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John Scofield

Past Present

Impulse!

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'Inside Scofield' trailer
zZounds.com: An Interview with John Scofield
John Scofield Interview with Rick Beato
Elbphilharmonie Sessions
Trailer
1 Slinky
2 Chap Dance
3 Hangover
4 Museum
5 Season Creep
6 Get Proud
7 Enjoy The Future!
8 Mr. Puffy
9 Past Present
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John Scofield updates his early-'90s quartet with drummer Bill Stewart and saxophonist Joe Lovano by recruiting bassist Larry Grenadier for his fetching, appropriately titled impulse! debut, Past Present. Between 1990 and 1992, the celebrated guitarist released three well-received discs – Meant to Be, Time on My Hands and What We Do – for the Blue Note label as the John Scofield Quartet. On those records, either Marc Johnson or Dennis Irwin played bass. Nevertheless, Grenadier also has history playing with Scofielld; he toured with Scofield in support of the 1996 disc, Quiet.

The nine exciting tunes Scofield penned on Past Present also reflects his philosophy on playing jazz music. He stresses the importance of being knowledgeable of the music's deep, complex roots while simultaneously being spontaneous and in the moment while performing it. For an artist with such a multifaceted discography as Scofield's, getting to the root of jazz means channeling the blues, as demonstrated on the disc's closing, titled-track. 

  • John Scofield Q&A's about new ECM album: 'Uncle Johns Band' w/London Jazz News: Mondays with Morgan
    Posted At: October 23, 2023
    John Scofield’s new album, Uncle John’s Band, which features bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Bill Stewart, is available now via ECM Records. Before you ask: no, sorry, Uncle John’s Band isn’t John Scofield’s out-of-nowhere Grateful Dead tribute album. He’s quick to clarify this in its accompanying minidoc [see video below], and he reiterates it over Zoom, as his lovably noisy dogs vie for his attention b...

  • John Scofield trio. Quality time with 'Uncle Johns Band' / the arts fuse
    Posted At: October 22, 2023
    A stirring trio date featuring John Scofield on guitar with Vicente Archer on bass and Bill Stewart on drums.the arts fuse - Michael Ullman writes…..Uncle John’s Band — the album’s title comes from a Grateful Dead tune, not from Scofield family lore — turns out to be a trio date featuring Scofield on guitar of course, with Vicente Archer on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. (Anything with Stewart on it is bou...

  • We're not playing swing, but we're swinging / John Scofield Q&A's with TIDAL
    Posted At: October 12, 2023
    The inimitable guitarist on working with Miles Davis, seeing Jimi Hendrix live and approaching rock in a jazz way on new album Uncle John’s Band.TIDAL's Lee Mergner writes….Ever since he was a teenager in Connecticut, studying jazz guitar while also attending concerts by some of the biggest acts in rock history, the guitarist and composer John Scofield has been immersed in music across genre barriers. On Un...

  • 'Uncle Johns Band' captures the freewheeling ethos that characterizes John Scofield's playing / jazzwise
    Posted At: October 10, 2023
    Named for the Grateful Dead song that concludes this double album, Uncle John’s Band features masterful guitarist John Scofield at his most freewheeling. Wide ranging repertoire finds his trio with Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” to Neil Young’s “Old Man”, from Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” to the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool classic “Budo”. And jazz sta...

  • John Scofield's 'Uncle Johns Band' makes 'JAZZIZ - 10 Albums You Need to Know for October 2023'
    Posted At: October 4, 2023
    Named for the Grateful Dead song that concludes this double album, Uncle John’s Band features masterful guitarist John Scofield at his most freewheeling. Wide ranging repertoire finds his trio with Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” to Neil Young’s “Old Man”, from Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” to the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool classic “Budo”. And jazz sta...

  • A John Scofield lesson is a lesson in melodic choices / Guitar Techniques
    Posted At: September 17, 2023
    With credits spanning Miles Davis to John Mayer, John Scofield is one of jazz guitar’s most idiosyncratic players – and his mind-bending solo phrasing is a must-learn. In this tab and audio lesson, we dive into his genre-spanning style to hone your jazz chops. Guitar Techniques - John Wheatcroft  writes…With a career that spans almost five decades, John Scofield’s style has continued to evolve, en...

  • John Scofield reflects on 'Inside Scofield,' documentary / InsideHook
    Posted At: June 12, 2023
    InsideHook's BONNIE STIERNBERG writes…..Jazz guitarist and living legend John Scofield has been releasing an album a year since 1977. Today, he’s the subject of  Inside Scofield  — a documentary feature film by  German filmmaker Joerg Steinbeck. Scofield’s neighbor, filmmaker Brian DeCubellis, caught news of this when chatting with him as they both walked their dogs. DeCubellis got a screener...

