Scofield John Leavitt, *26 December 1951 Dayton (Ohio), American jazz guitarist and composer. He grew up in Wilton (Connecticut) and started playing the guitar at the age of 11. He initially began by working with local rhythm and blues bands, and from 1970 to 1973 he studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Scofield’s first significant performance was a concert with C. Baker and G. Mulligan at Carnegie Hall in 1974. From 1975 to 1977, he played in B. Cobham’s band, and in 1977 he recorded his first albums, East Meets West, First Trio, John Scofield Live. During this period, he also collaborated with C. Mingus (Three or Four Shades of Blues, 1997), J. McShann, and C. Baker, and in 1978 with Z. Seifert (Passion) and D. Liebman (until 1980). In 1980–81, he played in a trio with S. Swallow and A. Nussbaum (Shinola, 1981). In 1982–85, he was a member of M. Davis’ band (Star People, 1983; Decoy, 1984; You’re under Arrest, 1985), with whom he performed in Warsaw in 1983 during the Jazz Jamboree; in 1987, he recorded the soundtrack for the film Siesta (dir. M. Lambert) with Davis. In 1984, Electric Outlet released an album recorded with D. Sanborn, among others. In 1984, Electric Outlet was released, and he recorded an album with D. Sanborn, among others. In 1985–88, he led his own music group with B. Aries, G. Grainger, and D. Chambers, with whom he recorded the highly acclaimed album Still Warm in 1986, followed by Pick Hits Live and Loud Jazz (1987). In 1986 and 2002, he performed at the Jazz Jamboree. In 1989, together with J. Lovano, he formed a band which at various times included C. Haden, M. Johnson, J. DeJohnette, D. Irvin, and B. Stewart (Time on My Hands, 1989; Plays Live, 1991); he also collaborated with B. Frisell and P. Metheny. In the 1990s, he recorded with G. Burton, H. Hancock (The New Standard, 1996), and J. Henderson (Quiet Now: Lovesome Thing, 1999). In 1997, he began a long-term collaboration with the group Medeski, Martin & Wood (A Go Go, 1998; Out Louder, 2006). In 2002, he recorded the album Überjam (nominated for a Grammy Award), in 2003 Up All Night, and in 2005 That’s what I Say. John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles. In 2015, together with J. Lovano, L. Grenadier, and B. Stewart, he recorded the album Past Present, and the following year (with L. Goldings, S. Swallow, and Stewart) Country for Old Men – both albums won Grammy Awards. In 2022, the guitarist’s first solo album, John Scofield Solo, was released. In 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2015, together with J. Lovano, L. Grenadier, and B. Stewart, he recorded the album Past Present, and the following year (with L. Goldings, S. Swallow, and Stewart) Country for Old Men – both albums won Grammy Awards. In 2022, the guitarist’s first solo album, John Scofield Solo, was released. In 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2015, together with J. Lovano, L. Grenadier, and B. Stewart, he recorded the album Past Present, and the following year (with L. Goldings, S. Swallow, and Stewart) Country for Old Men – both albums won Grammy Awards. In 2022, the guitarist’s first solo album, John Scofield Solo, was released. In 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Scofield, alongside J. McLaughlin, B. Frisell, and P. Metheny, is considered one of the leading guitarists of contemporary jazz and fusion. At the beginning of his career, he was inspired by rock, blues (including O. Rush, B.B. King, M. Waters), country, jazz guitarists (J. Hall, W. Montgomery, P. Martin), and later by the music of M. Davis and J. Coltrane. He quickly gained recognition as an extremely versatile musician, proving himself in both acoustic (recordings with Baker, Mingus, Liebman) and electric (B. Cobham’s group) ensembles. He gained wide recognition as a member of Davis’ band, where he first served as the second and later the only guitarist; he was also a co-composer of songs on the album Decoy and the title track on You’re Under Arrest. After parting ways with Davis, he developed his own individual style, which is a synthesis of various genres of jazz, rock, blues, and funk. In his latest projects (concerts in 2022 with Yankee Go Home, the album Solo), he has returned to the musical fascinations of his early years – blues, traditional American music, folk, and post-bop. A characteristic feature of his playing is the use of short, repeated melodic motifs, advanced harmony (chromaticism and modality), varied articulation, and rich rhythmic patterns. Scofield plays exclusively on electric guitar (with the exception of the 1996 album Quiet), using numerous tone pickups to enrich the colour of his music; for some time now, he has also been using a guitar sampler, which allows him to simultaneously record, play back, and modify the parts he plays (e.g., the album Solo).
