One of the great side benefits of the NAMM show is the fact that a lot of world class musicians are in town and they’ll take little pick up gigs at local places…

Such was last night at Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena where Laura and I got to sit and enjoy Matt Schofield with Big Pete on harp.

Matt Schofield on the left, Steve Travoto in the middle, and me on the right.
Matt Schofield on the left, Steve Travoto in the middle, and me on the right.

We got a chance to talk a little between sets (about the best Super Reverbs we’ve ever played… one of my favorite topics) and I got to thinking that I’m a big fan of Matt’s but haven’t ever done a post about him here.

So if you’re not hip to Matt Schofield, sit back with your beverage of choice and enjoy these clips…

The first one is a tune I believe Matt wrote with a cool groove called Live Wire:

This next one is a classic blues shuffle and one of my favorites of his:


And then something a little funky with “Black Cat Bone” at BB King’s


And if you haven’t heard of Matt before check him out next time he’s nearby, you won’t be disappointed!


    101 replies to "Matt Schofield Show"

    • Alex Leon

      NICE! A fellow Brit playing some sweet blues.

    • Tim Scannell

      Great player! Check out New Mexico player Ryan McGarvey. Up and coming star!

    • Matt Aceino

      You may all think Im nuts but I hear some Johnny Winter. Love it

    • Leon Ikka

      I’m from Toronto, Canada and vacationed every winter for the past 8 years in southern Florida. I love the blues and a friend of mine introduced me to a great blues bar in Boca Raton called the Funky Biscuit where I first saw Matt Schofield perform. I’ve seen him at the Funky Biscuit every year I’ve gone down to Florida. Great, great act and one of the best blues player/singer I’ve seen in years.

    • Tom Hopsicker

      Cool. Shakey Ground riff with Black Cat Bone. I like it!

    • Mike G.

      Been a big fan already. Griff you are every bit as good and on top of that you are thee best teacher of music! peace

    • gado

      Wow! Thanks.

    • Larry Puckett

      Good stuff. Thanks Griff

    • Mark L

      WOW! GO JOHNNY! Carrying a B3 and the bass, too. Phenomenal! Though I feel a little left out, being a bass player.

      • Rich

        Me too. I was like. Where’s the bass player? Fortunately for us not too many B3 players carry bass too

    • Kim Alexander

      Thank’s for sharing Griff,Hope you (LOOKS LIKE IT ! lol) had fun .You deserve it ! Glad you have the Video Surgeon listed as a recommended resource -NOTHING has helped my learning,of specific song parts better! Thank’s again for THAT nugget of advice.Respectfully,Kim

    • Dan

      Thanks Griff. I like his style. I too heard a little Johnny Winters coming through. I love the hammond, lesle effects. Cool!

      • Harrison

        I am hearing about four maybe five modes. Wow that is good Guitar!

      • Rich

        I was thinking the same thing. Johnny W when he first came out big in the late 60’s. This guy must be from Texas too.

    • Steve

      That boy can play.

    • grant

      Cool, on the 2nd vid I noticed Matt is using your little 2-3 string chords while signing!!!

      • Steve

        35 years ago, when I was playing semi pro nobody was around to show us all this stuff. Griff you earn every dollar your lessons bring in. Thankyou from all the kids, young or just young at heart like me .

    • Ed wilkinson [Wizard]

      thanks for all your emails you share with all of us and once more this is Matt Schofield. like Johnny Winters + for now thanks check out my guitars on my facebook page Ed Wilkinson

    • Scott R

      Thanks for the eye opener Griff. I like what I hear and see.
      Keep the recommendations coming. Anyone who impresses you is worth a listen in my books.
      Take care…

    • Ian Robins

      So many good comments hear. This young man is a wonderful player. Thanks Griff for promoting him. My son, Luke, in Australia, introduced Matt’s music to me first and I am a total fan. I too hear Robben Ford phrases and Johnny Winter in the vocal intonations. This is great stuff. Thanks so much Griff.

