An all-star group – featuring John SCOfield, Joe LOvano, Dave HOlland, and Al FOster, hence the unusual name of the ensemble – all grooving in an angular mode that recalls the current Blue Note sound at its freshest. Lovano's edgey tenor and soprano work really make the session hold together nicely, as he's got a tone here that almost reminds us of George Braith back in the days when he was recording for Blue Note himself – especially on some of his organ-based sessions. Scofield's guitar is in that cleaner, leaner sound he's using these days – which is a good match for Foster's spare work on rhythm. Titles include "Oh", "Right About Now", "Brandyn", "Faces", "Oh I See", "In Your Arms", and "Shorter Form". LP, Vinyl record album

Features John Scofield on guitars – with Mark De Gli Antonio on keyboards, Chris Wood and Tony Scherr on basses, Eric Kalb and Kenny Wollesen on drums, and Johnny Durkin and Johnny Almendra on percussion. CD

John Scofield's still plenty warm on the tones of his guitar – even though the record's got some sharp electric action in an 80s fusion mode – thanks to both acoustic drums and beats from Omar Hakim! The lineup has John's guitar dancing nicely with that airy sense of space he first developed in the 70s – a warmly chromatic mode that brings a sense of humanity to the record right from the start – and which gets equally soulful support from Don Gronick on keyboards. Tracks include "Techno", "High & Mighty", "Still Warm", "Rule Of Thumb", and "Protocol". LP, Vinyl record album

A record of angular lines and subtle sounds from pianist Jim McNeely – an overlooked talent from this generation, and a player with a great sensitivity for unusual colors and tones! The record's a fair bit different than other Muse dates – played almost with the freedom of some of the more inventive European piano sessions of the late 70s – never outside, but always pushing the boundaries in very exploratory ways. The lineup varies a bit on the set – as a few tracks feature John Scofield on guitar, but the rest are trio numbers with either Jon Burr or Mike Richmond on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "The Plot Thickens", "Inner Ear", "Burgundy & The Virgin Snow", and "The Light At The End Of The Cave". LP, Vinyl record album

The electric years of Miles Davis have left a huge legacy in music – one that's referenced again and again, and continually revisited by generations of musicians, both young and old! Here, that legacy gets some especially nice treatment – by a group of artists who include some key collaborators with Miles in years back, plus other musicians too – in a project that even features two unreleased solo performance by Davis himself! Vince Wilburn Jr is the leader of the project, and players are almost far too many to mention here – so we'll just list a few – including Wallace Roney, Bernard Wright, Vernon Reid, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, Marcus Miller, Jeremy Pelt, John Scofield, and Lenny White – all working in deeply layered territory that definitely pushes the older electric mode forward. Titles include "Over My Shoulder", "Hail To The Real Chief (long version)", "Mellow Kisses", "That You Dare Not To Forget", and "Bitches Are Back". LP, Vinyl record album

Chris Potter on tenor and soprano saxophones, John Scofield on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack Dejohnette on drums. CD

A reworked vision of Blue Note Records for the 90s – put together by Bob Belden, and featuring some excellent remakes of classics from the Blue Note songbook! Each tune has a slightly different flavor – and all work is played by the best artists of the then-revived label – a great way of showing the new talent Blue Note discovered, the old talent it helped bring back, and the rich legacy of sound they were still capable of sending forth! Titles include "Blue Train" by Greg Osby, "Evidence" by Ron Carter & TS Monk, "Maiden Voyage" by Dianne Reeves & Geri Allen, "Un Poco Loco" by Jacky Terrasson, "Tom Thumb" by John Scofield, "Una Mas" by Eliane Elias, "Song For My Father" by Rene Rosnes, "Recado Bossa Nova" by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Tanganyika Dance" by Kurt Elling, and "Alligator Boogaloo" by Junko Onishi & Freddie Hubbard. CD

Miles Davis in the early 80s – but still sounding pretty darn great, and somehow managing to take some of his best elements from the 70s and refine them into a slightly more focused groove! The tracks here are shorter than before – no side-long jams at all – but they definitely bristle with slight undercurrents of noise, and have some unbridled rhythms that make for a good sense of energy. Added to these are a few more (then) contemporary touches – a very slight update of Miles' older funk, but never in a slick or commercial way – and still cerebral enough to show the world that Davis wasn't selling out late in the day. Miles plays a bit of keyboards in addition to trumpet – and other players include Bill Evans on saxophones, John Scofield on guitar, Marcus Miller on bass, and Al Foster on drums. Titles include "Come Get It", "It Gets Better", "Speak", "Star People", "U N I", and "Star On Cicely". CD

A record that some saw as a bit of a jolt in the career of Herbie Hancock when it was released – but a set that's actually gone on to become one of the classics in his catalog, thanks to the mix of material and the players on the date! The "new standard" in the title is a reference to many of the songs in the collection – taken from more (then) recent rock and pop, but then turned into jazz instrumental tapestries with Herbie on acoustic piano, Michael Brecker on tenor and soprano, John Scofield on guitars, Dave Holland on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Titles include versions of "You've Got It Bad Girl", "Thieves In The Temple", "Your Gold Teeth II", "All Apologies", "Love Is Stronger Than Pride", "Mercy Street", and "Scarborough Fair".. CD

