Let “Sco” Get Stoned

Tribute records can be a dicey proposition. At best, they make you want to go listen to the original recordings. At worst… they really make you want to listen to the original recordings!

This is the high-wire act John Scofield (Miles Davis, Medeski, Martin & Wood) confronts with, That’s What I Say (Verve), a tribute to Ray Charles. The CD features “Sco” riffing with an inspired cast, including Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples and John Mayer. Scofield brings his band to the Phoenix, Friday October 14th. S&H.ca recently talked with the jazz guitarist by phone from Salt Lake City.

S&H.ca: Doing a Ray Charles tribute CD wasn’t initially your idea. What drew you to the project?

Sco: Ron Goldstein (Verve Records chief) suggested the concept to me. I was kinda leery at first, because it seemed so commercially-oriented, but I thought about it and it really resonated.

I have a real reverence for Ray’s music. I started out playing R&B, and this was a chance to revisit my roots. Also, Ray wasn’t just a soul artist; he was a jazz musician too. His integrity was incredible, and his stuff is so deep. Doing his music was right for me. Its basis is in the blues, so there’s a lot you can do with it.

S&H.ca: You have quite a list of collaborators on That’s What I Say. How did this come about?

Sco: A lot of that had to do with producer Steve Jordan (Robert Cray, Keith Richards). He told me once, “I wanna produce one of your records”, and I brought him in because he’s a great drummer and producer. Real rootsy.

I’m friends with Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule) and I already knew Dr. John and (Ray Charles’ saxophonist) David “Fathead” Newman. But Steve was the one with the Rolodex. He brought in Willie Weeks (Donnie Hathaway, Rolling Stones), a real legendary bass player. He also brought in Mavis Staples, Isaac Hayes and Aaron Neville. These are all artists that I love.

S&H.ca: How did you record the CD?

Sco: We recorded all the songs in real time, with all the musicians playing together. We didn’t have the singers record to pre-recorded tracks. We took about three hours recording each song. These guys are the best.

S&H.ca: The most surprising collaboration is with John Mayer on ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor’. How did that happen?

Sco: Steve said John had heard about the record, and wanted in. I listened to an old demo of him playing the blues, and right then I knew he was the real deal. (John) was real easy to work with; as far from being your typical pop star as possible. We nailed that song in one take.

S&H.ca: His singing on that track is very different from his usual style.

Sco: Yeah, John usually goes for that “pillow talk” vocal sound on his records. But this time, he sang really hard.

S&H.ca: Who are you bringing on tour with you?

Sco: I’m touring with a great bunch of guys. Meyer Statham, a great, gospel-inspired singer. This is the first time I’ve toured with a singer, and it’s great. I also have Gary Versace on keyboards, John Benitez on bass, and Steve Hass (drums) who I grabbed from Manhattan Transfer. They’re all young, hungry players from New York.

S&H.ca: How come you brought different musicians on tour, instead of the same people on the CD?

Sco: Everybody’s got their own careers, and it’s impossible to work with everyone’s schedules. Willie Weeks no longer goes out on the road; he just goes from session to session. Just getting together with John Mayer for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (on June 15th) was a logistical nightmare, very expensive.

S&H.ca: How have the songs developed while on tour?

Sco: It’s a very different feel. We started with the album arrangements but the music has evolved, which is cool. As you play out, you get looser with the arrangements, you stretch out more, and you get more jazzy. We’ve been playing two-hour shows some nights.

I originally hired these guys for the way that they played Ray’s music, but as you go along, their influences come out and take the songs in new directions. For example, John Benitez really has that Latin jazz thing going, which is something I’ve wanted to do for years, but never really explored before. I also have my full pedalboard onstage with me, so we can get some electronica in there, too.

S&H.ca: So what’s next for you?

Sco: I’ll be touring this CD through the end of October, then I’ll be working with my usual trio. That features Steve Swallow (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums). Then, in February, I’m putting the Ray Charles band back together for a tour through Europe and Asia. A year from now, it’ll be the same project, but Mavis Staples will join us next September. I’m really looking forward to that.

S&H.ca: What would you like to do after that?

Sco: I’d like to do some pretty jazzy after this, but I don’t know!

John Scofield plays the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Friday, October 14th. Ticket price $34.50, available through Ticketmaster, Rotate This and Sonic Temple

Photograph by Alan Nahigian