Customer Reviews

The Trio, Live

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Despite the fact that he is British, Matt Schofield was unknown to me until I decided to purchase his last work "Ear to the ground". I liked his blues since the very first listening and I ended up having all his CDs. "The Trio Live" is Matt's first album and, as explained in the CD notes, it was recorded in a small club on August the 20th 2003: "a gig in a small club, captured live with just a few simple microphones. Almost what you'd call an official bootleg". Despite the "few microphones" the sound is still pretty good and it looks like you are sitting in the middle of the audience. The concert starts with the instrumental "Uncle Junior" that is the perfect Blues/jazz tune to introduce the band to the audience, and goes one in a spectacular sequence of great blues played with great feeling. Very good the covers of the Memphis Slim's classic "Everyday I have the blues" and of the Albert Collins' tune "Travelling south". Matt's guitar work is fantastic throughout the entire concert as, on the other end, the work of Jonny Henderson on organ and Evan Jenkins on drums. In my opinion "The Matt Schofield Trio" is one of the most interesting and original blues band around today, and I am sure that fans of Robben Ford, Ronnie Earl and of the great Albert Collins will enjoy too.

Matt is emerging as a real blues talent - good enough for the world stage - and whats more he's British! This guy knows his chops and his trio is awesome too. Get this...the hammond player doubles up with the bass part too, but you would never know it he's that fluent. Drummer does just whats needed to keep the unit nice and tight. The fact that the Trio have released a live 1st album speaks volumes about how assured their music is.

Matts playing is very reminiscent of Robben Ford - has some very tasty jazz licks up his sleeve which work wonderfully in the blues setting. His voice sounds like it was always meant to be singing the blues. But these tracks are not of the 'I woke up one morning and my dog was dead' variety and not in the same vein as Robert Cray or Eric Clapton - think Renault advert, a la Jimmy Smith and you'll be getting a bit closer.

Matt brings a whole new fresh approach to brit blues and I am eagerly awaiting the release of his 2nd offering. Go and buy this album - you will NOT be disappointed!

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Matt is tasteful, has chops, has wonderful sweet tone, phrasing, bluesy but occassionaly throws in a jazzy idea which makes his blues fresh. Songs are standard-type blues in an organ-guitar trio setting and has a wondeful groove. No boring blues here and that's because the band and Matt have a GREAT rhytmic feel and plenty of energy. When Matt does a jazzy idea, you can tell he is influenced by Robben Ford among others, but if for some reason you don't care for Robben's style, still check it out because it's very different. This guy is a real treat and I'm surprised he's not more well known.