About Matt Schofield

The most original and influential British Blues guitarist to have emerged since the sixties, Schofield's guitar tone and distinctive phrasing have become highly influential, culminating in Guitar & Bass magazine (3/07) listing Schofield in their Top Ten British Bluesmen of All Time. Born in August 1977 in Manchester, Matt grew up in Fairford, Gloucestershire listening to his Dad's American Blues records. A defining moment arrived when, aged 13, he saw a video of BB King, Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan jamming together. That set his course - he wanted to be a Blues guitarist! Soon after leaving school he was recruited to several bands, most notably British Blues diva Dana Gillespie's London Blues Band, which took him throughout Europe and as far afield as India and the Caribbean. During this time he got to back notable American players and learn his craft. Entirely self-taught, the power and passion of players such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and particularly Albert Collins, have been highly influential. Discovering the music of Robben Ford gave him added inspiration. Ford invited Matt to join him on-stage at a show in November '06, remarking, "that's one hell of a guitar player." The formation of the Trio dates to 2003, when Matt started playing occasional gigs with a four-piece band including organ-player Jonny Henderson, the brother of a school friend, and Evan Jenkins on drums. One night the bass player could not make the show, so Jonny volunteered to play left-hand bass. Playing as an organ trio lent a jazzier feel and groove, and felt good, so they decided to make this the platform and add a dose of steroids to the sound and style of arrangements. An opportunity to record a live set in a small club (of unrehearsed material, as it happens), led to their much acclaimed 2004 debut CD release (The Trio Live, Nugene Records NUG601), followed a year later by the first studio album (Siftin' Thru Ashes, Nugene Records NUG501) and another live cut (Live at The Jazz Café, Nugene Records NUG503). In the three years since that debut CD the Trio has done numerous radio sessions in the UK and Europe, toured and played major festivals in the UK, Holland and Belgium, done shows in Germany and France, and will this year (07) play festivals in Canada including the Montreal Jazz festival.