    • Rob Jones

      Hey Griff,

      I wasn’t familiar with Matt until you posted this. Thanks very much for introducing him to me. He’s definitely got the groove, the chops, the sound, and the voice. I’m looking forward to hearing more from him.

      For my part, I’m in Chicago this weekend to meet up with my good friend Donald Kinsey of The Kinsey Report, and I will be playing at Kingston Mines tonight and Buddy Guy’s Legends tomorrow night. Out last night at the Mines to hear Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues until 5:00AM this morning. Ooh, my aching head today, but it was well worth it.

      • ROB Knight

        The next SRV!

    • ChrisGSP

      A couple of things of note that several people have mentioned from these clips; first, Robben Ford – that’s the Major Blues scale coming through. That was Robben’s thing.
      Second, the keyboard player. Most of us will have noticed the Hammond players sitting in the top right-hand corner of the keyboard (esp. Booker T., also Steve Winwood and the late Billy Preston). Those top two octaves provide almost all of the space that they need for their solos. Guitar players take note – that’s the same reason why you can make good solos in one position; two octaves under your fingers without moving. Not saying you don’t have to change positions, but check out the keyboard player’s right hand in these clips.
      And I really dig his left hand as well. Used to know a Hammond player who used his feet on the pedals for unbelievable bass.

    • Michael Chappell

      hey Griff,

      A while back to sent us all Videos of some of the Greats and Matt was in there with that song Don’t know what I’d do. From then on I wanted to frame my style of playing Blues Guitar around his method. I then went to his website as well as Youtube to listen to How he Plays and also about his Gear. As Mark Center here has requested it would be great if we could get a Jam Track of his song or even if you could make a Video lesson around this song as some great Licks & Phrases come out. I have noticed that he uses a few similar licks in other songs.
      You are sooo lucky to meet up with him while we all wish we were there too.
      Thanks
      Michael-Sydney-Australia Jan 2016.

    • Greg Waddell

      Always enjoyed his playing. A friend of mine, Eli Lester, got to get up on stage with him in San Diego a few years back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSDQDBhbH3E

      • greg

        sounds good. At first hearing his singing hits some scratchy vocals reminiscent of Johnny Winter. kind of looks like him a bit too. Though I’d have to say JW was one of a kind awesome.

    • Jeremy

      It is so cool to have someone taking the time, sending me these classic vids, reminding me of my practice schedules, keeping my spirits up with a laugh or two, sharing their personal music experiences, simplifying my technical problems and coaxing me onwards and upwards to better blues under my own fingers…
      So appreciated Grif and the fantastic team, many many thanks!

      • Adam G

        So true Jeremy. Very well said 🙂

        • Eric Baum

          Touché

    • Bill

      Johnny Winter meets Robben Ford. Very cool.

      • ChrisGSP

        You hit it on the button Bill. I was hearing Robben and seeing Johnny.

    • Clifton Torrence

      How many bass players does it take to screw in a light bulb?
      None…cause the Hammond Man is doin it with his left hand !

      This is just ALL good, Drummer in a pocket, layin down a groove. Started with a Feel. As Butterfield suggested in ’66, ‘Blues With A Feeling’.
      Mr Matt goes with it and shares his comfort and ease to let us enjoy comfort and ease . Fluid fretting, concise phrasing, simple strat sound, round and chewy Tube tone, some effects, but mostly, Tone, Tone TONE. All Good.

      This in a nutshell is Why I enjoy being part of the Team to help support Griff Hamlin. Cause Man, You Bring It.

      OK, now I’m gonna listen to the second clip.

      clif

    • Mark Center

      Hey Griff, do you have a line on a backingtrack that has the same groove as “Don’t Know What I’d Do”. What a KILLER groove!

    • Mark Center

      Very much Robben Ford and Garth Webber. So very nice.

