Singer-songwriter Yu Sakai
— Yu Sakai feat. TBN Trio: Tiny Desk Concert
sourcedGuitar / Electric Guitar / Electric Bass
John Scofield
(1951–)
United States·Berklee College of Music
John Scofield (b. 1951) — Guitar, Electric Guitar. Led Still Warm, Quiet, A Go Go. Worked with Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Miles Davis.
Funky and gritty. He prefers a distorted sound over a clean one, and the fusion of blues, jazz, and funk in his playing is unmistakable. He joined Miles Davis's electric band in the '80s and later became known for his collaborations with Medeski, Martin & Wood.
John Scofield's videos
August 14, 1993, Newport Jazz Festival. Full concert by John Scofield
John Scofield's albums
John Scofield joined Miles Davis's band in 1982 and stayed about three and a half years. His first studio appearance was on Star People (1983), followed by writing and guitar contributions to Decoy (1984) and You're Under Arrest (1985).
John Scofield's leader album
Released April 7, 1998 on Verve, A Go Go was John Scofield's first collaboration with Medeski, Martin & Wood. Recorded at Avatar Studios in NYC and produced by Lee Townsend, its ten Scofield originals fuse jazz with funk and groove.
John Scofield's albums
When John Scofield joined Miles Davis's band in November 1982, it left two guitarists standing in the lineup. By Scofield's account, Miles liked putting two players of the same instrument together to make them compete — deliberately building the kind of redundancy most bandleaders take pains to avoid.
— Statement stmt-john-scofield-on-miles-davis
John Scofield's albums
Miles Davis's 1984 album Decoy features guitarist John Scofield alongside bassist Darryl Jones. In 1993, Jones became the Rolling Stones' touring bassist — an unlikely bridge from Davis's fusion-era band to one of rock's most enduring institutions.
John Scofield's albums
Don Alias was brought to Bitches Brew (1970) as a percussionist, but on "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" he is the one at the drum kit — the New Orleans-flavored beat was his idea, and the leader told him to play it himself.
— Statement stmt-jack-dejohnette-on-don-alias
Don Alias
Herbie Hancock
Michael Brecker
Dave Holland
Jack DeJohnetteJohn Scofield said
That shows what a good guy Mike is. But I really think Miles liked to get two guys on the same instrument and have them compete in the band.
Recalling how he joined Miles Davis's band in November 1982 alongside Mike Stern, creating a two-guitar front line.
John Scofield said
He was a brilliant strategist at getting the music out there, but still playing what he considered great, and important jazz music, because he loved that.
On Miles Davis as a star who transcended jazz.
John Scofield said
He was a great composer, and simplicity was his thing; he had the balls to write songs like 'So What' and the second 'Milestones' and 'Jean Pierre,' which was in our band's book when we played with Miles.
Assessing Miles Davis as a composer, in the context of covering one of his tunes.
John Scofield said
All musicians who loved jazz loved Miles. He could be very difficult and mercurial and all that but he was also very funny.
Looking back on his three years in Miles Davis's band, 1982-85.
↗ ARTSFILE
TD Ottawa Jazz Festival: John Scofield talks Miles Davis, missing Woodstock and supergroup Hudson
2017-06-20
John Scofield said
We share decades of common references musically. The similarities and differences in our approaches make for a more interesting collaboration, I think.
On the making of Memories of Home, his duo album with bassist Dave Holland.
About John Scofield
We also played together on Herbie's New Standards, that was a great recording which featured Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Dave Holland, myself and Don Alias.
Listing his work with percussionist Don Alias, including Herbie Hancock's The New Standard (1995).
↗ Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program
Jack DeJohnette NEA Jazz Master Interview
2011-11-10