Govt Mule & John Scofield "Stratus" Boston, MA 3/12/15

Govt Mule and John Scofield perform Billy Cobham's "Stratus" on 3-12-15 at the Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA. Brought to you by Less Than Face Productions.

[@iansnyder274]

SCOFIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to remember to keep breathing while i was listening to him solo....holy shit....no words!

[@williamweiss3620]

Bass player keeping it all together!!!!!! These guys are the best of the best. 😳

[@DJFarallon]

Totally driving the song with an Epiphone Jack Casady ax.

[@brianriley4914]

Sco - better than the finest of wines.....after 30 years of listening he gets better and better.....

[@stefanschleps8758]

And how are we to explain Christone Ingram ? Its almost scary to wonder at just what hights the Kingfish will arrive in thirty years. Geeze !!

[@supertravdoggy]

Scofield is some kind of otherworldly entity. He needs no words, he speaks fluent guitarineze, conveying heaping helpings of unspoken musical truths in a mosaic of rock blues and jazz. Waren comes in perfectly like usual slowly tugging us back to earth with his exquisitely timed soulful riffing. This is a master work, bridging a multitude of styles and techniques by two of my favorite guitarists. Thanks LTFP for posting and thanks to Scofield and the Mule.

[@Knards]

His face is on the definition of jazz in the dictionary

[@brianriley4914]

A very fine summation also...:)

[@tapiomakelainen]

Travis Bessonette I just sew them in Espoo Finland ( Finnish LA) a month ago. I mean Scofield jazz band. My guitarist son, who just returned fron Atlanta was not happy. I’ve been introduced with Scofield since 70’s. Cobham was here also. I got tickets. My leg broke with a 90 mph snowmobile. My son went. A total mishap.

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Our pleasure Travis!

[@criticalcarelive3767]

two years old comment but awesome words on this master!!!

[@paulodetarsomafuzo4205]

John Scofield speaks another language. Amazing!

[@patlatorres7000]

Recently saw a video of Leland Sklar talking about the initial recording of this piece and how the most difficult part is just sticking to the basic groove throughout the entire piece! He mentioned that it's (relatively) easy to toss in frills on the bass line, but to keep that solid groove the whole time without break is tough as hell!

[@rexwave4624]

I just learned this today, partly from Leland Sklar’s video about it. Keeping the groove for a long time, yet remain8ng aware to the changes, is tricky. There’s another song, only four notes, that’s tough for the same reason. Not anything close to this but, nonetheless, Engel by Rammstein, live at Lizhinsky Stadium. By the way, is the bass player here playing the groove right?

[@kaibartling7085]

@@rexwave4624 No, he's not. It differs on at least one note I think. Perhaps he likes it better that way and no one else cared? Or the band did not rehearse this classic, and he just tried his best out of the blue.

[@tonyaguanno9796]

You can basically dub Rockn Hourse over this song

[@tonyaguanno9796]

@@kaibartling7085 can dub rockn horse over the song basically the same song

[@chrishenson4450]

Yeah, it's got that trick of all sixteenth notes with the last two being the same as the first, so the actual note changes don't happen on the down beat of one. Which can be incredibly disorienting after a few minutes.

[@petercricket]

Schofield takes his solo higher and higher,, hats off to the bassman..keepin' that groove.

[@danoloane]

Imagine being able to play anything you want, in any setting, on the guitar. That's John Scofield. There just are no more words for the guy. And he's been doing it for 50 years now. Mind-boggling...

[@artysanmobile]

…and boring as a mf.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Holy Cow ….I NEVER thought I’d see Gov’t Mule doing jazz fusion….and it was GREAT!

[@frankrichards3089]

They've pretty much done it at times from the get go.

[@fmorin71234]

Warren is the very best I've ever seen or ever will in my lifetime! His playing and this band along with guests never fail to amaze me

[@bjornekblom2096]

I grow up with Spectrum and its so cool to see these guys honoring it. Billy and Leland, and Tommy❤

[@TheDomRyder]

Matt !!!! Thanks man !!! Solid grooving as usual !!!! 🤘

[@susanreed2802]

Within 15 seconds of this I thought "oh crap this is gonna be good "

[@BlueSkies32]

Susan Reed That’s so true, man I heard the groove and thought the very same thing.

