John Scofield

Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. A local teacher introduced him to Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall and Pat Martino, which sparked a lifelong love of jazz. Sco soon attended the Berklee College of Music, later moving into the public eye with a wide variety of bandleaders and musicians including Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Billy Cobham/George Duke, Gerry Mulligan, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, and Gary Burton. In 1982, he began a three-and-a-half-year stint touring with Miles Davis. Scofield's compositions and inimitable guitar work appear on three of Davis' albums.

Scofield began recording as a leader in the late 1970s, establishing himself as an influential and innovative player and composer. His recordings--many already classics--include collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Government Mule, and Joe Lovano. Through it all, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind.

Previously recorded outings by Scofield have found him performing in elaborate settings. His works range from the plugged-in, electronically tweaked jamming of Up All Night, to the full orchestral setting of the recent Scorched, a collaboration with British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage issued on the venerable classical imprint, Deutsche Grammophon. In 2004 Verve released the highly anticipated EnRoute, a recording that focuses on the high-wire interaction of longtime musical partners, guitarist John Scofield and his trio mates--bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart, in the heat of a live, stripped-down jazz setting.

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