Jazz-Pittsburgh.com Jazz Fusion Artist InterviewJohn Scofield - on tour performing songs from "Up All Night" CD "Uberjam" cd - Pittsburgh JazzFest concert event listingsVisit the Pittsburgh smooth jazz news resource and premier restaurant guide at Jazz-Pittsburgh.com, the official Smooth Jazz website with best jazz club listings and Dining directory in pittsburghJohn Scofield interview By Mark O’Keefe
Herald-Standard Reprinted with permission... Jazz fans are for the most part older folks, content to sit back and take in the music without feeling the need to express themselves on the dance floor. So, it came as a huge surprise to veteran jazz guitarist John Scofield, when audience members, especially younger people, started dancing during concerts with his new jam band a couple of years ago. "I couldn’t believe it the first time when people started dancing to my music," said Scofield, 51, who has been playing jazz for nearly 30 years. "That had never happened before so it was a little strange at first. I’m used to it now, and it’s fun to see people out on the dance floor having a good time. "Of course, swing has always been a part of jazz, and people used to dance to that," added Scofield. "But this is different. This is more groove music and people, especially kids, really like dancing to it. They’re not just dancing, though. You can tell they’re listening to the music and really getting into it." As a youngster growing up, Scofield said he liked different types of music such as rock-n-roll, blues, funk and jazz and was always looking for different ways of putting the genres together. Scofield said he first found such a combination with the Medeski, Martin and Wood jam or groove band in the late 1990s. Scofield said he liked the music so much that he went out and formed his own jam band with guitarists Avi Bortnick and Jess Murphy and drummer Adam Deitch. Something clicked both with the dancing fans and critics as he received his first ever Grammy nomination last year with for the band’s CD "Uberjam". While Scofield said he had no idea why he was nominated for the CD after being overlooked so much in previous years, he conceded that the band’s appeal to young people may have been a factor in securing the contemporary jazz nomination. "It’s always hard to figure out what the Grammy voters are looking at," said Scofield, "I’ve certainly wondered over the years why certain CDs were nominated and others weren’t. But it was nice to be nominated, and we had a good time at the Grammy party after the awards. "I think there was a certain buzz about me playing with these younger musicians that probably did help the CD in some respects," he added. "But I really don’t think much about the age thing when I’m out there playing with them. Music really does transcend things like gender, sex and age. We’re just up there having a good time." Scofield recently released a second CD "Up All Night" with essentially the same band. The only change came with Andy Hess replacing Murphy on bass guitar. And they’ll be playing plenty of tunes from that CD along with "Uberjam" when the band comes to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa on Friday, July 4 for the third annual JazzFest. Scofield will be the featured performer of the evening following saxophone player Eric Alexander, with the show starting at 8 p.m. The festival will begin at 1 p.m. with a performance by the Roger Humphries Band, followed by the Sandy Dowe Trio at 3 p.m., the Ron Bickel Trio at 5 and Connellsville native Harold Betters at 6:30 p.m. The festival continues on Saturday with a variety of performances throughout the day. It will be capped off by performances from the Kenny Blake Quartet at 6:30, the Al Dowe Quintet featuring Etta Cox at 8 followed by featured performers of the night, the legendary Jazz Crusaders. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will benefit Every Child Inc., a social service which helps adopted children and their families. Joe Hardy, owner of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa, has also agreed to donate $5 for every ticket purchased by a Rotarian for Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign. For more information about tickets or the festival call 877-899-5125 or visit the resort’s website at www.nemacolin.com. Born in Ohio and raised in Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at the age of 11. A local teacher introduced him to jazz through the music of Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Pat Martino, sparking a lifelong love of jazz. He later attended the famous Berklee College of Music and played with a wide variety of musicians, including Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Billy Cobham, Gerry Mulligan, McCoy Tyner and Gary Burton. His big break, though, came in 1982 when jazz icon Miles Davis asked him to play with his band. He played with Davis for three years, appearing on four of his CDs. Although he was a stern taskmaster, Scofield said Davis helped him immensely. "We all idolized Miles. He could make it rough for you but he could also be very nice," said Scofield. "Really, though, he just wanted you to get in there and play. It was a lot of fun." Of course, one of the things Davis did was to play with younger musicians, lending a helping hand to a many newcomers who would later become stars such as Hancock, Corea, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul among many others. "Miles Davis was my role model," said Scofield. "I saw what he did in terms of what he played and didn’t play. He wasn’t afraid to try new things, and I learned from him that you have to keep changing. "I also saw how he would take different musicians and put them together in a band Miles was a great teacher and I owe a lot to him." Scofield said he’s tried to be a teacher for his young band, and he feels that the group is playing better now than ever. "These guys just keep getting better and better. Playing all the time on the road has really helped us come together. There’s a certain energy and hunger that comes with being a younger musician, and these guys aren’t afraid to push the envelope and really play. "It’s a little risky and sometimes it gets scary when you’re not sure where the music is going, but I try to encourage them to let it go free and blow it out a little," he added. "We keep trying different things, and I think the results speak for themselves." Don't forget to sign the Jazz-Pittsburgh.com Guest List and receive the newsletter to stay tuned to the announcements about what’s going on when and where! Leave any comments and/or suggestions you might have in the Guest Book and spread the word by Telling a Friend! See you at the show!! Also view:
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