[@leonkowalenko1747]

Scofield is a demigod ... but the original version (Billy Cobham/Tommy Bolin/Jan Hammer/Leland Sklar, 1973) is otherworldly. Don´t miss it

[@cosmicslopass]

Dude if you ve never heard the original or aren't familiar with Billy cobham or the mahivishnu orchestra, it makes this sound like trash and I love this video. But this version is a weak cover imo, instead of exploring stratus into a new musical atmosphere it feels more like a jam funk fusion groove but soulless. It's clear there jamming on a groove that doesn't really even care about the essence of stratus. Sometimes the less space in music the better , the wonderful thing about cobham and his drumming is he didnt waste a note even though he played so many.

[@tomfusion7]

Killer no filler 🔥🔥🔥

[@bernardtheillaucher9478]

Sco will never die : better and better everytime... Thanks a lot for share !

[@schothans]

17 minutes of pure joy ! And compliments for the one who made this video. Beautiful camera-work !

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Thanks Erik! We appreciate it!

[@richardbradley3684]

Wow was that 17 mins i never realised

[@mwalker3547]

The best arrangement of this song I've heard. Tommy Bolin (rest in peace) would absolutely love this. Scofield's sound reminds me a lot of Roy Buchanan.

[@marKism69]

Umm.. you need to hear the Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott's performance of this song. MIndblowing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHyUZYalaLRolc0

[@mwalker3547]

@@marKism69 Thank You; I've heard it.

[@headstonesandhistory]

You might want to listen to others.......

[@jeffreybivins5556]

Scofield although probably unknown to many that follow the mainstream has always been bad ass. I’ve got an amazing album of his from the mid 70s. So versatile.

[@josephtravers777]

Yes, he was playing fusion w/ Billy Cobham & the amazing George Duke.

[@realtuffdude]

Ha ha, Scofield is the mainstream...all due respect to Warren Haynes, up there with he best of them as well 👍

[@suitcasefulloffish6242]

This is truly one of my favorite recordings of all time. I love scofield-mule more than anything

[@YaleRoth]

scofield is shredding!! out of his mind

[@ericbush6124]

Great upload saw John Scofield play with Billy Cobham Late Great George Duke and Alphonso Johnson in 76 Super show Great Guitarist year later saw another Super Guitarist late Great Jeff Beck with Billy Cobham Jan Hammer and Alphonso Johnson i love Jazz Fusion Prog Rock

[@darrylbrown634]

Great band,saw them at RIT!!!

[@MichelHubert-lg9so]

Il a joué aussi avec Miles Davis ce Maître a tous les grands talents de la fusion ☮️

[@JamesFolkers]

Brilliant - stunning!

[@bluesyfish]

I keep coming back, over & over!

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

That's awesome!

[@EdArmGuitar]

Scofield just rips it into pieces!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏

[@TheGreenKingdom]

This is awesome, need to dig out my old Cobham wax!

[@TheJimbomull1]

Words fail. Unbelievable performance

[@richardthomasmirabito4197]

The " licks " library in John's head is mindboggling!

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

Thanks for posting this. It's just incredible!

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Glad you enjoyed it Dave!

[@compassionatenature]

GODDDDDDDAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMNN! What an ensemble effort, here! Billy would be some proud.

[@amancu1963]

Warren has to be really brave to share the stage with an absolute giant like Scofield. I can't imagine too many rock-blues guitarists doing the same and be able to survive like he did.

[@BrothaManFromDa5thFl]

Man Sco was on fire!!

[@Caravan335]

Oh wow, this is magnificent

[@boopsboy]

Holy crap, I've heard of John Scofield for years, but I'm sad I never saw him actually play until just now.

[@YaoEspirito]

He's a monster of jazz/fusion. Delightful when he appears in other places.

[@ssn0651]

The drummer should be mentioned for the job he did propelling this along . Fucking Bravo !

[@michaelbrickley2443]

He has serious chops. Any drummer willing to take on anything Billy played is a task and he delivered.

[@raylombardo4186]

Are you NUTS ????? When a drummer allows/makes the tempo go from 85 BPM to 103 BPM, that's downright embarrassing !!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can any producer allow that to get posted on YT ?? Good drummers will deviate by 2 BPB, but 18 ????????????????????

[@markbrandon7756]

Likely one of the top 0.000001 % of Music, Videos, and Performances ever made.

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Glad you enjoyed Mark!

