Conference napalm::guitar

2970.0. "John Scofield" by CRONIC::PCUMMINGS (Twelve Sandwich Blues) Sun Sep 04 1994 01:37

    I've been listening to John Scofield ever since I heard him at Newport
    in 1984 with Miles' band.  I had only heard some of his stuff with
    Billy Cobham many years before - and it didn't hit me the same way.
    
    I found his playing with Miles to me much more complementry to Miles'
    playing and compositions than Mike Stern.  I love Mike's energy and
    expression, but sometimes he gets a little too into repetitative riffing.
    John had a great blues feeling without playing blues cliches.
    
    Check out his playing on Miles' "Decoy",  "Star People", and
    "You're Under Arrest".
    
    Thought I'd mention some stuff of his own, that's worth checking out.
    
    Of recent I bought "I Can See Your House From Here", his album with
    Pat Metheny.   Many times when 2 guitarists get together it winds
    up being a cutting contest - not here!  This is a great album which
    sounds like a bunch of guys who've playing together for a long time.
    The band made up of Scofield on electric and acoustic steel string
    guitars; Metheny on electric, guitar synth and nylon string guitar;
    Bill Stewart (one of my favorite new drummers on the scene) and
    Steve Swallow on electric and acoustic bass guitar.
    
    Stewart and Swallow lay down great grooves, splashing in lots of
    colour over the 2 guitarists compositions.  Neat compositions and
    great soloing.  What's cool too is how laid back each is on backing
    when the other is soloing.  Very understated, but very complimentry.
    
    As it turns out they rehearsed some, did three gigs and went into
    the studio and then did some touring this summer in Europe.
    
    Some of the tunes that stand out here,  The Red One, No Matter What,
    Everybody's Party, Message to My Friend, No Way Jose, Quiet Rising,
    You Speak My Language.
    
    Some other great stuff by Scofield with acoustic bands:
    "What We Do"  His last Blue Note record with Joe Lovano on tenor sax,
    Bill Stewart on drums, and Dennis Erwin on bass.  Some cool tunes
    here Camp Out (humor on "Hello Mother, Hello Father"),  Imaginary
    Time, Call 911, What They Did, Say The Word.
    
    This album isn't so much about incredible compositions, but it's
    about incredible blowing and going for the moment.  Joe and John
    really take it out.  Bill Stewart here again is awesome, Dennis
    Erwin sounds like a distant relative to Charlie Haden.
    
    Time On My Hands (Lovano, Haden, DeJohnette) was Sco's 1st venture into
    this territory - more laid back - some great compositions,  Meant To Be - 
    the next one, neat stuff also, the improv and ensemble playing starting 
    to approach the intensity that comes across on "What We Do".  There's also
    a bootleg out of this era (1991?) which includes only 3 tunes, but is 
    long and blowing entitled "John Scofield Quartet Plays Live"  Lovano, 
    Stewart on board with Marc Johnson on bass (same personnel as Meant To Be).
    
    As for his electric stuff:  Still Warm, Blue Matter, Loud Jazz and
    Pick Hits are great records.  The latter 3, include Dennis Chambers on
    drums and Gary Grainger on electric bass.  Great grooves.  Smoldering
    solos.
    
    /Paul
    

    
    'Pick Hits Live' is incredible ! Chambers is a complete monster, and
    the audience is wonderful (Japan) !
    
    Ditto the response to 'I Can See Your House ...', although I'm a sucker
    for anything Metheny does ...
    
    - acp

    Which of those Miles albums has more to do with the era from Bitches
    Brew to Agharta and less to do with things like "Human Nature" and
    "Time After Time"?
    
    Paul

    Well, that's a tough one, but you definitely won't find either pop
    tune you mentioned on Decoy or Star People - both great records...
    which is closer to Bitches Brew ? Probably Decoy.  Still alot different
    but you asked which is closer ! 8>)
    
    /paul