Audio CD review:
John Scofield - Rough House

John Scofield - Rough House

Band: John Scofield Title: Rough House Rating: Release Date: 07 February, 2005 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Rough House 2: Alster Fields 3: Ailleron 4: Slow Elvin 5: Triple Play 6: Air Parkistan

Customer Reviews Quintessential Scofield! I remember though back when this record came out on vinyl in 1978, I listened with awe and excitement. John Scofield currently does not do much for me anymore. John was still a relative new comer to the jazz curcuit. He was inventive and DARING, which is something I do not hear on his newer post 1995 releases. This album JUST jams from an authentic jazz fusion direction. . . . and not the biting-hard fusion; but full of punctuated energy. This recotrding is a True classic! The recording is appropriately complex with enthusiasit playing from John and ALL the players. Excellent spin!. John Scofield Rough House It has a more straight ahead sound at a very high level of musicianship. Actually I feel this is essential Scofield. Very few guitarists are able to negotiate soloing through Coltrane "Giant Steps" style chord changes evident in "Aeleron". Scofield does this with ease like bread and butter. Except for the light overdriven (juicy) sound of his Gibson 335 guitar, which I prefer over his current instrument, this is a no frills bebop CD laden with the classic Scofield signature. You know its him right away. There are a lot of notes being played, but they are quality notes. Hal Galper doesn't play around on this one either. Highly recommended listening for jazz guitar fans. Pretty decent early Sco He was still a relative unknown when he recorded this record in 1978, but almost all the guitar skills that he is now widely acclaimed for are already in evidence here. After stints with Charles Mingus and Billy Cobham but before landing a spot in Miles Davis' band, John Scofield recorded a batch of records for the Enja label in the late 70's and early 80's. He did display a tendency to try to jam every possible note for each chord, however. With an acoustic backing of Hal Galper on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Adam Nussbaum on drums, the music here is more of the straight ahead type, but with a hint of rock, like what one would find on John McLaughlin's "Extrapolation". All songs are originals by Scofield, except for one composition by Galper. All are good, if not outstanding. The sound quality is not all that great, esecially on the drums. But the enrgy level is high and both Scofield and Galper put in a few nice solos. This is not essential Scofield, but aficianados will find it worth the purchase. As a bonus, you also get a picture of JS sporting hair on the top of his head and without a beard ;^). . You can see a complete list of all John Scofield discography, or go back to the John Scofield tabs