John Scofield

Explicit content warning

04/29/19 • 36 min

John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.

Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. After a debut recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, Scofield was a member of the Billy Cobham-George Duke band for two years. In 1977 he recorded with Charles Mingus, and joined the Gary Burton quartet. He began his international career as a bandleader and recording artist in 1978. From 1982–1985, Scofield toured and recorded with Miles Davis. His Davis stint placed him firmly in the foreground of jazz consciousness as a player and composer.

Since that time he has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, 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, Terumasa Hino among many jazz legends. Throughout his career Scofield has punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music. All along, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind.

Touring the world approximately 200 days per year with his own groups, he is an Adjunct Professor of Music at New York University, a husband, and father of two.

Touring the world approximately 200 days per year with his own groups, he is an Adjunct Professor of Music at New York University, a husband, and father of two.

Previous Episode

Ken Kitchings

Born and raised in Connecticut, Ken Kitchings was surrounded by music his whole life, thanks in part to his father, Chester. At age 10 he was given a sparkle red Slingerland drum set which sat in the family dining room where he learned standards as he accompanied his dad’s organ playing after dinner.

During his teen years he played in rock bands and picked up the guitar. Adulthood brought adult responsibilities; translation, working for the family business. In 2007, the family business was sold, and Ken seized the opportunity to pursue his love of jazz music by producing shows at the Garde Arts Center in New London, CT.

At the Garde he developed a small space for jazz concerts, showcasing the like of Cyrus Chestnut, Julian Lage, Jeremy Pelt, Helen Sung, Buster Williams and many more. In 2011, the Old Lyme Inn property became available and the vision of the SideDoor Jazz Club materialized.

After extensive renovations, the doors opened in May 2013 with George Wein All Stars performing the inaugural concert. Five plus years and over 500 shows later Ken still has a passion for introducing world class jazz musicians to audiences of all ages.

When not in the club on Friday and Saturday evening, Ken can be found playing the drums in the Old Lyme Inn lobby with the Steve Donovan Trio or heard on his weekly internet radio show, Jazz with Ken on iCRV radio.

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Billy Hart

Early in his career Billy Hart performed in Washington, D.C. with soul artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave, and then later with Buck Hill and Shirley Horn, and was a sideman with the Montgomery Brothers (1961), Jimmy Smith (1964–1966), and Wes Montgomery (1966–1968). Hart moved to New York in 1968, where he recorded with McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Zawinul, and played with Eddie Harris, Pharoah Sanders, and Marian McPartland.

Hart was a member of Herbie Hancock’s sextet (1969–1973), and played with McCoy Tyner (1973–1974), Stan Getz (1974–1977), and Quest (1980s), in addition to extensive freelance playing (including recording with Miles Davis on 1972’s On the Corner).

At age 78, Billy Hart continues to work steadily and teaches widely. Since the early 1990s, Hart spends considerable time at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and is adjunct faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music and Western Michigan University. He also conducts private lessons through The New School and New York University. Hart often contributes to the Stokes Forest Music Camp and the Dworp Summer Jazz Clinic in Belgium.

Hart leads his band, the Billy Hart Quartet with Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson, and Ben Street, which has released two albums on ECM Records.