    • Edward

      I’m always back and forth between and Matt and Joe B as my favorite contemporary player; luckily there’s no law against having two favorites. I give Matt credit for having style I more want to emulate, and I listen to him as much as possible – not only because I enjoy his playing, but because I want some of his style to permeate my soul so a little of it comes out when I play.

      Cool that you’ve gotten to know him a little. Would love to see him become more of a household name.

    • Mike Kessler

      Matt is good, he has been around a while, but he still reminds me of a young Johnny Winter, check out Johnny’s album, Still Alive and Well. This is a compliment to Matt, he has a great career ahead of him, he is a fantastic player and singer. I hope he comes and plays at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

    • alan

      Fluid style really good.Agree with Bill – He sounds like Warren Haynes.

      • JOSEPH G KINGSTON JR

        Yes he does, I myself would rather hear Griff play. Some blues players can play in key, and their lead can be full, but it just seems to be missing something here, if the player has licks without personal feelings behind it, it just won’t chill and thrill you to listen to it, you have to havethe blues to play the blues. To me, there is just something missing here.

        • JOSEPH G KINGSTON JR

          Not being critical, just honest, everyone has their favorite blues artist. I wish the gent success.

        • doc johnson

          I fully agree with you Joseph. I, myself would rather listen to Griff play. I think Griff puts more feeling into his playing and, like yourself, think there is something missing. I think he is good and I just wish I were as half as good as he is but he plays a lot of fast riffs and I think he is missing a very crucial point in music and that is it is not what you play or put into a song it is what you leave out that makes the impact.

    • Ron

      Reminds me of a player I heard in the past that plays Strat, Walter trout, without use of Ebow

    • NickW

      Great to see Matt getting this recognition. I saw him in a fantastic venue in north Essex, UK about 4 years ago. He really did impress with his quality and talent, and yes, Jonny Henderson is also a class act. Regrettably the venue (Highbarn at Great Bardfield) has now closed – such a shame as they clearly knew great talent to get in.

      Whilst not in any way the same type of player if you truly like great guitarists check out Clive Carroll too.

    • Art

      Thanks Griff. I’ve been following him for awhile now. His style reminds me a lot of Robben Ford who is one of my all time favorites along with another blues artist by the name of Griff Hamlin

    • Raul Moralez

      That was fantastic. Good use of the scales and every thing else. Bravo!

      • Pablo

        I picked up Ten from the Road after checking your email. I’m still trying to figure who his voice sounds like…just can’t put my finger on it.

        • Tony

          An answer to your question. I think he sounds a lot like a young Jonny Winter, when he first came out around 1969. Check out the “Live And” recording. enjoy…Tony…

    • tommy p

      awesome stuff not your same old riffs and scales he was feeling it the whole way through.im getting up right now and going to my guitar and trying some of those licks.thanks for sharing Griff awesome as usual.

    • Mike Elias

      This guy is at the top of his game. Awesom player. Who is that kick as drummer? Rock Solid in the pocket.

    • Cletus Flynn

      Matt Schofeild is such a smooth player. I highly recommend seeing him live. And for those of you admiring the Keyboard player, That’s Johnny Henderson. I saw Matt a couple months back and Johnny wasn’t with him (wife…Baby on the way). Matt, as always, was phenomenally smooth, but I did miss Johnny I spoke with Matt last week and Johnny’s back in the line up and currently. touring the US and Canada. I’ll be catching him at Club Astral in Montreal on 2/26.

      So, if you like blues with dollop of Jazz fused in, you want to see Matt. Now is the time, because he is very accessible for the moment. As a part time promoter, that means everything in long run.

    • Brian

      Hi Griff.
      Thanks for sharing these excellent clips!!
      Its good to see a left handed drummer in the first 2 as I am.
      But I play guitar right handed. Mixed up or what??

      Brian (uk)

    • Fletch

      Got to see Matt at the Alberta Theatre in Portland. He was playing Two Rock amps at the time. Great sound. His back up was really tight duo on keys (kicking bass) and drums (solid).

