A little over a half century ago, British blues captured American audiences, by ironically, repackaging American blues in a rock setting. That led to the careers of some of the icons of rock guitar, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Peter Green, and a host of now classic bands, from the Rolling Stones, Cream, the Yardbirds, the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac, and even Pink Floyd started as a blues-influenced group.

Over the years, some of the original American blues artists have gotten their due, and a couple of successive generations of American blues players and bands have found audiences. This week, we have a new album by a British born blues guitarist, though he has been living in the US recently. It’s Matt Schofield, and his new release, his tenth, is called Many Moons, Vol. 1. The title may have come from the fact that it has been 11 years since his last album with his band.

Matt Schofield is a native of Manchester, England, now 47 years old, Schofield released his first album under his own name in 2004. It, and its successor the following year were live recordings. Though he has worked as a sideman and instructor, Schofield’s main creative outlet as been a distinctive organ trio, with guitar, organ and drums, and with organ providing the bass. His long-time band continues on the new album with Jonny Henderson on the organ and Evan Jenkins on drums, a group has been performing on and off for 25 years now. While the early British blues players went in more for the feeling and energy of the blues in their guitar work, Schofield shows a little jazz influence in his more sophisticated soloing and chord structure. He has been compared to Robben Ford, a jazz-influenced player who has been specializing in the blues, and he brings a fluid sophisticated style to his playing, adding touches that are not basic blues. That is much on display on Schofield’s new album, with his intricate, yet effortless-sounding playing. The basic organ trio provides a nice setting for Schofield’s guitar work to be spotlighted without much distraction.

The eight tunes on the new album each highlight a different blues style, from a basic shuffle to a classic-style slow blues to a boogie, some New Orleans funk, a little old-fashioned boogaloo and some jazzy swing.

While most of the songs have rather typical blues lyrics, the opening track is one that has a social consciousness aspect. The tune is called Can’t Catch My Breath which laments the state of the world, while the musical setting is an energetic shuffle that’s a lot more than a three-chord blues. From end-to-end Schofield’s guitar work is impressive. <<>>

The following track takes the form of a classic-style slow blues. Any Questions provides Schofield another opportunity to highlight his blues chops on guitar. <<>>

With a New Orleans style funk groove is Shoe on the Other Foot, with more great guitar work <<> and a solo opportunity for organist Jonny Henderson. <<>>

Another slow blues is Measure of a Man with a bit more plaintive sound, and lyrics considering one’s character and values. <<>>

Wellington Shuffle is the album’s only instrumental, and it’s a real highlight, with a great groove and classy soloing by both Schofield and Johnny Henderson. <<>>

Another strong track is Do Me Right a boogaloo, with rather un-blues-like lyrics – a celebration of a great relationship. <<>>

Danger Zone is a kind of ballad, a bit reminiscent of the classic blues tune Please Send Me Someone to Love. Again, Schofield and company handle the tune with aplomb. <<>>

The album ends with one of its most energetic tracks, Nothing But a Party another strong shuffle-style blues-rock tune, with Schofield cranking up his guitar some. <<>>

British-born, American based blues guitarist and vocalist Matt Schofield’s new tenth album, his first in over a decade, is a treat. Although it follows the various classic blues forms with its mostly original material, it’s all done exceptionally well, with Schofield’s outstanding guitar work, with his impressive technique with a great guitar tone for the blues, and classy solos. The guitar, organ and drums trio is distinctive, but keyboard man Jonny Henderson holds down the bass as well as any dedicated bassist.

Our grade for audio quality is about an A-Minus. The mix has good clarity, but despite Schofield’s statement in an interview that the dynamics of a performance were important to him, volume compression was applied in an effort the make the album loud all the time, and that undermined those dynamics.

British blues has been a long-time component of classic rock. Matt Schofield puts a twenty-first century spin on the genre with his excellent new album.

(c) Copyright 2025 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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