[@peskypesky]

Wow!!! Props to all these fine musicians! And to Billy Cobham!!! I loved all the solos, and the drummer and bassist were keeping that groove PHAT!

[@kitano0]

Props to Lee Sklar, too!

[@ralphsera1442]

Great version, Tommy Bolin on guitar with Billy Cobham is the BOMB!

[@michaelgreen5206]

And Jan Hammer, too!!

[@paulrevelli]

I actually have to shed this tune for an upcoming gig, and this was a real eye opener compared to some of the other live versions I've heard. It's direct and less cluttered somehow. Thanks, this was a big help.

[@bahusofriends5467]

Watch out for a version with Billy Cobham, George Duke and Stefan Rademacher on Bass. Unfortuneately i miss out on the name of the also outstanding guitarist of the aforementioned version. I think he was australian or from new zealand. This Version is so spot on you wont believe it. I like the version here with sco and warren also a lot. I love the keyboardists/organpayers work and feel. He has got "it"... Heres the link brother: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGKWgWqbZ6qmiLM

[@howardcox2918]

I have this on album,Billy C is man

[@YaleRoth]

simply awesome!

[@BlueSkies32]

This is so inspiring, thank you for posting! Great collaboration, pleasant surprise. Not surprised to see John Scofield crushing it! Man, studying his 2 VHS tape set on quartal harmony, this was a really cool bluesier harmonic side, and the Carltonesque hammer on alone was worth the price of admission! WH, so soulful, and carried the ABB during changing times. 😊

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Glad you dig it Richard!

[@kenarmstrong9378]

That's the best rendition of Stratus I've ever heard!😂

[@frankrichards3089]

It's up there for sho. Badass.

[@texacaster]

Great stuff! Thanks again!

[@BHJ7115]

Schofield is a freakin genius!

[@cironicholas526]

can we all just appreciate how good that cheap epiphone Jack Cassidy bass sounds?

[@Dlrealife]

Man, this is GOOD! TY LTFP

[@mikestander2413]

Godddddaaaaammmmnnnnn! That was a jam!

[@10sassafras]

Warren Haynes nailed it. Great solo.

[@bradalker5332]

Nice cover of this Billy Cobham classic. Tommy Bolin would approve. Of course John played this tune a few times with Billy back in the 70s. Bean town got to listen to a great night of music.

[@Eggs4ckley]

Chairman Meow Boston baked beans dude

[@willslaughterguitar]

No one forget that Scofield is playing that on 12 gauge strings

[@ishko108]

what an awesome jam.

[@kwm7458]

Just cranked this to the f’n heavens and feel great about it

[@mikemaroney6688]

Outstanding performance. Thx for posting.

[@edvellozz6965]

great to show this to ever...

[@stefanschleps8758]

Opening sounds a lot like "Birds of Fire" by the MVO. If you were there you're a precious goddess, a lucky bastard, a legend. A moment of space-time sanctified by your divine presence. That wasn't just fanatstic, that was transcendental. Thanks for sharing You legend. Peace. NFA.

[@LessThanFaceProductions1]

Glad we could help you relive the moment Stefan!

[@stefanschleps8758]

@@LessThanFaceProductions1 I wasn't there, wish I had been. Om.

[@jensmeyer-beeck9511]

If there was no Sco, the space-time continuum would have a serious dent.

[@erwinderuiter1320]

Pff Scofield… always tasteful and incredible

[@ralphbedwell4669]

Scofield sure does put his whole self into it!

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

John was a original member of The George Duke Billy Cobham Band '75-'77, Checkout the Live Europe Lp

[@carlosclaptrix]

Very cool version of this jewel of fusion!

[@flathead7922]

Sco's solo is memorable...

[@-MRN-]

I love John's playing. What a treasure.

[@cmoorer9771]

Love the Cheap Sunglasses tease thruout the song…

[@mohomoho1]

My fav is still the original w. Tommy Bolan guitar Billy Cobham and Lee Sklar.

[@garethde-witt6433]

17:21😳 even Leland didn’t play it for that long damn

[@JerryBlume-v3z]

it's a cool journey.I like solo's like these .The drummer was awesome too.

[@SimonMonaghan2010]

I've come back to this - it's so awesome. What a moment for Sco at 8:17 !

[@justanothernguyen2334]

that's such a simple lick too. Pure fun on his face.

