Aside from being one of the principal innovators of modern jazz
guitar, John Scofield is a creative artist of an even rarer sort: a
stylistic chameleon who has forged a consistent, rock-solid aesthetic
identity. An artist with fan bases in many camps and forty albums to
his credit, he has expressed himself in the vernacular of bebop,
blues, jazz-funk, organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz, electronically
tinged groove music and orchestral ensembles with ease and enthusiasm.
His versatility and technical mastery won him early sideman gigs with
Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and
Cobham/Duke among many. Since that time he remains firmly in the
foreground of jazz consciousness as a player and composer, prominently
leading his own groups in the international Jazz scene, his own albums
(many already classics) including collaborations with many
contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Charlie Haden,
Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau,
Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil
Lesh. He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron
Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, among many jazz
legends. Regardless of the stylistic setting, his distinct guitar
sound and compositions are unmistakably Scofieldesque, always coupled
with an improvisational excellence and dedicated to the finest in jazz
tradition. Jon Cleary is known for his salty-sweet voice, masterful
piano skills, and a knack for coupling infectious grooves with melodic
hooks and sharp lyrics. Born in Kent, England in 1964, Cleary steeped
in the sounds of American roots music as a child via New Orleans funk
and R&B 45s. Venturing to the Crescent City at 17, he quickly earned
the respect of local music community. He spent the '80s gigging as a
sideman and bandleader with a rotating cast of New Orleans' best
including members of funk forefathers the Meters and delta-bluesman
John Mooney. He has balanced the last few years with an international
fan base as a member of Bonnie Raitt's group and his own group (with
album of the same name) Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen.
Cleary has the self-made Moonburn (Virgin 1999), and his ode to Big
Easy R&B - Alligator Lips and Dirty Rice (Ace 1994). All of Jon's
talents are manifest on Pin Your Spin, Basin Street Records produced
by John Porter. His latest Occapella was released in 2012.
music
acoustic
blues
funk
jazz
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17/12/2015 Last update