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The 61-year-old jazz-fusion guitarist John Scofield and his quartet Überjam will co-headline a show with jazz explorers Medeski Martin & Wood, and because John Medeski has played on both of the Überjam albums, Medeski will join in during part of Scofield's set, Scofield said.
"We're buddies," Scofield said. "I really like his playing."
"Überjam Deux" was released in July, 11 years after the first Überjam album (but that doesn't mean that Scofield has been relaxing —- he has put out seven albums since).
His three partners — Avi Bortnick on guitars and sampling, Andy Hess (former member of Gov't Mule and The Black Crowes) on bass guitar, Adam Deitch on drums — inspire Scofield with their modern styles that lend themselves towards Afro-beat and other world-music fusion.
"This type of music is so collaborative," said Scofield, noting that he doesn't appreciate jazz when it's just a frontman with a faceless, nameless backing band.
Überjam allows Scofield to indulge his love for funk, and whenever he plays with these three, he said he feels "comfortable," in the best sense of the word. "It makes me feel like my stuff works," he said.
He was nice enough to mention three styles that he loves, but never feels comfortable playing in front of audiences: classical, flamenco and Indian.
So there will be no sitar at this show.
When • Sunday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.Where • Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake CityTickets • $35 for Garden members, $40 for non-members, at redbuttegarden,org