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.

 

John Scofield Country For Old Men

John Scofield
Country For Old Men
Impulse

This new release by John Scofield has him reinvestigating his country/folk roots alongside accomplished colleagues Steve Swallow, Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart. It is a homage to such greats as George Jones, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, James Taylor and Hank Williams among others, with some songs evoking a classic honky tonk feel like the opening rendition of a George Jones classic "Mr. Fool," with Scofield's twang and use of sustain set against Goldings' country-flavored piano and a simple rhythm groove while a few others taking a different tack as the transformation of Hank Williams' lament. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," into a rollicking roadhouse stomp and almost a mash up with Jay McShann's "Jumpin' the Blues," on a stunning performance with some fiery playing in his improvisation.

There is the restrained rendition of James Taylor's "Bartender's Blues," the percolating groove over a spirited "Wildwood Flower," and a sober "Wayfaring Stranger." The sparkling flavor of the interpretation of Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," contrasts the bluesy flavor of the rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." Other treats include the Bob Wills' classic ballad "Faded Love," and the classic "Red River Valley," transformed into a rocking organ-guitar feature with some of Scofield's most inventive improvisation. A brief, acoustic statement of the theme of "I'm an Old Cowhand," serves to end a most appealing album of jazz renditions of classic country tunes.

I received a download to review from publicist. Here is John Scofield performing the country classic that was redone by Ray Charles, "You Don't Know Me."

Joe Lovano Reunites with John Scofeld for Past Present

Guitarist John Scofield's new album "Past Present" (Impulse), is a return to a musical partnership with Joe Lovano that he engaged in two decades ago. The group included drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Dennis Irwin. Irwin has passed and replaced by Larry Grenadier for the present recording in this same "electro-acoustic quartet" format to use annotator Josef Woodard's description. The album features nine Scofield originals, with several playing tribute to John's late son Evan who lost a battle with a swift and rare cancer. Scofield plays without pedals and FX on this recording.

There is a bluesy, groove-centered ambiance about the performances here starting with the opening "Slinky," with its appealing melodic base as Lovano's tenor wraps around the leader's prickly guitar whose marvelously constructed blues-infused solo is followed by Lovano's robust playing as Grenadier anchors things and Stewart adds rhythmic accents. Stewart's drums kicks off the playful "Chap Dance" which as Woodward astutely notes evokes both Ornette Coleman and Sonny Rollins or this lively and ebullient performance, and this is followed by the wistful "Hangover."

"Get Proud" hints at the classic Herbie Mann recording "Coming Back Home," as Lovano and Scofield imaginatively craft their solos here that are thoughtfully crafted, yet still full of energy and passion. "Past Present" is proof that jazz can be both playful, entertaining and yet musically challenging and one certainly hopes this quartet tours extensively.

I believe I received my review copy from a publicist. This review has appeared in the November-December Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 363). Here is Scofield and Lovano along with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Ben Street at the 2015 Montreal International Jazz Festival.