One of the "big three" of current jazz guitarists (along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell), John Scofield's influence grew in the '90s and continued into the 21st century. Possessor of a very distinctive rock-oriented sound that is often a bit distorted, John Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, fusion, and soul jazz. He started on guitar while at high school in Connecticut, and from 1970-1973 John Scofield studied at Berklee and played in the Boston area. After recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker at Carnegie Hall, John Scofield was a member of the Billy Cobham-George Duke band for two years. In 1977 he recorded with Charles Mingus, and later joined the Gary Burton quartet and Dave Liebman's quintet. His own early sessions as a leader were funk-oriented. During 1982-1985 John Scofield toured the world and recorded with Miles Davis. Since that time he has led his own groups, played with Bass Desires, and recorded frequently as a leader for Verve, Emarcy, Gramavision, and Blue Note, using such major players as Charlie Haden, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Eddie Harris, and a host of others.

John Scofield started a long-term relationship with the Verve label in 1996 with his acoustic album Quiet Is the New Loud. He cut the funky A Go Go with Medeski, Martin and Wood in 1997, while 2000's Bump Ahead featured members of Sex Mob, Soul Coughing, and Deep Banana Blackout. Released in 2001, Early Works for Me if it Works for You featured a more traditional jazz sound, but for 2002's Überjam and 2003's Up All Night he was back to playing fusion. Drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Steve Swallow rounded out THE JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO for 2004's cerebral and complex live album EnRoute. In 2005, John Scofield paid tribute to legendary soul man Ray Charles with Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. He featured a number of guest vocalist/musicians, including Dr. John, Warren Haynes, and Mavis Staples.

In 2007, John Scofield released his debut for Emarcy, This Meets That. Once again, the set was theme-related and featured the guitarist in the company of a large horn section -- winds as well as brass and reeds -- playing original compositions as well as those from the rock and pop vernacular. Two of the more radical offerings on the album were the completely rearranged jazz-rock versions of Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" and The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." John Scofield took another left turn on 2009's Piety Street. He hired Jon Cleary on keys, ex-The Meters bassist George Porter, and drummer Ricky Fataar to play on a set of spirituals and gospel tunes, all done in a grooved-out soul-jazz manner. In 2010, he was the featured soloist on The Metropole Orkest's Emarcy date 54-46 Was My Number - Anthology (1964-2000). John Scofield returned to a theme-based format for his next date for the label, A Moment's Peace, a collection of ballads that ran the gamut from George Gershwin to The Beatles, and included some original compositions. The set, which was released in September of 2011, featured the guitarist in the company of drummer Brian Blade, organist Larry Goldings, and bassist Scott Colley. Also in 2011, MSMW LIVE: In Case the World Changes Its Mind was released by Indirecto Records. The double-length set is culled from the Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood 2006 world tour; its contents reflect material off John Scofield's A Go Go and the MSMW studio offering Out Louder. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi