Britain's Guitarist magazine describes
Schofield's guitar playing as "Dynamite",
picking him as the only non-American in their review of the
future
of Blues guitar; while America's Blues Revue calls him
"The entire package – a singer with range and soul,
and a guitarist who delivers with devastating tone and
superb dynamics". BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Jones
picked Schofield as one of his highlights of 2005,
commenting "I think it's time he became a big star."
The LA Daily News describes Schofield as "Head and shoulders above the herd" while music bible AllMusic.com marks Schofield's approach "an enjoyable demonstration of what can happen when blues-rock and blues-jazz are united". Music magazine, MOJO, gave Siftin' Thru Ashes a four star (excellent) rating, something rarely given to UK Blues artists.
In 2006, just two years after his debut CD, Schofield gained the distinction of being one of only two living British artists to be given a four star (excellent) rating in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings.
The band line-up harks back to the classic organ trios of
the fifties and sixties. Jonny Henderson on Hammond organ
gives sleazy texture and dynamics while holding down left
hand bass lines, and "drummers' drummer" Evan Jenkins
provides compelling grooves. But that's where any comparison
with a traditional organ trio ends. With their huge
sounding, multi-layered and rhythmically infectious delivery
this band redefines the meaning of "power trio" and are
unlike anything else on the Blues scene today.
In the Beginning…
Born in Manchester, Matt's family moved to Fairford in Gloucestershire when he was a youngster. He first started playing guitar seriously at 12. It was not the guitar heroes of that period (the late-eighties) that inspired him. Rather it was seeing a video of BB King, Albert Collins and Stevie Ray Vaughan playing together that fired Matts imagination.
The call of music was strong. As soon as Matt finished college he ventured to London to check out the music scene, visiting the Blues jams around town, and was soon playing professionally. After touring and recording with the Lee Sankey Group, Matt was recruited by British Blues Diva, Dana Gillespie, to form part of her London Blues Band. While all this was happening Matt consciously avoided being labelled a teenage wonder.
When I started playing on the Blues circuit I was never comfortable with the hot young guitarist label. Instead of being 'good for my age' I just wanted to be 'good'. So I decided to learn my trade first. I learned so much by backing other artists. What to do, and not do.
Working in the house band at many international festivals, including the Mustique Blues Festival for several years (often an exhausting 6 hours a night for 14 days) saw Matt backing a long list of artists, providing tremendous experience.
The Trio came together almost by accident. Not having a bass player for a gig one night, we thought we'd give it a go with Jonny doing left-hand bass on the organ, and from the first note we knew we were onto something. People kept coming back to hear more and asking if we had a CD and where else they could see us. One of those 'if it feels good, it is good' things.
The unique format of the organ trio allows an unusual freedom of improvisation and interaction. It's exciting because it's different every time! Its a very collaborative, sum of the parts thing.
Jonny's extremely talented and the perfect keyboard foil for me. He has learned from many of the same musicians as I did, so he knows how to back me up perfectly, but can also really tear it up in his own right. His left hand bass gives The Trio such a distinctive groove plus, like me, he's a real 'tone' guy and has nailed that vintage Hammond sound.
I'm very proud to have Evan involved. He's one of my favourite drummers anywhere. I have played together with him more than any other drummer, in many different situations. His feel and timing are second to none. Evan can play it all - Jazz, Rock, Pop, but he also has a natural feel for blues, and he always does it his own way.