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The Review - MUSIC - Classical & Jazz with TONY KIELY
Published: 10 April 2008

Guitarist John Scofield’s music explores a
variety of genres

Chills and thrills mean you have to warm to Scofield

REVIEW: JOHN SCOFIELD
Jazz Cafe

“Ok, close the door, there are enough people in here.” John Scofield was feeling the chill as he took to the Jazz Café’s stage, but the proceedings quickly heated up over the course of the evening’s performance.
The veteran guitarist, whose musical CV reads like a jazz fan’s CD collection, was playing the first of two nights with his Trio Plus Horns group, showcasing tracks from his latest album This Meets That.
Scofield’s distinctive blues and funk-informed blend of jazz-fusion easily encompasses a variety of genres, and the group started the night off with a slyly grooving version of House Of The Rising Sun before launching into a set comprised largely of Scofield’s new material.
He is an intriguing improviser, exploring the melodic and harmonic possibilities of his solos with refreshing originality, and there were also several great moments from bassist Matt Penman and drummer Bill Stewart, whose interplay throughout the night was spot on.
The three neatly arranged horns were largely left to a supporting role, augmenting the themes rather than taking a more prominent place in the band – this was definitely Scofield’s Trio Plus Horns rather than a sextet.
That said, the guitar trio can be quite a sparse set-up and, even though Scofield is very adept at small-group playing, it was good to have his overall sound filled out.
With a rousing cover of (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (“Here’s what I’ve been practising since 1965”) and finishing with a classic 12-bar blues encore, Scofield demonstrated why he is one of the great exponents of the jazz guitar. An impressive performance from a player still at the top of his game.

JOHN LYONS

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