Matt Schofield

Matt Schofield - The Trio, Live - 2004 - Nugene Records

“The best blues guitarist to have emerged from any country in decades” - (Fred Shuster, Senior Music Critic, LA Daily News)

Young Schofield's playing on this debut is dynamite! And the guy knows how to pick'em, no rehashed SRV licks here, just a blindingly fine selection of material - Guitarist Magazine

This acclaimed debut album is a melting pot of Blues and powerful funk, building upon the format of the classic American organ trios of the fifties and sixties, adding the influence of the blues guitar greats (a nod in the direction of benchmark players such as BB King, Albert Collins and Robben Ford) and mixing in funky instrumental workouts. The result is a distinctive and highly charged sound, described by a music critic as “astonishingly mature for such a young group of musicians”. © 2005 Nugene Records. All rights reserved

Paul Jones (BBC R2) on hearing the Matt Schofield Trio, said “I could be somewhere in America listening to an internationally known group, and I think they possibly will be”.

Guitarist Magazine described Matt’s guitar playing as “Dynamite” and Jonny Henderson’s organ playing as “Sensational”.

Blues Revue (published out of the USA and the world’s premiere blues magazine) labelled Matt “a master of tone” and the CD “greasy and grand”.

Vintage Guitar, America’s premiere six string read, listed the CD in their VG Hit List calling it “a fine record”, while Blues News in Germany describes the CD as “a reviewers dream…a real cracker, fresh and powerful”.

The Trio, Live was recorded at the Bishops Blues club at The Half Moon, Bishops Stortford, England, in 2004. What you hear on the album is a concert direct from the original tape, with no retakes, or overdubs. Amazing stuff from three musicians. There is no bass player in the trio, but "bass sounds" are recreated from Jonny Henderson on Hammond organ! Matt Schofield is a magnificent guitarist. To quote the great Robben Ford, "He is one helluva guitarist" , and this is a great album, HR by A.O.O.F.C. Buy his "Heads, Tails & Aces" album. You can also finf info on the "Matt Schofield Trio's "Ear To The Ground" album @ MSCHO3O/E2TG Support this great player !

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Uncle Junior - Alan Evans
2 Everyday I Have the Blues - Peter Chatman
3 Bloody Murder - Patt
4 Treat Me Lowdown - Walker
5 Cissy Strut - Ziggy Modeliste/Art Neville/Leo Nocentelli/George Porter, Jr.
6 Travellin' South - Collins/Modelist/Art Neville/Leo Nocentelli/George Porter, Jr.
7 Sittin' on Top of the World - Lonnie Carter/Little Walter
8 Hippology - Bruce Katz

TRIO

Matt Schofield: guitar, vocals
Jonny Henderson: organ
Evan Jenkins: drums

BIO (MATT SCHOFIELD)

Inspired by the Blues, infused with the funk rhythms of New Orleans and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, Matt Schofield is being talked of as the finest Blues guitarist to have emerged in Europe for several generations, perhaps even in the World. His latest album "Siftin Thru Ashes" (Nugene Records) has received rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. Britain's Guitarist magazine describes Schofield's guitar playing as "Dynamite", picking him as the only non-American in their review of the future of Blues guitar; while America's Blues Revue calls him "The entire package – a singer with range and soul, and a guitarist who delivers with devastating tone and superb dynamics". BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Jones picked Schofield as one of his highlights of 2005, commenting "I think it's time he became a big star." The LA Daily News describes Schofield as "Head and shoulders above the herd" while music bible AllMusic.com marks Schofield's approach "an enjoyable demonstration of what can happen when blues-rock and blues-jazz are united". Music magazine, MOJO, gave Siftin' Thru Ashes a four star (excellent) rating, something rarely given to UK Blues artists. In 2006, just two years after his debut CD, Schofield gained the distinction of being one of only two living British artists to be given a four star (excellent) rating in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings. The band line-up harks back to the classic organ trios of the fifties and sixties. Jonny Henderson on Hammond organ gives sleazy texture and dynamics while holding down left hand bass lines, and "drummers' drummer" Evan Jenkins provides compelling grooves. But that's where any comparison with a traditional organ trio ends. With their huge sounding, multi-layered and rhythmically infectious delivery this band redefines the meaning of "power trio" and are unlike anything else on the Blues scene today. Born in Manchester, Matt's family moved to Fairford in Gloucestershire when he was a youngster. He first started playing guitar seriously at 12. It was not the guitar heroes of that period (the late-eighties) that inspired him. Rather it was seeing a video of BB King, Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan playing together that fired Matt's imagination. The call of music was strong. As soon as Matt finished college he ventured to London to check out the music scene, visiting the Blues jams around town, and was soon playing professionally. After touring and recording with the Lee Sankey Group, Matt was recruited by British Blues Diva, Dana Gillespie, to form part of her 'London Blues Band'. While all this was happening Matt consciously avoided being labelled a teenage wonder. "When I started playing on the Blues circuit I was never comfortable with the 'hot young guitarist' label. Instead of being 'good for my age' I just wanted to be 'good'. So I decided to learn my trade first. I learned so much by backing other artists. What to do, and not do". Working in the house band at many international festivals, including the Mustique Blues Festival for several years (often an exhausting 6 hours a night for 14 days) saw Matt backing a long list of artists, providing tremendous experience. "The Trio came together almost by accident. Not having a bass player for a gig one night, we thought we'd give it a go with Jonny doing left-hand bass on the organ, and from the first note we knew we were onto something. People kept coming back to hear more and asking if we had a CD and where else they could see us. One of those 'if it feels good, it is good' things. "The unique format of the organ trio allows an unusual freedom of improvisation and interaction. It's exciting because it's different every time! It's a very collaborative, sum of the parts thing. "Jonny's extremely talented and the perfect keyboard foil for me. He has learned from many of the same musicians as I did, so he knows how to back me up perfectly, but can also really tear it up in his own right. His left hand bass gives The Trio such a distinctive groove plus, like me, he's a real 'tone' guy and has nailed that vintage Hammond sound. "I'm very proud to have Evan involved. He's one of my favourite drummers anywhere. I have played together with him more than any other drummer, in many different situations. His feel and timing are second to none. Evan can play it all - Jazz, Rock, Pop, but he also has a natural feel for blues, and he always does it his own way." © 2005 Nugene Records. All rights reserved