John Scofield Swallow Tales

John Scofield
Swallow Tales
ECM

With all the recordings over his esteemed career, "Swallow Tales" is John Scofield's first album as a leader for ECM. The present album is a celebration of the bassist Steve Swallow who Scofield has known since he was studying at Berklee some four decades ago. Swallow has played and recorded with Scofield over the years and Scofeld notes their rapport is such that "Sometimes when we play it's like one big guitar, the bass part and my part together."  Filling out the trio is drummer Bill Stewart. Scofield states about Stewart that What Bill does is more than ‘playing the drums,'" Scofield says. "He's a melodic voice in the music, playing counterpoint, and comping, while also swinging really hard."

This recording is devoted to Swallow's compositions which Scofield observes "make perfect vehicles for improvisation. The changes are always interesting – but not too interesting! They're grounded in reality with cadences that make sense. They're never just intellectual exercises, and they're so melodic. They're all songs, rather than ‘pieces'. They could all be sung." The performances of these nine tunes display the emphatic interplay suggested by Scofield's comments above.

Scofield's touch and technique is immaculate throughout while his solos are ingenious and thoughtfully constructed. Certainly there is a delicious precious quality to the opening selection "She Was Young" where Scofield's crafted lyrical playing is subtly supported. His guitar tone is exquisite while Stewart is adding a counterpoint with his rhythmic accents. Swallow himself adds a melodic solo on this softly played tune. Stewart's propulsive playing kicks off "Falling Grace" with the composer's neat bass line as well as Scofield's scintillating, twisting solo. Then there is the free-flowing bluesy feel of "Portsmouth Figurations," that was originally performed on Gary Burton's "Duster" album. There is effervescent playing on "Eiderdown," which also has a noteworthy drum solo. Another song to take note of is the lovely ballad "Away," with some pretty playing from the leader and Swallow with Stewart deftly and softly using brushes. "In F" is Swallow's contrafact of a Cole Porter number with  drum breaks featured in its head.

Besides being marvelously played, the performances are uncluttered with plenty of space for the music to breathe. There is so much to enjoy with the intriguing compositions, the imaginative and thoughtful playing and the rapport the three showcase. "Swallow Tales" is a gem of a jazz guitar recording.

I received a review download from a publicist. Here is a 2010 performance by this trio.