The title gets it partly right, as the Manhattan Jazz Quintet have some added help on guitar from John Scofield on a few tracks – whose lines definitely underscore some of the more blues-based colors in the music! Scofield's an open, chromatic master on his instrument – and that approach turns out to be a great match for the group's lead horns of Lew Soloff on trumpet and George Young on tenor – both players with very different inflections than John, but who complement his sound in all the right ways. The rhythm's also a bit sharper than usual for the group – with snapping drums from Steve Gadd, and always-great work from Eddie Gomez on bass. Titles include "Basin Street Blues", "Blues March", "Bag's Groove", and "Sweet Basil Blues". CD

A surprisingly wonderful 70s meeting between Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker – recorded live, with sweet electric touches from CTI – in a style that shouldn't work so well, but which really comes off great! The approach is simple – Mulligan and Baker solo in a manner that's a bit like their 50s work, but which also unfolds more than usual with backing from a group that includes Bob James on electric piano, Ron Carter on bass, John Scofield on guitar, and Harvey Mason on drums. Tracks are long, with lots of space – hanging in a beautiful balance between electric and acoustic sounds. Titles include "Line For Lyons", "Song For An Unfinished Woman", "Song For Strayhorn", "It's Sandy At The Beach", "Bernie's Tune", and "K 4 Pacific". Both volumes on one CD! CD

Post-Mingus work from reedman George Adams and pianist Don Pullen – three albums in a single set! Decisions is one of those key records that has George Adams and Don Pullen reinventing expectations of jazz for the 80s – both musicians with plenty of ear for the outside, but also coming back home with a well-rounded, deeply-rooted approach that's crucial in taking the American jazz legacy another step forward! Like some of their similar contemporaries, who could also be avant at times, and straight at others – Adams and Pullen have no concern with setting themselves in one camp or another – and not only flesh out the spirit of the record with both of those aspects of their playing, but also have some surprisingly bluesy undercurrents at times. The group features George Adams on tenor, Don Pullen on piano, Cameron Brown on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – and titles include "Decisions", "Triple Over Time", "I Could Really For You", "Message Urgent", and "Trees & Grass & Things". Life Line is a strong outing from this key post-Mingus collaboration – and a record that really shows both Don Pullen and George Adams really coming into their own! Pullen's piano can have plenty of edges, as can Adams' tenor – but there's also some warmer, lyrical moments that really round things out – kind of a balance between righteous energy and deeper quietude that the musicians might have learned during their time with Charles Mingus – taken to a logical small group extension here. Adams also plays a bit of flute, which is especially nice – and the group also includes Cameron Brown on bass and Dannie Richmond on drums. Titles include "The Great Escape Or Run John Henry Run", "Seriously Speaking", "Soft Seas", and "Protection". Live At Montmartre is solidly soaring work from tenorist George Adams – recording live here with pianist Don Pullen, one of his best musical partners during the 80s! The album's got a bit more of a bite than some of the pair's studio sessions – a bit straighter overall, but recorded with a nice degree of energy, and some long tracks that really let both players open up nicely – in a combo that also features John Scofield on guitar, Cameron Brown on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The inclusion of Scofield's guitar changes up the group's sound in a nice way – adding in some more chromatic elements that really stand out – and titles include "IJ", "Flame Games", "Song Everlasting", and "Forever Lovers". CD

Billy's got no "inner conflicts" here – as the album's a full-on set of heavy jamming, one that features some nice electronics alongside Billy's drums! The album's actually one of our favorite Cobham sessions of the 70s – a record that we'd rank right up there with Spectrum for sheer intensity, and for its ability to appeal to our funk-tuned ears. The variety of rhythms on the record is really really great – earthy and tribal one minute, and electric and spacey the next – all coming off well without trying too hard, and with a feel that's much more jazzy and soulful than some of Billy's more rock-focused work. Players include George Duke as Dawilli Gonga on keyboards, John Scofield on guitar, Julian Priester on trombone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, and Pete & Sheila Escovedo on percussion. Titles include "Inner Conflicts", "Arroyo", "El Barrio", "Nickels & Dimes", and "The Muffin Talks Back". CD

Full-on fusion from the great Billy Cobham – a set that has the drummer working at his most pyrotechnic, with amazing action on the kit that just about none of his contemporaries could ever hope to touch! Some moments have Cobham really taking off into the skies, right from the start of a track – but other moments are nicely spaced out, creating that sense of balance that's always made these late 70s Atlantic albums such standouts – not just in Billy's career, but in jazz fusion in general. John Scofield plays guitar throughout, and the record's got some great keyboards from Dawilli Gonga too – on titles that include "29", "Life & Times", "Siesta", "Earthlings", and "Song For A Friend". CD

One of Miles' last great albums – a soundtrack composed in conjunction with Marcus Miller, and recorded with a mix of atmospheric electronics and trumpet solos, coming off in a way that sounds far better than most of his other attempts at this style from the time. Miller plays all the other instruments in the set, apart from some occasional guest work by players that include John Scofield, Earl Klugh, Omar Hakim, and Jason Miles. Titles include "Conchita", "Lament", "Los Feliz", "Lost In Madrid", "Siesta", "Kitt's Kiss", and "Wind". CD

