Album Spotlight: John Scofield – Hudson

ByBob Bakert, Editor February 3, 2019February 7, 2019

John Scofield has been breaking new ground since the 70s’.

He has played with Miles Davis, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock and dozens of other luminaries. John is always moving musically into unexpected interesting places.

One of the first guys in jazz to adopt a “thin line” (Ibanez signature model) and to use a very innovative tone for jazz, distortion, courtesy of a ProCo Rat pedal. John’s sound and often understated playing has always been compelling and has garnered him as a major influence with most guitar players I know. He’s Berklee trained and entrenched in the worlds of bebop, jazz fusion, blues, and funk. Lately he has been paying honor to what I will call American musical heritage… His record “Hudson” draws from the Hudson Valley and the amazing artist that had settled there or made contribution as a result of their time in that very sacred area.

John at 67 is just getting started it seems. He and his band it seems are always touring, with well more than 100 dates a year. He also has been very prolific with recording projects, “Country for Old Men” in 2016, “Hudson” from 2017 and “Combo 66” from 2018.

Check out Scofield’s Hudson

Bob Bakert, Editor

Bob Bakert’s love of all things guitar started when he was twelve years old. While starting with folk tunes and top 40 music of the day, his interest developed over the years to R&B, rock and of course, jazz. Bob has studied many styles of guitar but improvisation has always been at the heart of his style. He has studied with many prestigious teachers including NY studio legend Andy Roemer and GSU’s Dave Frackenpohl.

In addition to co-founding the Frank Hamilton School of Folk music in Atlanta, Bob has mentored several venues and concert series. He is currently on the board of directors for one of Billboard Magazines “Best Jazz Clubs”, The Velvet Note in Alpharetta, GA.

More recently, Bob was the “Rudder” at Eastman Stringed Instruments – providing guidance on a variety of sales, product development and artist relations projects. As with many in the Jazz Guitar Today audience, Bob has an insatiable appetite for guitar and a desire to share his love of the instrument.