  • 'Inside Scofield' profiles the compulsively creative lifestyle of a road dog master / NYS Music
    Posted At: December 13, 2022
    NYS Music's Sal Cataldi writes…With his new documentary, INSIDE SCOFIELD, filmmaker Joerg Steineck has crafted one of the truest representations of the compulsively creative lifestyle of a “road dog” jazz master – in this case, the always superlative guitarist John Scofield. Steineck makes the incredibly wise decision of letting Scofield tell his story in his own words. This comes via voiceover narrati...

  • John Scofield and Dave Holland at the Blue Note. What two lifetimes of musical excellence can sound like / relix
    Posted At: September 29, 2022
    Jazz Icons John Scofield and Dave Holland at the Blue Note Jazz Club (A Gallery)relix writes…Last night, jazz icons John Scofield & Dave Holland continued their six-night run at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. During the two performances, the American guitarist and composer and English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader showcased what two lifetimes of musical excellence can sound lik...

  • Watch Nigel Hall rip 'Hey Joe' with John Scofield at Brooklyn Comes Alive / LIVE FOR LIVE MUSIC
    Posted At: September 15, 2022
    LIVE FOR LIVE MUSIC's Andrew O'Brien writes……Today, fan-favorite soul-funk keyboardist/vocalist Nigel Hall celebrates his 41st birthday. Hall has kept busy over the last several years touring and recording with Lettuce, releasing another stunning solo record, Spiritual, and participating in various other collaborative projects. One such memorable collaboration came during the 2017 edition of Brooklyn Comes ...

  • John Scofield joins JAZZ88 - Minneapolis - The Afternoon Cruise ahead of Dakota shows
    Posted At: September 6, 2022
    Guitarist/composer John Scofield is out on the road with his band to support his new, self-titled release, and they’re taking the stage of the Dakota on Thursday evening, September 8th.  He was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit with Sean McPherson on JAZZ88: The Afternoon Cruise…..Minneapolis.LISTEN TO THE SEGMENTWith a career spanning over half a century, marked by influe...

  • The venerable Sco has recorded an album completely by himself / JazzTimes
    Posted At: August 26, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield on playing guitar with a looper / UltimateGuitar.com Q&A
    Posted At: August 11, 2022
    Jazz Legend John Scofield on Playing Guitar With a Looper: 'It's the Same as When You're Playing With Human Beings'"The difference is that you really hear what you're doing".UltimateGuitar.com writes…..A one-of-a-kind guitarist, John Scofield rose to prominence for his work with such influential artists as Chet Baker and Miles Davis, but he quickly distinguished himself with his own solo work, where he comb...

  • Its no surprise that John Scofield demonstrates he's more than up to the task on first solo-guitar album / Vintage Guitar
    Posted At: August 3, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • The long wait pays off on John Scofield's first ever guitar-solo recording / Different Noises
    Posted At: July 19, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield's first ever solo guitar recording makes JAZZIZ: The Week in Jazz
    Posted At: May 24, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield's 'Since You Asked' makes All About Jazz / Mondo Jazz: New Releases
    Posted At: May 21, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield serves up an inventive, intimate set of solitary music making / jazz & blues report
    Posted At: May 11, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield is alone with himself and the guitar on new ECM solo album / NDR
    Posted At: May 9, 2022
    After a long time alone at home due to the pandemic, jazz guitarist John Scofield is releasing a solo album.NDR's Sarah Seidel writes….John Scofield turned 70 last December. The guitarist is one of the big names in American jazz, and his career has spanned more than 50 years. He has played with Miles Davis, George Duke, Billy Cobham and Steve Swallow. A musician at home in blues, rock, hard bop and groove j...

  • John Scofield offers intimate self-portrait on first solo guitar album / Live For Live Music
    Posted At: May 9, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield chats with radio france
    Posted At: May 9, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • On this album of smartly chosen songs, John Scofield could soundtrack the rest of your life / THE BIG TAKE OVER
    Posted At: May 4, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • Now that he's 70, its only right that John Scofield takes a victory lap with his first solo album / the arts fuse
    Posted At: May 3, 2022
    the arts fuse - Allen Michie writes…John Scofield is one of those guitarists whose sound is identifiable within three notes, no matter whether he’s playing mainstream jazz, fusion, country, rock, or experimental music. He’s always had his own distinctive identity, even from his earliest recordings, which now date from almost 50 years ago. Scofield has a characteristic attack: he hovers his way into and out ...

  • John Scofield - Trance De Jour is featured track on JazzFM: Mark Walkers Dinner Jazz
    Posted At: April 29, 2022
    With a career spanning over half a century, marked by influential collaborations with jazz greats like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson as well as several dozen genre-bending leader dates, it’s all the more striking that this is in fact John Scofield’s first ever guitar-solo recording. The long wait, however, pays off, as John is able to benefit from his decades of experience and charts an intimate path throug...