      Got a chance to meet him before the show waiting on queue; he stepped outside after sound check to get some air. Nice guy. Nice chops. Tasty stuff.

    • Jerry

      Matt is awesome, one of my favorites. My wife and I saw him this past summer at Harlow’s in Sacramento (smallish nightclub). Had a table a few feet away from the stage. Really enjoyed his show and will see him again every chance I get (I also have most of his CD’s).

    • Jim Kubitza

      That boy can play, that’s for sure! Enjoyed these immensely!

    • Dale Saran

      That keyboard player crushes. Daaaammmnnnnn.

    • caampbell cochrane

      Hi Griff .Seen Matt at the Sunshine Blues Festival Vinoy Park Fl. this Jan. GREAT PLAYER.

    • keith

      Thanks Griff – Really enjoyed these clips.
      Wondered when you Guys over there would ‘cotton on’ to Matt Schofield. He’s a world class player. First saw him at The Bullingdon Oxford (UK) in 2012 and again at The Caves in Edinburgh Scotland near where I live in December 2013 and have bought all his CD’s since.
      On that night Matt was supported by a young local lassie and her band who you should also watch for the future.(She has already played alongside Jo Bonamassa) Her name is Eilidh(pronounced Ellie) McKeller.

    • jide

      Wao that’s great Griff its da bom. Pls I ave a question about blues scales some say its,Doh,rah,mo,fah,fe,soh,se,toh,doh. While some say its Doh,rah,mo,me,soh,lah. Am confuse Griff pls kindly put me through Sir. Thnkz

    • Michael

      Thanks Teach, All three of those tunes were bad to the bone. I’ll make sure I add him to the list of blue players to listen to on a regular basis!!

    • Jim M

      Thanks Griff all ur tips and licks I have improved by leaps and bounds just because of your instruction and my desire thanks Jim M Harrisburg il

    • George

      These guys cook! thanks Griff for the videos!☺

    • Mark Arnold

      Thanks for the kool clips Griff another clean strat style sounds so bluesy noticed how Matt toned it down while his keyboard player was soloing it the first clip a good example of what you were saying !!!

    • craig

      My kind of music I will have to find more of his music thanks much Griff

    • Robert Ross

      Great clips Griff, Thanks. Do you ever get to Florida for a gig? Thanks,
      bob.ross91@tampabay.rr.com

    • jim

      Excellent! He seems to play with a mellow intensity(?!)and perfectly “in the pocket.” Really liked that substitute V chord in the first tune (bIV?). Since I started following BGU, I can’t help myself from trying to analyze everything he (and others) are playing now. No more listening purely for pleasure…I gotta to know!!

    • MikeSRC

      Very nice! Going to see him today in Long Beach.

    • beck

      Some you cats may not have heard of him cos he’s from the UK but getting better known all the time!

      • ChrisGSP

        I wondered about the Union Jack on the wall !! Now I know; thanks Beck.

    • Ozzy

      I like listening to Mike, I really do but I got to give his keyboardist his props as well. He’s amazing, playing bass guitar and keys in the way he does. Good clips, Griff. Thanks.

    • Rexford M. Huddy

      Great tracks…Thanks Griff!

      Rex

    • Rexford M. Huddy

      Great tracks. Will put him on my list to get music and see on stage. Thank you Griff!

    • BastienR

      You made my morning, Griff!
      Keep up the good work 🙂

    • paul murphy

      very cool …thanks

    • Guy

      I’m diggin’ his sound. I hear a lot of different people in his music, and SRV was pretty prominent in that shuffle . Being in small town B.C. I doubt we will see him up here ,sadly.Thanks for sharing Griff =)

    • Ken

      That’s why we play, that’s the goal, to develope And master chops like that….He’s a master!

    • Vincent Gonelli

      Griff thanks,

      Makes me want to learn to play.

