Life StoryVerve Forecast
1989Jim McNeely w/the WDR Big BandEast Coast Blow OutLipstickReleased in 1991 and reissued in 2014 on Jazzline
1989Gary ThomasBy Any Means NecessaryJMT
1989Terumasa HinoBluestruckBlue Note
1989McCoy TynerThings Ain't What They Used to BeBlue NoteReleased in 1990
1990Bill Cosby & FriendsWhere You Lay Your HeadVerve
1990Joey DeFrancescoWhere Were You?Columbia
1990Manhattan Jazz QuintetManhattan BluesSweet Basil
1990Harvie SwartzIn a Different LightBlue Moon
1990Benny GolsonRhythmstickCTI
1990John PatitucciSketchbookGRP
1991Dennis ChambersGetting EvenGlass House/Pioneer (JP)
1991Peter ErskineSweet SoulArista Novus
1991Eero KoivistoinenAltered ThingsTimeless
1991Lars DanielssonFresh EnoughL+RReleased in 1992
1991Steve SwallowSwallowXtraWATTReleased in 1992
1991Mike Gibbs BandSymphony Hall, Birmingham 1991Dusk FireReleased in 2018
1992Gary BurtonSix PackGRP
1992Knut Riisnæs & Jon ChristensenKnut Riisnæs – Jon Christensen Featuring John Scofield – Palle DanielssonOdin
1992Jack DeJohnetteMusic for the Fifth WorldCapitolReleased in 1993
1992Joe HendersonSo Near, So Far (Musings for Miles)VerveReleased in 1993
1993Jimmy HaslipA R CUMG
1993Lee KonitzRhapsody IIEvidenceReleased in 1994
1994David FriesenTwo for the ShowITM Pacific
1994Ray DrummondContinuumArabesque
1995Ron HollowayStruttinMilestone
1995Lenny WhitePresent TenseHip Bop
1995Herbie HancockThe New StandardVerveReleased in 1996
1996Teodross AveryMy GenerationImpulse!
1996Gary BurtonDepartureConcord JazzReleased in 1997
1997Joe HendersonPorgy & BessVerve
1997Chris PotterUnspokenConcord Jazz
1998Mark-Anthony TurnageBlood on the FloorDecca
1998John PatitucciNowConcord Jazz
1999Joe HendersonQuiet Now: Lovesome ThingVerve2 tracks
1999Tommy SmithBlue SmithLinn
1999Ulrik / Scofield / Danielsson / ErskineShortcuts – Jazzpar Combo 1999StuntReleased in 2000
1999Gov't Mule Featuring John ScofieldSco-MuleProvogueReleased in 2015
2000Jon GordonPossibilitiesDouble-Time
2000Bill Evans (saxophonist)Soul InsiderESC2 tracks
2001MetalwoodThe ReclineVerve
2001Project Logic with John ScofieldSharin' in the GrooveWho Is She Music?Charity tribute album for Phish and The Mockingbird Foundation. Guitar on "Cars Trucks Buses".
2002Chris PotterTraveling MerciesVerve
2002Roy HaynesLove LettersEighty-Eight's
2002Bugge WesseltoftNew Conception of Jazz LiveJazzland Recordings1 track. Released in 2003.
2004Marc JohnsonShades of JadeECMReleased in 2005
2005John EllisOne Foot in the SwampHyena
2006Phil Lesh and FriendsLive at the WarfieldImage[2DVD-Video]
2006Keller WilliamsDreamSCI FidelityReleased in 2007
2009Assembly of DustSome Assembly RequiredRock Ridge Music1 track
2009Metropole Orkest Featuring John Scofield54EmArcyReleased in 2010
2009Eddie HendersonFor All We KnowFurthermoreReleased in 2010
2021Scary GoldingsScary Goldings IVPockets Inc.
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References

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