[@MrCiampi1952]

Amazing piece of great music!!!! Number 1!!!!!!

[@Tuuktalus]

Damn that was good!

[@BillRayDrums]

God I miss live music. Summer of '22 is gonna be lit.

[@andymelendez9757]

Very nice indeed. Lots of juicy bits!

[@TheSecondNature]

Always great to see an Epiphone Jack Casady bass in action. It mustn't be easy to maintain that riff for such a long jam. I'm not even gonna touch on the solos, as they speak for themselves

[@tomcoryell]

Just lock in with Matt, put your head down and go.....

[@ChromaticHarp]

But he changed the bassline from Skylar’s, why??!!

[@makkanbas]

@@ChromaticHarp Why not?

[@Metalmanuk1]

All together brilliant

[@Terraborboletta]

great jam. thanks for your great jam

[@oddbod4321]

I love watching Aslan and his Dad playing nicely together.

[@petercricket]

Thought this guy played jazz......unbelievable..

[@To.Si.Ma.]

This has Mahavishnu vibes all over it. Love it.

[@mikecelli1517]

check out the original Billy Cobham track with Tommy Bolin and Leland Sklar.... take a little trip out

[@skipneumann1]

Love It Love It Love It!

[@danielfox1822]

This tune, STRATUS, originally released on Billy Cobham's Spectrum LP, was offered up to Cobham by Tommy Bolin, as were all the other compositions which Tommy wrote save two or three that Cobham penned, all are credited to Cobham as 'payment' for Cobham giving Bolin the exposure or opportunity to play on that session that Tommy was looking for at that time.

[@padrematthewchurch5775]

Been Listen to B.C since the 7des

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

God dam the bands on fire, whoo!

[@martinmoffitt4702]

what a treat would make tommy bolin smile down from heaven

[@george00719]

To play so varied over ...was it a one chord vamp?...that's great playing

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Pretty cool how Mule borrowed the two-chord vamp from the pre-solo section of ZZ Top's tune Cheap Sunglasses.

[@narvul]

Scofield is killing it.

[@ericjosephcornejo8941]

Sco`s "Groove chops" kills!

[@andynelson8838]

Wow! They are achieving stratus!

[@andynelson8838]

Sco is the best guitarist in the multiverse because he doesn't show off his chops . Plays the groove

[@IIESPD00DII]

Facial expressions say everything. The man is a master of the instrument

[@chalmersfamilyband]

Love that Billy Cobham tune!!

[@PatriotSteve]

he is never predictable. Warren is great but you can predict what’s coming next. Not so with Sco.

[@DabsDad]

@@PatriotSteve even Metheny is more predicable than Sco. The only other guys who improvise so fluent and varying are Gambale and Rosenwinkel. I'm sure there are others, but wow, I dare anyone to find better than those three still living. Maybe Scott Henderson?

[@PatriotSteve]

@@DabsDad I might put Jeff Beck up there

[@andynelson8838]

Scofield is the best guitarist in the multiverse!

[@leandroveres]

Hahahahaa

[@Ra-gypsy-angelo]

ben voyons !

[@905Alive]

WOW is right, the original recording was Cobham, Jan Hammer, Tommy Bolin and Sklar, THE BEST OF THE BEST ............to even try this, thanks for sharing, Tommy so missed the boat by going with James Gang and Purple but I guess those gigs paid more than fusion. His potential was never realized.

[@eduardosci1909]

Tks!!!

[@andynelson8838]

So enjoyable... Thanks

[@parthoghosh5809]

Fantastic ❤

[@billyoung7758]

John Scofield, the best ' guitar faces' ever.

[@thepetergiriband]

Friggin Awesome!!!

[@reverendc.e.aldinger5744]

Tommy Bolin's very finest guitar work on the original session w/ Leland Sklar in Electric Lady studio! Love Lee's story about how they did it and how he and Billy locked in the groove.

[@romainbertrand253]

WOW. I didn't know that one. John Scofield is such an awesome musician. He got better and better through years. And he fits perfectly with that band. Warren Hayes starts in the nicest way. Very musical.

[@francoisleonard825]

Matt Abts is fantastic

[@carlgold3366]

Fantastic!

[@brucemontgomery7677]

Saw this at the Mother Church in Nashville, incredible.

[@Piotr_Pashkov]

an incredible drop in the authority of the master(