April 15, 2005

Jazz artist John Scofield to perform at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Jazz musician John Scofield, with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Steve Swallow, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday (April 22) in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse.

Presented by Purdue Convocations, the John Scofield Trio's tour is supporting its most recent release, "En Route," which was produced to emulate the typical flow of a live set.

"I wanted to make a real jazz-improvising statement in a live situation with two of my favorite musicians," Scofield says. "It's really challenging. You don't rely on arrangements as much as on the way the group plays together. You don't rely on anything other than good playing, and you know there's no lifejacket of safety net involved. That doesn't happen as often in a studio setting. I think the big difference is the audience. There is a symbiotic affinity between the artists and the audience that makes for something special."

Scofield grew up in Wilton, Conn., where he began studying guitar at age 11. While in high school, he played in rock bands and R&B groups. After finishing his studies at Berklee's Boston campus in 1973, he worked in New York City and completed his first recording, a collaboration with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker at Carnegie Hall. He spent the next few years touring with jazz ensembles, but by 1978 Scofield emerged as a fledgling bandleader and composer on the international jazz scene. He has since led the recordings of more than 30 jazz albums and has made numerous guest appearances on tour and in the recording studio with other artists.

Percussionist Stewart is the rhythmic force behind Scofield 's band. Self-taught on drums, Stewart also is an accomplished pianist. He studied at the University Of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, playing in the jazz and marching bands and orchestra. He later transferred to a New Jersey school to study with Dave Samuels, Rufus Reid and Harold Mabern. It was during this time that he made his recording debut with saxophonist Scott Kreitzer and recorded two other collections with pianist Armen Donelian.

Stewart graduated in 1988, moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., and began establishing his reputation by making regular appearances at jam sessions. It was at these sessions that he began networking with some jazz greats and was eventually invited to join Scofield's band.

Before turning to acoustic bass at the age of 14, New York born Swallow studied piano and trumpet. He attended Yale University, where he studied composition with Donald Martino. In 1960 Swallow left Yale, moved to New York City, and began to tour and record with Paul Bley, The Jimmy Giuffre Trio and George Russell's sextet.

In 1964 he joined The Art Farmer Quartet featuring Jim Hall and began writing music that was later recorded by a number of renowned musicians. He toured from late 1965 through 1967 with The Stan Getz Quartet. In 1968 Swallow left Getz to join Gary Burton's quartet, an association he maintained, with occasional interruption, for 20 years. He has performed on more than 20 of Burton's recordings, the most recent being the 1992 release "Six Pack." Swallow toured and recorded often with Scofield from 1980 to 1984, first in a trio with drummer Adam Nussbaum, and then in a duet. He continues to tour and record with Scofield, including on "En Route."

Tickets for the John Scofield Trio are $18 for students and those 18 and younger and $26 for the general public. Tickets are on sale now at campus box offices by calling (765) 494-3933 and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Group discounts are available for groups of 20 or more by calling (765) 494-9712.

Source: Katie Hutton, Purdue Convocations marketing director, (765) 494-5045, krhutton@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Publication quality photos are available by e-mailing Katie Hutton, Purdue Convocations, at krhutton@purdue.edu

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