Matt Schofield trio
Matt Schofield trio

South Staffordshire Blues fans were out in force when the critically acclaimed Matt Schofield Band returned to the Bore Street venue.

With a new release Anything But Time the trio of Schofield on guitar and vocals, keyboard player Johnny Henderson and drummer Kevin Hayes ploughed the furrows of blues, rock, funk and jazz which showed how they had developed, while staying close to their blues funk roots.

Schofield is recognised as one of the country’s finest blues guitarist, with a steadily growing worldwide fame, but he is also a fine vocalist.

The set came mostly from Anything But Time, and although Schofield’s style is related to such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, his playing also contained nods to the octave driven style of Wes Montgomery, and the melodic soul playing of Curtis Mayfield.

All three players were on form, with Henderson’s keyboard playing providing roughly a third of the solos, and his B3 Hammond Organ also filled in the bass lines, whilst Kevin Hayes’s playing was sensitive and sympathetic when it needed to be, but also drove the songs along.

Pieces included the soulful funk of Ship-Wrecked and Anything But Time, the Mayfield like Dreaming Of You, the driving rhythms of Where Do I Have To Stand? and the more laid back jazz swing styles of One Look (And I’m Hooked) and Don’t Know What I’d Do (If I Didn’t Have You).

A set closer of Bad Cat Bone gave all the players sizeable solos.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.