JOHN SCOFIELD.. embraces the "Jam band" scene.

[West LA Jazz]

In this video, Scofield is playing at UberJam (the festival hosted and top lined by THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT).
He seems to seamlessly transition from Jazz/post modern Jazz to the “Jam band” scene (the moniker that causes a lot of the bands in this scene to gag).

I say this video could have easily been a young Scofield playing in Miles Davis’s funk Jazz band a couple of decades ago.

A few months ago, I saw a Jam Band Cruise that had Scofield's name on the bill. I took notice.

How do you Jazz guys feel about this from a musical stand point? I’m guessing he’s reaching an almost new audience in this scene which is great for an open minded musician like him.

I don’t see many of his contemporaries take the plunge towards this vibrant and lucrative audience.

[Melodic Dreamer]

I personally don't think this is anything new for him. He has done stuff like this for sometime now.

[kris]

Great Scof!!!!!
Thanks for link.

[NSJ]

He occasionally subs in with Phil Lesh and Friends.

[kris]

NICE!

[DRS]

Jazz - the original jam music.

[NSJ]

Jazz - the original jam music.

"Venues often play jazz albums over the loud speakers before the start of a jam band concert. Hedonistic soul searchers, dreaded girls in beads, frat boys in shorts, fat men with beards, and every kind of person from every walk of life finds a way to groove to that jazz music. Although they might not call themselves jazz fans, they are fans of improvisation, and the two cannot be divided. In fact, the argument could be made that jazz and jam music are no more different than jazz and blues. Jam could not exist without jazz."

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/arti...3#.UoKYKpGQlTU

If only more Phish heads could find their way to jazz. Perhaps only a select few do.

Dave Matthews? Even less so. No doubt FAR less so.

[jds1978]

I was introduced to Jazz via The Grateful Dead. Put in any 'Dark Star' from the early 1970's and you are listening to a fine fusion ensemble. The group was heavily influenced by both Miles and Coltrane. Garcia was in love with Django

Here's a good article: Grateful Dead Guide: The Dead and Jazz

[paulkogut]

Playing in a college jam band in the 80's was a great opportunity for me to get some playing chops together.It was some of my first bandstand experience and really built a strong foundation for what I'm doing now. I'm not that familiar with the current crop of groups, but still have a lot of love and respect for the music of the Grateful Dead. I hadn't done too much with that music in recent years, but a few gigs subbing in a group in Chicago that does jazz arrangements of rock tunes got my wheels turning a bit. I was sitting around one day and came up with this little rendition of Bird Song, and have been known to take the outro of In Your Own Sweet Way into a Dark Star (There's a good one up on the Youtubes with Drew Gress and Vinnie Sperrazza).

PK

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

"Venues often play jazz albums over the loud speakers before the start of a jam band concert. Hedonistic soul searchers, dreaded girls in beads, frat boys in shorts, fat men with beards, and every kind of person from every walk of life finds a way to groove to that jazz music. Although they might not call themselves jazz fans, they are fans of improvisation, and the two cannot be divided. In fact, the argument could be made that jazz and jam music are no more different than jazz and blues. Jam could not exist without jazz."

Fat men with beards? Line starts here!

[MBWendel]

Thank you for your post, Mr. Kogut.

I found your video some months back and have been listening/stealing from it since. Wonderful playing. I hope to get out some day soon and see you play locally. Thanks again!

[monkmiles]

The brilliant A Go Go album he did with MM&W was the album that really started to get him noticed and crossover into the jamb and scene/genre. I like it myself a lot.

[jds1978]

"Venues often play jazz albums over the loud speakers before the start of a jam band concert. Hedonistic soul searchers, dreaded girls in beads, frat boys in shorts, fat men with beards, and every kind of person from every walk of life finds a way to groove to that jazz music. Although they might not call themselves jazz fans, they are fans of improvisation, and the two cannot be divided. In fact, the argument could be made that jazz and jam music are no more different than jazz and blues. Jam could not exist without jazz."

Improvising Art: From Jam Bands to Jazz

If only more Phish heads could find their way to jazz. Perhaps only a select few do.

Dave Matthews? Even less so. No doubt FAR less so.

You sure you want all that mess? I had to stop going to Phish shows in 1999 b/c of the zoo. People pan handling, urinating in public, laying their cosmic debris on anyone who'll listen & freaking out on psychedelics....ugh!

[henryrobinett]

I opened up for Scofield way back in 2000. He was on his Bump Tour. That was his first jam band, as far as I know. It isn't new, unless I'm missing something.

[henryrobinett]

One of my really good friends plays keyboards with Rat Dog, a Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead spin off jam band. Maybe I should see if I can get him to get me in that scene a little bit.

[Encinitastubes]

I'm just thankful that there is a genre that embraces live music with real instruments. I think it would be real cool to see blues, jazz, country, rock, whatever on the same bill.

[teok]

Great clips. Sco still plays with fire and creativity. You get the feeling that he was born 29 years old and he'll stay that age his whole life. There's really no one like him.

[GuyBoden]

The "Blue Matter Band" with Dennis Chambers, mid/late 1980's?, sounds like a Jam band to me.

[Cunamara]

One of my really good friends plays keyboards with Rat Dog, a Phil Lesh, Grateful Dead spin off jam band. Maybe I should see if I can get him to get me in that scene a little bit.

Jeff Chimenti? He's excellent, has that stuff nailed down as well as a wider repertoire. I like his playing and his ability to be aware of what's going on around him, tying disparate musical ideas together. There are some very good recordings of him playing with Weir etc. at the Tamalpais Research Institute on YouTube, etc. I saw him with Further and Ratdog and he was outstanding on both occasions. Too bad those guys don't come around here more often.

[henryrobinett]

Yup. Jeff is a good friend, though I haven't talked to him for a couple of years. He played in my band for a few years and played on my cd When Fortresses Fall. Great guy and great musician.