The Deal: Jazz guitarist re-aligns musical genres with esoteric improvisations.
The Good: John Scofield is a deconstructionist, dismantling tunes then reassembling them in unconventional fashion. But his records are not as raw as his live performances, where he strips songs down to electronic bleeps and gurgles. Still, Scofield takes the dismantling process far beyond what the songs creators intended. The Stones’ “Satisfaction” is transformed into a soundtrack befitting a 1960s Mannix episode. Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” starts out with a country/soul feel before wandering down a path no rural guitarist would dare follow, inventing a new genre, country jazz. “House of the Rising Sun” gets a more esoteric treatment, starting out with a Ventures vibe before shooting off into outer space with a bop/blues fusion style you won’t find anywhere else
The Bad: Can be difficult to follow for non jazz aficionados. Hang in there — it’s always an interesting if somewhat convoluted ride.
The Verdict: Even if you’re not a jazz fan, Scofield will catch and hold your ear with his unconventional improvisations.
This article appears in Sep 19-25, 2007.
