At the end of the sixties jazz got control of another weapon, namely the guitar. Where confident soloist like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker fired at the audience with notes coming from trumpets and saxophones, musicians like John McLaughlin, following Jimi Hendrix, adopted the electric guitar. That the new jazz stars are guitarists cannot be considered a miracle, and that musician John Scofield is one of the greatest among these pluckers will not be a surprise to anyone who ever heard him play. Nicknamed 'Sco' he does not race through chords motionlessly, but is more of an instant composer that turns any improvisation into a song on itself. He takes time out to color every note he plays and thus this master guitarists tells a heartbreaking story in each solo. One could say that Scofield learnt the trade from Miles Davis, the legend with whom the guitarist for three years toured, composed, arranged and recorded. In the nineties Scofield reached great heights due to his almost telepathic ensembles with saxophone player Joe Lovano. Lovano was taught by his father Tony Big T. Lovano, a saxophone player who never got famous outside Cleveland, Ohio, but did have influential friends like pianist Tadd Dameron and trumpet player Benny Bailey. Big T. had been teaching his son since he was ten years old and twelve years later Joe was hired by organ player Lonnie Smith. Afterwards Lovano jr. played with Woody Herman, Mel Lewis, Carla Bley, Paul Motian and… the John Scofield quartet. This gig would prove to be his final break-through. A few years ago the stars parted and went their separate ways. Especially for North Sea Jazz the two grandmasters are reunited. At this special occasion they will be accompanied by bass player Dave Holland and drummer Al Foster. Holland, 'kidnapped' from England by Miles Davis at the end of the sixties, belongs to the absolute top of double bass players. Drummer Al Foster was also chosen by Miles Davis to join his band, at the beginning of the eighties. And that speaks for itself. Four ex-Miles Davis musicians, of exceptional class.
