Audio CD review:
John Scofield - John Scofield Live

John Scofield - John Scofield Live

Band: John Scofield Title: John Scofield Live Rating: Release Date: 2005-02-07 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: V. 2: Cray and Viscaral 3: Leaving - John Scofield, Beirach, Richie 4: Air Pakistan 5: Jeanie 6: Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise - John Scofield, Hammerstein, Oscar

My first and still favorite Scofield I enjoy what Sco is playing now, but his earlier straight-ahead playing was more melodically adventuresome and lyrical. This was the first recording of Scofield I heard in the late 1970s, and it changed the way I've thought of jazz harmony ever since. On this record, he has a first call New York 70s rhythm section, Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Joe LaBarbera. Beirach and Mraz were incredible together--where are they now? Listen to the piano solo on "Leaving," one of the most powerful I've ever heard recorded. I grew up playing jazz in the 1970s, and this record reminds me of what Debussy once said of Wagner, "a beautiful sunset that many mistook for the dawn. " In the early 80s, jazz bifurcated into the retros under Wynton and the funks under Miles and we didn't hear much innovative straight ahead for about a decade. This record shows where the music could have gone. Money well spent! This is in my top two favorite Scofield albums along with Rough House. This is actually a review of the LP, I can't seem to lay my hands on a CD copy of this so far. Side I has two Sco originals , the second has a tune by the pianist in the quartet, "Leaving," which is a study in interplay. The highlight of the album for me though, is the "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" close: this is a very recorded standard, and I have several versions of it in my vinyl and CDs, but this is my favorite! I would buy this album just for that cut. You can see a complete list of all John Scofield discography, or go back to the John Scofield tabs