Matt Schofield
Fluid, sophisticated blues guitar that breathes through an organ-trio pocket. A masterclass in tone and phrasing for late-night drives and dimly lit bars.
Fluid, sophisticated blues guitar that breathes through an organ-trio pocket. A masterclass in tone and phrasing for late-night drives and dimly lit bars.
Matt Schofield occupies the sweet spot where the raw grit of the Chicago blues meets the sophisticated harmonic vocabulary of jazz fusion. His sound is anchored by a warm, singing guitar tone that feels remarkably vocal, often eschewing heavy distortion for a rich, touch-sensitive saturation. The absence of a traditional bass player in his core trio creates a unique sonic space, filled instead by the deep, rhythmic thumping of a Hammond organ's left-hand bass lines.
What truly distinguishes Schofield is his phrasing. He doesn't just play blues licks; he constructs melodic arcs that utilize chromaticism and 'outside' notes borrowed from the jazz world, yet he never loses the emotional urgency of the blues. It is music that feels both highly intellectual and deeply visceral, characterized by a 'steroid-injected' funkiness that keeps the listener moving even during extended improvisational stretches.
For those new to his catalog, 'Anything but Time' is the essential entry point. Produced by legendary drummer John Mayer collaborator Steve Jordan, it captures the perfect balance of his songwriting and his explosive, fluid soloing. It is the ideal soundtrack for anyone who appreciates the technical brilliance of Robben Ford but craves the fire of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Matt Schofield (born 21 August 1977, Manchester, England) is an English blues guitarist and singer. His band, the Matt Schofield Trio, play their own material, a blend of blues, funk and jazz, as well as covers of blues classics such as Albert Collins' "Lights Are On, But Nobody's Home". Schofield is regarded as one of the most distinctive and innovative British blues guitarists, and has been rated in the top ten of British blues guitarists by Guitar & Bass Magazine. Schofield's prowess has taken his band to twelve countries, seen him playing with musicians including Buddy Guy and Robben Ford, and brought a note in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings as one of only two living British artists to gain the maximum four-star rating. In addition, he has been admitted to the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame.
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