The lineup for the featured musical performance on Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert read less like a late-night TV spot and more like a late-night club gig during New Orleans Jazz Fest: For his scheduled slot as the featured musical guest, house bandleader and multi-talented artist Louis Cato recruited a pair of his revered jazz peers, guitarist John Scofield and bassist Marcus Miller, to bring his recent single “Black Man Blues” to life.
The results are as riveting as you might expect from this trio of jazz luminaries. While the original single is a true solo effort written and recorded by Cato alone, the addition of Miller’s legendary groove and Scofield’s skillfully off-kilter accompaniment let Louis focus his efforts on drums and vocals—and add new layers of dimension to this simple yet impactful twelve-bar shuffle. Plus, we’ve never, ever been mad about any song throwing it to John Scofield for a solo.
Below, read along with the song’s lyrics while you watch Louis Cato, John Scofield, and Marcus Miller perform Cato’s “Black Man Blues” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. You can also watch Cato perform the studio version solo in the official music video for the track. Stream or download “Black Man Blues” by Louis Cato on your preferred platform here.
Louis Cato, John Scofield, Marcus Miller – “Black Man Blues” – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Louis Cato – “Black Man Blues” (Official Video)