Music at the MAC: John Scofield Trio

On March 20, 2026, the John Scofield Trio lands at the Meridian Arts Centre in Toronto. A cornerstone of modern guitar since the mid-70s, Scofield blends post-bop reflexes with funk, blues and a touch of rock, shaping a sound that’s both melodic and sharply rhythmic. Trained at Berklee, he cut his teeth alongside Billy Cobham, Charles Mingus and Gary Burton before a formative run with Miles Davis in the early 80s that deepened his feel for groove and open-ended improvisation.

As a leader, Scofield has alternated between trios, quartets and organ bands, always navigating between originals and reimagined standards. Records like Blue Matter, A Go Go with Medeski, Martin & Wood, Works for Me, Überjam, Country for Old Men and his self-titled 2022 album trace a line where swing meets backbeat and country or soul shades slip into the mix. In trio, his guitar takes center stage: lean themes, elastic time, choruses that stretch and snap back, with room for quick-turn interplay and gritty harmonies. Expect a set that moves from bluesy contours to agile post-bop runs, with that Scofield touch—clear lines, subtle bite, and grooves that leave space for the music to breathe.