2008 TOUR DATES

Hi Everyone:

I'm home now and readying for holiday time with family. This is a particularly special time of the year for giving — a time when we can help alleviate the pain and suffering of others as a means of recognizing and appreciating our own good fortune. I don't want to be preachy but as global economic woes increase, the slide for many into poverty and despair increases proportionately. For those of us who live in and near big cities, that suffering is often visible right out on the streets. I've been thinking about the power of small actions and how, if done collectively, small donations will make a powerful impact. Looking at my MySpace page, I am honored to have over 40,000 friends. If each of my friends made as little as a $1 donation to one charity — what a difference that alone would make! YES, WE CAN.

My holiday charity this year (as in years past) is The NY City Rescue Mission. NY City Rescue Mission is in it's 136th year — the oldest service of this kind in the United States. This winter alone, they will provide over 15,000 meals to the homeless (including big holiday meals), 2700 warm beds, drug and alcohol counseling, emergency aid to transients, and an extensive rehabilitation program for 40 men at a time. A gift as small as $2.00 provides a holiday meal to a homeless person. The more you can give, the more people you help.

I urge you to join me by making a donation this December. You can give online at nyrescue.org or by mail to:

New York City Rescue Mission
PO Box 275
Canal Street Station
New York, NY 10013-0275

Send them a few dollars in cash if you want to be anonymous and don't want to be added to solicitation lists, etc. Send them a big check! Send what you can.

Anything we can all do — no matter how small or large — will help.

Thanks for your time. I wish you all a happy holiday season, peace, love, and a very happy new year to come.

— John

Annabelle
12 March 1996 – 21 November 2008

With sadness and the understanding that this is just how things go, we want to share that Annie (one of the Toogs) passed on to the next realm. She was much loved, had a great life, and will be missed.

UPDATE — Summer 2008

If you happen to be somewhere in the Pacific in October try to catch a show. Joe Lovano and I have been friends for three decades, he's one of my favorite collaborators and one of the greatest saxophonists ever. We're at it again in several cities across Asia, New Zealand and Australia — coming to a town near you if you happen to live nearby. Joe and I did a lot of playing and recording together in the early 90's and hit again with ScoLoHoFo a few years back. We'll be with the MATT rhythm section — Matt Penman on bass and Matt Wilson on drums.

I'm going back into the studio in September — playing music that will release in March (I think) of 2009. 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. This is a notion that's been gelling in my mind for decades. I launched a personal search for musical inspiration beyond the standard 12 bar blues and rediscovered "old time gospel" music — the closest relative to and progenitor of the R& B that we all know and love. I've always treasured that music (from a more secular perspective) but never really dug deep into it. My search has led to countless songs that really move me and I realize that this great and heartfelt music remains unheard by most of the world outside of churches here and there. It's really powerful stuff. Hence, the Piety Street Project. Of course, I'll be going at it in my own way. I think my sound is pretty consistent no matter what I'm playing or who I'm playing with. When it comes to music genres — jazz, R&B, funk, and even country music tinges, I love all of it. I don't change my guitar playing from one style to another and if anything, I use all of these musical styles within most of what I do. I'm just shifting the balances for this one. I'm really getting a kick out of playing music with one of my favorite pianists/singer Jon Cleary, the legendary George Porter, Jr and rock-steady Ricky Fataar. In the footsteps of Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia etc, these tunes offer all the swing and blues needed to finally make a true jazz/funk fusion project...and we're having a great time feeling it out. We'll head out on tour in Europe his November, the states in the Spring and back to Europe again Summer 2009.

— J.S.

Shades of Jazz at Katonah Museum of Art

Shades of Jazz returns to the Katonah Museum of Art's Sculpture Garden. The three-part series begins June 11th and features the most recent sensations in the international jazz scene. The event includes complimentary wine and beer; attendees traditionally bring picnic dinners, lawn chairs and blankets. All Shades of Jazz perfomances take place on Wednesdays, beginning at 6:30 pm. For more information, see the tour page or the Katonah M of A website.

Dennis Irwin 28 November 1951 – 10 March 2008 Bassist - Friend - Father - Great Guy

The RELIXband^TM Artist Program

Own a RELIXband^TM bracelet, handmade from John's guitar strings. And the best part...all profits from the sale of the bracelets go to charity. Check them out at wearyourmusic.org.

Sam Ash + Vox present VOXtoberfest in New York City

John will be appearing at the Sam Ash store in White Plains, NY on Monday, October 29th and at the NYC Sam Ash Guitar Store Tuesday, October 30th from 7:00 to 8:30pm as part of their VOXtoberfest music promotion. Your chance to meet John and get cool VOXtoberfest giveaways (like the t-shirt pictured here).

Click here for a map to the NYC store or click here for a map to the White Plains location.

THIS MEETS THAT released Sept 18

John's first project for the Emarcy label, THIS MEETS THAT, was released on September 18. The Trio includes bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart. Joining them is a four-part horn section. One track features guitarist Bill Frisell. Order THIS MEETS THAT now!

Read reviews of THIS MEETS THAT at the All About Jazz site or at BlogCritics.org.

Is that John Scofield calling?

Three ringtones of tracks from John's upcoming release, THIS MEETS THAT, are now available for download to your Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T cell phone.

• Trio Blues
• Heck of a Job
• Shoe Dog

OUT LOUDER hits the streets in Japan + Europe

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood's OUT LOUDER will be released by Universal Music Group in Japan on April 4 and in Europe on April 16. A bonus disc will accompany the album, featuring live MSMW recordings from their November 2006 performance at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City. MSMW will tour in Europe summer 2007.

Grammy Nomination for Trio Beyond

Trio Beyond's SAUDADES was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. Also nominated in this category were Ornette Coleman's Sound Grammar, Chick Corea's The Ultimate Adventure, Kenny Garrett's Beyond the Wall, and Sonny Rollins' Sonny Please. Chick Corea won the Grammy.

The 49th Grammy Awards were presented February 11, 2007.

Summer 2007: Shades of Jazz at Katonah Museum of Art

John is hosting a summer series called Shades of Jazz at the Katonah Museum of Art in Katonah, NY. Early concerts will be held in the sculpture garden.