John Scofield - guitar
Jon Cleary - piano, organ, vocals
George Porter Jr. - bass
Ricky Fataar - drums
Shannon Powell - percussion
It is a rare artist that can explore more than
one kind of music with true fluency, virtuosity
and sincerity. Guitarist John Scofield can,
and he's proven it once again with Piety
Street - a powerful collection
of Gospel renditions.
Born in Ohio on December 26th,
1951 and raised in Connecticut, Scofield took
up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock
and blues players. An early introduction to jazz
guitar records sparked a lifelong love of jazz.
Scofield attended the Berklee College of Music.
In 1973, he moved into public eye with a wide
variety of bandleaders and musicians including
Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea,
Joe Henderson, Billy Cobham and George Duke,
Gerry Mulligan, McCoy Tyner, Jim Hall, and Gary
Burton. His first recording as a leader 1977
established him as an influential and innovative
player and composer. In 1982, he began a three-and-a-half-year
stint touring with Miles Davis. Scofield's compositions
and guitar work appear on three of Davis' albums.
Throughout his eclectic career, Scofield has
punctuated his many traditional jazz offerings
with funk-oriented electric music. His recordings—several
already classics—include collaborations
with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny,
Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Gov't
Mule, and Phil Lesh.
With the release of Piety Street, Scofield
takes his music to a new place. "I'm just
shifting the balances for this one," he
says. I've always wanted to record and tour a
blues project. That's where I started as a guitarist
and I'm feeling that music more than ever of
late. I launched a personal search for musical
inspiration beyond the standard 12-bar blues
and found it in "old time gospel" music
- the closest relative to and inspiration for
the R& B that we all love. I've always treasured
Gospel but never really dug deep into it. My
search led to countless songs that really move
me. It's really powerful stuff. Of course, it
will be Gospel done my way - all the arrangements
are mine. "
Piety Street Sidemen
Born in Kent, England in 1964, Jon Cleary is
known for his salty-sweet voice, masterful piano/
organ skills. Cleary is best known as a member
of Bonnie Raitt's band and his own group Jon
Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen.
Sharing a 26 December birthday with Scofield, George
Porter Jr. was born in Louisiana in
1947. Few bass players in the history of modern
New Orleans music are as storied as his. During
the course of a career spanning four decades,
Porter earned recognition as one of America's
most iconic and elite bass players as a member
of The Meters.
Born in Durban, South Africa
in 1952, Ricky
Fataar started playing drums at age
nine. Fataar appeared in film The Rutles,
All You Need Is Cash, playing guitarist
Stig O'Hara. Stateside by the early 70s, he joined
the Beach Boys, touring and recording as their
drummer. He has been Bonnie Raitt's drummer since
1979. A multi-instrumentalist, Ricky also writes
music for films.
Also native to New Orleans,
drummer and percussionist Shannon
Powell, 43, is both a traditional jazz
and modern jazz musician. Powell is widely recognized
for his six years in Harry Connick Jr.'s band. |
