It seems like all guitarists of a certain generation or inclination eventually spend some time on ECM’s roster. Recently, John Scofield has joined his peers Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, and John Abercrombie as a stalwart of the label. Scofield is also something of an odd choice, given that he’s always played with an earthy, sometimes bluesy sensibility that one doesn’t often associate with the label. But that’s all just first impressions. What we’ve got here, on about 90 minutes of music, is a cracking trio (including longtime running mate, drummer Bill Stewart, and bassist Vicente Archer) playing a range of selections from Americana to originals to standards.
When “Mr. Tambourine Man” starts things out with a somewhat innocuous loop and some textural noodling, I was wondering if someone had slipped me a 1990s Frisell recording. But it settles quickly into tasty stuff that initially seems merely inoffensive, then slowly gets more exploratory. That continuum fairly well defines much the music here: cracking grooves, melodic flights, but also dark explorations and harmonic variety. It doesn’t reinvent any wheels but it’s a pretty damn pleasant Scofield trio date.
The brisk, nimble swing of “How Deep” or “TV Band” is very much in Scofield’s wheelhouse, a craggy melody alternating with deft chordal work riding on a stripped-down groove. These tunes, along with “The Girlfriend Cord” and “Mask,” could stand with any of his finest performances. The trio also turn in some find balladry (“Stairway to the Stars”) and some crunchy funk (“Mo Green”). But for me, it’s the date’s changeups that yield more memorable results, both winning and sometimes less so. The spaghetti-western vibe of “Back in Time” is a heap of fun, and the trio once again excels in making abstractions from basic melodic material. Ditto for the slightly country-fied “Somewhere.” But on the other hand, Neil Young’s “Old Man” fell almost completely flat to these ears.
Still, a couple of misfires can’t mar another fine entry from Sco.
Birthday / Star Sign : Spring 10. Aries. (snowii95)
Job / Career : Elementary Student.
Favorite Colors : red
Favorite Music : Kids radio
Secrets :
Vincent always walks Jas home. Secretly, he’s worried about her. Aunt Marnie seems a bit neglectful and her cousin, Shane is a disaster.
Vincent likes pepperoni pizza, even though he’s lactose intolerant. Sam occasionally picks the pepperoni off his pizza to give to Vincent and finishes the cheese for his kid brother.
Vincent wants to be just like his big brother when he’s older. :)
Hey pluto I don't care what anyone else says but to me you're a planet. You can be whatever you want to be. (P.S. You're my favorite planet can i have a hug)