  • John Scofield stripping down for socially distanced solo sets at the Ridgefield Playhouse / The Newtown Bee
    Posted At: April 8, 2021

    The Newtown Bee - John Voket writes.....Multiple Grammy-winning jazz guitar icon John Scofield describes his upcoming socially distanced shows at the Ridgefield Playhouse like the musical equivalent of a tightrope walk. But instead of balancing himself with a bar - he is doing it with a single guitar. While over the past few years, and for the first few times since he took up guitar and began serious...

  • Steve Swallow wins JazzTimes: Critics Poll for 'Best Electric Bassist'
    Posted At: February 1, 2021

    For this annual companion poll to our Top 50 Critics' Picks, our regular contributors participated in this survey based on our yearly Readers' Poll. Contributors were asked to focus on artists' achievements during 2020 rather than assessing entire careers. Steve Swallow wins for 'Best Electric Bassist.' A lauded bassist and composer, Steve Swallow is an influential performer who helped define...

  • John Scofield - Swallow Tales makes 'JazzTimes: Top 40 New Jazz Releases of 2020'
    Posted At: January 11, 2021

    JazzTimes writes......For our 2020 Year in Review section, we calculated the top 40 new releases and top 10 historical/reissue recordings of 2020 based on year-end lists by our writers. They were asked to choose the 10 best new releases and five best historical titles-i.e., albums and box sets consisting primarily of music recorded 10 or more years ago. Some discs may have slipped through the cracks, but...

  • John Scofield - Swallow Tales makes 'Jazz Police: 20 from 2020 - the New Music that Helped'
    Posted At: December 23, 2020

    2020 was the Year of the Rat which seems fitting for this year of plague. Concerts have been canceled, jazz clubs closed and it was a time when we needed music more than ever. If this dark cloud has a silver lining there must be serious wood-shedding going on right now and in 2021 after some normality returns we will witness a creative explosion of new music. But for now live streaming events help and bo...

  • John Scofield - Swallow Tales makes The Guardian '10 best jazz albums of 2020'
    Posted At: December 21, 2020

    Alongside archive recordings from Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, and inventive new releases by Maria Schneider and Carla Bley, 2020 had plenty of spectacular fusions The partnership between guitarist John Scofield and electric bassist Steve Swallow goes back a long way, and they both have instantly recognisable identities on their respective versions of a guitar. Scofield plays jazz with a biting, ...

  • John Scofield - Swallow Tales makes BBC Music Magazine's 'The best jazz recordings released in 2020 so far'
    Posted At: October 23, 2020

    A list of the greatest jazz albums released so far this year, as chosen by the BBC Music Magazine critics includes; John Scofield - Swallow Tales, featuring; John Scofield (electric guitar), Steve Swallow (bass guitar), Bill Stewart (drums) ECM 2679 The electric guitarist John Scofield comes full circle with this fine trio release, revisiting original pieces from veteran bass player Steve Sw...

  • HPR's 'All Things Considered' goes 'Off The Road With John Scofield'
    Posted At: September 15, 2020

    Today All Things Considered Honolulu Host Dave Lawrence continues our Off the Road series of interviews with musicians sharing how the pandemic and other crises have touched them. John Scofield has earned a place in the world of jazz guitar over a career that began decades ago when he started performing professionally while still a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He went on to be part ...

  • The Steve Swallow - John Scofield story / Something Came From Baltimore
    Posted At: August 20, 2020

    Guitarist John Scofield celebrates the music of his friend and mentor Steve Swallow in an out going and spirited recording, made in an afternoon in New York City in March 2019-"old school" style as Scofield says, acknowledging that more than forty years of preparation led up to it. John was a 20-year-old student at Berklee when he first met and played with bassist Steve Swallow. Something came from B...

  • 'A Neon Jazz Interview' catches up with John Scofield
    Posted At: July 30, 2020

    Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Guitarist John Scofield. We caught up with him to talk abut his newest 2020 CD Swallow Tales that celebrates the music of his friend and mentor Steve Swallow made in an afternoon in New York City in March 2019 .. John was a 20-year-old student at Berklee when he first met and played with bassist Swallow, and they have continue...

  • John Scofield fits between post-bop, funk, jazz & r&b / Montana Public Radio
    Posted At: July 29, 2020

    Legendary jazz guitarist John Scofield speaks with host John Floridis and answers questions submitted by Musician's Spotlight listeners through social media. In addition to dozens of recordings under his own name, Scofield's recorded collaborations read like a who's who of jazz royalty: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, Gary Burton, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and his bass-playing mentor, Stev...

  • WSUM: Madison & GreenArrowRadio chats with Steve Swallow about new John Scofield - ECM release
    Posted At: July 22, 2020

    Friend of the proGram, John Scofield celebrates the music of his friend and mentor Steve Swallow in an outgoing and spirited recording, aply titled "Swallow Tales" – made in an afternoon in New York City in March 2019. John was a 20-year-old student at Berklee when he first met and played with bassist Swallow, and they have continued ever since, in many different contexts. I had the honor of ch...
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