Prelude to A Fest

Two Legends, Once In A Lifetime

JOHN SCOFIELD

John Scofield is considered one of the "big three" of current jazz guitarists — along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell. His influence began in the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.

Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. After a debut recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, Scofield was a member of the Billy Cobham- George Duke band for two years. In 1977 he recorded with Charles Mingus, and joined the Gary Burton quartet. He began his international career as a bandleader and recording artist in 1978.

From 1982-1985, Scofield toured and recorded with Miles Davis. His Davis stint placed him firmly in the foreground of jazz consciousness as a player and composer. Since that time he has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh. He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, Terumasa Hino among many jazz legends. Throughout his career Scofield has punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music. All along, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind.

Touring the world approximately 200 days per year with his own groups, he is an Adjunct Professor of Music at New York University, a husband and father of two. Aside from being one of the principal innovators of modern jazz guitar, John Scofield is a creative artist of an even rarer sort: a stylistic chameleon who has forged a consistent, rock-solid aesthetic identity. An artist with fan bases in many camps and nearly three dozen albums to his credit, he has expressed himself in the vernacular of bebop, blues, jazz-funk, organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz, electronically tinged groove music and orchestral ensembles with ease and enthusiasm. From early on, his versatility and technical mastery won him sideman gigs with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Cobham/Duke among many. Regardless of the stylistic setting, his distinct guitar sound and compositions are unmistakably Scofieldesque, always coupled with an improvisational excellence dedicated to the finest in jazz tradition.

“When I compose a tune,” he explains, “I often hear more parts than I end up playing on the guitar. All these tunes swing,” Scofield points out. “One may be funky, another may be country, but the swing element is important to all of them.” To this day, Scofield often phrases with a pronounced touch of rock and blues, no matter how advanced the harmonic context. Scofield also believes in supporting new talent, as is clear from the presence of fresh faces in his touring bands. “It’s the jazz way,” Scofield declares. “I started out so inspired by my elders, and I got to play with many of the guys I listened to on records, like Miles, Joe Henderson, Chick and Herbie, like Steve Swallow for that matter. Then you get to pass it on. That’s the way life works. . . in music, we really get to share and grow.”

JOE LOVANO

“It’s fair to say that he’s one of the greatest musicians in jazz history.”

Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

2006 Grammy Nomination Best Large Jazz Ensemble Recording – “Streams of Expression”

2005 Down Beat Critic’s & Reader’s Polls – Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”

2004 New York Times – Jazz Album Of The Year -- “I’m All For You”

Down Beat Critic’s & Reader’s Polls – Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”

Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Nominee for “Large Ensemble of the

Year” (Nonet) and “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”;

2003 Down Beat Critic’s Poll Winner – Tenor Saxophonist of the Year

2002 NY Times Top Ten Jazz Albums – “Viva Caruso”

2001 Down Beat Reader’s Poll Winner for Jazz Artist of the Year; Tenor Saxophonist of the Year;

Jazz Album of the Year for “52nd Street Themes” (“Flights Of Fancy” placed #3)

Down Beat Critic’s Poll Winner for Musician of the Year

Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Winner for “Musician of the Year” and

“Jazz Album of the Year” (52nd St. Themes); Nominated for “Small Ensemble of the Year”

“Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”;

Recipient of "The Gary Burton Chair for Jazz Performance" by Berklee College of Music

2000 Grammy Winner for Best Large Ensemble for 52nd Street Themes

Down Beat Readers & Critics Poll Winner Tenor Player of the Year

Jazz Journalists Association Critic’s Choice Awards Nominee for “Musician of the Year”

and Winner “Tenor Saxophonist of the Year”

1999 Jazz Times Readers Poll Album of the Year Trio Fascination: Edition One

Bell Atlantic Jazz Awards, winner Best Tenor Saxophonist

and nominee for Musician of the Year

1998 New York Jazz Awards nominee for Musician Of The Year;

Improviser of the Year; Best Tenor Saxophonist

Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards nominee for Musician of the Year; Best

Improviser of the Year; Best Artist/Band In Performance

Best Combo of 1997 (Joe Lovano Sextet)

Best Tenor Sax Player of the Year

Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music

1997 Grammy Nominee Best Instrumental Performance for Celebrating Sinatra

Jazz Journalists Association Critics Choice Awards Winner

"Album of the Year" for Quartets Live At The Vanguard

nominee for Musician of the Year;

Best Instrumentalist; Best Working Ban(Joe Lovano Quartet)

1996 Grammy Nominee Best Jazz Small Group Album and Jazz Solo for Quartets

Live at theVillage Vanguard

"Jazz Artist of the Year" Down Beat Critics Poll & Readers Poll

"Tenor Player of the Year" 1995 Down Beat Readers Poll

"Album of the Year" Rush Hour 1995 Down Beat Critics & Readers PolL

1995 Grammy Nominee Best Large Ensemble for Rush Hour

Jazz Report Magazine (Canada)"International Artist of the Year"

1994 Grammy Nominee Best Jazz Small Group Album for Tenor Legacy

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• OUR SPONSOR

Jazzphil is proud to announce that Vibal Publishing through its pet project, Filipiniana.net is now sponsoring our website through the kindness of Gaspar Vibal, himself a jazz lover and New Yorker. Gus sponsored the Berlin based trio that graced our international jazz fest held last February.

 

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