Matt Schofield: Many Moons Vol. 1

The blues boom that exploded in England during the mid-to-late 1960s bequeathed more than a few guitar heroes to the world, including, but not limited to, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. But none of those fretboarders or their contemporaries and descendants has been any more loyal to the genre than Matt Schofield.

And while the British expatriate has not ever reinvented the blues in post-millennial terms, he and his band(s) have consistently reaffirmed its virtues, reinvigorating familiar constructs in such a way the attributes of simplicity and humor complement the fundamental catharsis of pain at the heart of the music and its songs.

To that end, Many Moons Vol. 1 is a combination of recognition and celebration of more than 20 years of performing together by Schofield's beloved original trio line-up, featuring organist Jonny Henderson and drummer Evan Jenkins. Hardly less notably, the album also marks the guitarist's return to studio recordings after an 11-year hiatus: his last studio album was Far As I Can See (Provogue, 2014).

The threesome hits the ground running on the appropriately-titled "Can't Catch My Breath." The bare-bones construct of the instrumental concept begets the spark of inspiration on this initial cut, one the band nurtures further with the inexorable 12-bar march of "Any Questions." The intensity thus waxes and wanes, with a purpose, for the duration of this approximately 42 minutes playing time.

To state that the bandleader's guitar sets the tone does not minimize the instrumental impact of either Henderson's or Jenkins' playing, together and apart. But as on "Measure of a Man," Schofield adroitly fingers single notes and runs with as much dexterity as fluidity. Not to mention passion: emotional catharsis is Matt Schofield's stock in trade and the aforementioned track deserves to be the longest here at 7:29.

Comparably fervent personal expression also permeates the front man's vocals. However, he does not over-sing any more than he overplays. And with the arrangements as unadorned as the audio—mixed by Roland Dirkse and mastered by Renzo van Riemsdijk—the recapitulation of style that is Many Moons Vol. 1 thrives on its continuity.

Amidst original material that the guitarist/composer co-wrote, there are covers which aid in diversifying not only the sound of the three-man group, but the dynamism of the their interactions. Going no further into abstraction than the eye-pleasing front cover images on "Do Me Right," Schofield and company firmly embrace the syncopation at the heart of Albert Collins' "Put The Shoe on the Other Foot."

Meanwhile, a subdued but pointed take on Percy Mayfield's "Danger Zone" (once covered by Ray Charles) proffers timely topicality without straining for profundity. The instrumental elocution is muted but articulate, as suits the foreboding tune, but it makes for an ideal setup to the outright celebratory air of this final cut, "Nothin' But a Party."

It is to their great credit that The Matt Schofield Trio refuses to succumb to a rote approach on such elemental forms. On the contrary, their fleet collective motion through "Wellington Shuffle" is not only tight without sounding constricted, but it is also loose enough to manifest the pleasure they take from their musicianly bond. The infectious feel arising from their action is almost a fait accompli.

Indeed, with Many Moons Vol. 1, the compact ensemble whets the appetite for more honest demonstrations of their highly intuitive musicianship. To that end, the prospective sequel to this album involves the addition of horns and more broad arrangements in general, the likes of which will no doubt be as stirring as these eight cuts, if not more so.