      Best wishes
      Vincent

    • Mark

      Thanks for the morning lift. I will have to add Matt’s music to my collection.

    • Bill

      Warren Haynes meets Robben Ford. Groovy.

    • John Bikadi

      hey never heard of Matt Scholfeild before, Now I have and Thank you for intrducing him to me
      Very very nice guitar player. Loved his tone.

    • ted gerling

      good stuff ,thanks Griff!

    • peter

      Thanks for the morning lift. If matt ever gets to southern Oregon I’ll look him up. I’ve been rooting around the sixties and seventies garage bands and found an original gem from Tim Ward. It’s got some grit to it.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-QojPCqy1g&list=UULqNdfSJHYdAcXeQKwXGnAw

    • Dan Huffman

      Way Cool!
      Thanks Griff.

    • Thank you Griff!!! I love these videos!!!

    • Fraser

      Far out!! Thanks Griff

    • Alan MacLennan

      There’s a thing about 2:30 in the second clip I really like – lots of bands do it,and it sounds great – the same phrase repeated, but with different dynamics or something,so it sounds different. My favourite example I can think of easily is about 1:20 and the following choruses in this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdpAop7gp0w by the Georgia Satellites

    • DH

      MY coffee tasted real good this AM listening to Matt. THX Griff

    • Rattlesnake

      Man, He almost looks like a young Johnny Winter…

    • Guy

      Will definitely check him out next time he is in the DFW, TX area

    • Mike

      Yo thanks Griff – ab fab – essense of a young Johnny Winter – can’t wait to hear more of Matt.

    • Joe K

      Griff,
      After watching the videos I can understand how you came to appreciate Matt.
      I noticed how he doesn’t have to play ALL the time during his songs, he uses the “little chords”, even finger style to bring the volume down during the keyboard solos and during the verse,
      Sounds just like what you teach in your BGU courses.
      Thanks for a great Sunday morning listen

    • Bill

      Nice. Some great original phrasing going on. Hope to see him hit DC on tour. Thanks!

    • mick

      Saw Matt in York (UK) absolutely brilliant – you are so lucky to be with him Griff. Great Blues 🙂

    • Gary Hylton

      Thanks for turning me on to Matt and his fellow musicians. As the saying goes, “There ain’t a bad banana in the bunch!”

      After church I plan to key ’em back up and jam along.

      Take care Griff and thanks again.

      Old School and Still Rockin’–

      • mpaq

        If you like the second tune, check out Jack DeKeyser from Canada. Sounds a lot like him, both guitar and vocal.

    • Saddler

      My baby’s got a black cat bone, AWESOME!!

    • Jeef

      Thanks for sharing!

    • Chris

      Thanks for sharing Griff! Going to see Matt in a few weeks… He’s awesome!

    • LB in PA

      Griff, thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been on the hunt for some other blues players to listen to, and Matt Schofield is RIGHT up my ally. I love when a blues artist like Matt (and yourself) makes their guitar playing look effortless.

    • Tango

      Saw Matt in Cambridge (UK) a few weeks before Christmas…….what a great gig…..and what a really nice fella too. Bought his latest CD at the show and got him to sign it. 🙂 Hey Griff, how about picking a couple of Matt’s songs and giving us some playing tips? Nothing left, Not Raining Now, Betting Man…….all great songs. And Matt is a really underrated musician, which is a real shame!
      But I’m really glad you’ve mentioned Matt here Griff…….Thanks. 🙂

    • jim pyron

      I love the way he weaves little Jazz flairs into the work. That opening on “Black Cat Bone” was a seamless transition from straight funk back to his interesting blues interpretations. Thanks Griff!

    • geoff

      To cool for school, cheers griff.

      • gregf fears

        Wow factor plus!! Am I hearing the same good tasting spices as you Griff? Black Cat Bone has that savory flavor of Albert Collins, Robin Ford and Johnny Winters? Like walking past a early morning bakery and getting a wiff that fills the air. Greg Fears

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