Features Niels Lan Doky on piano, John Scofield on guitar, Niels Henning-Orsted Pedersen on bass, and Terri Lynne Carrington on drums. CD

With Joe Lovano on tenor sax, Randy Brecker on trumpet, and John Scofield on guitar! CD

A key record in the career of trumpeter Terumasa Hino – an album cut with mostly American players, as part of a rebirth of Hino's music into the world of traditional jazz! Terumasa cut some great fusion records in the 80s, but this set's got a completely different approach – a group that soars with energy and life, led by the trumpeter on cornet – and with excellent work from Bobby Watson on alto, Rob Scheps on tenor, Onaje Allan Gumbs on piano, and John Scofield on guitar! The rhythm really romps the record into plays – Bob Hurst on bass and Victor Lewis on drums – and Don Sickler helped Hino do some of the arrangements for the group, with that strong sense of color that always made his own work of the period so wonderful. Titles include "Sweet Love Of Mine", "Bluestruck", "Hugo", "Alone Alone & Alone"- "Time Outing", "Rain Again", and "Romancero Gitano". CD

A surprisingly open-ended set from trumpeter Terumasa Hino – a set that's a really great balance between his freer sounds of the early 70s, and some of the warmer fusion modes he hit towards the end of the decade! Hino's working here with a trio of American players – John Scofield on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums – an especially tight rhythm section that really helps the record find its groove in the absence of any piano or keyboards. Some of the best tracks have a chunky feel to them – one that's almost funky, but a bit looser overall– and Hino's trumpet is well-blown, with a mix of bold notes and softer soulful elements. Tracks are all long, and titles include "Wind Blows Your Skin", "The Wild Lady", "Big Celebration", and "Free Land". CD

One of the leading lights of the ECM Records scene in the early 80s – bassist Marc Johnson, working here with his successful Bass Desires group! The lineup features some wonderful interplay on stringed instruments – Johnson's bass, and guitars from both John Scofield and Bill Frisell, the later of whom also plays a bit of guitar synthesizer, in very ECM-shaped lines. Drums are from Peter Erskine, who's well-heard when the moment allows – and titles include "Samurai Hee Haw", "Mojo Highway", "Thanks Again", "Bass Desires", and "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair". CD

Dark work from the quartet Bass Desires – a combo that draws heavily on the rumbling sounds of bassist Marc Johnson, then fills in the spaces with twin guitars from Bill Frisell and John Scofield, and also features a bit of drums from Peter Erskine! Some of the sounds here echo more abstract experiments in the left side of the jazz spectrum during the 80s – but they're taken into a bit stronger, straighter focus here – and recorded with enough ECM touches to make Johnson's music cross over in surprising ways. A few tracks are surprisingly tuneful, and titles include "Small Hands", "Thrill Seekers", "1951", "Prayer Beads", and "Sweet Soul". LP, Vinyl record album

With John Scofield, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Toots Thielemans, and Mark Feldman – plus Sheila Jordan on vocals. CD

A record of angular lines and subtle sounds from pianist Jim McNeely – an overlooked talent from this generation, and a player with a great sensitivity for unusual colors and tones! The record's a fair bit different than other Muse dates – played almost with the freedom of some of the more inventive European piano sessions of the late 70s – never outside, but always pushing the boundaries in very exploratory ways. The lineup varies a bit on the set – as a few tracks feature John Scofield on guitar, but the rest are trio numbers with either Jon Burr or Mike Richmond on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. Titles include "The Plot Thickens", "Inner Ear", "Burgundy & The Virgin Snow", and "The Light At The End Of The Cave". CD also features the bonus track "The Plot Thickens (alt take)". CD

Gary Burton on vibraphone, John Scofield on guitar, Marc Johnson on bass, and Peter Erskine on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Miles Davis in the early 80s – but still sounding pretty darn great, and somehow managing to take some of his best elements from the 70s and refine them into a slightly more focused groove! The tracks here are shorter than before – no side-long jams at all – but they definitely bristle with slight undercurrents of noise, and have some unbridled rhythms that make for a good sense of energy. Added to these are a few more (then) contemporary touches – a very slight update of Miles' older funk, but never in a slick or commercial way – and still cerebral enough to show the world that Davis wasn't selling out late in the day. Miles plays a bit of keyboards in addition to trumpet – and other players include Bill Evans on saxophones, John Scofield on guitar, Marcus Miller on bass, and Al Foster on drums. Titles include "Come Get It", "It Gets Better", "Speak", "Star People", "U N I", and "Star On Cicely". CD

Miles Davis in the early 80s – but still sounding pretty darn great, and somehow managing to take some of his best elements from the 70s and refine them into a slightly more focused groove! The tracks here are shorter than before – no side-long jams at all – but they definitely bristle with slight undercurrents of noise, and have some unbridled rhythms that make for a good sense of energy. Added to these are a few more (then) contemporary touches – a very slight update of Miles' older funk, but never in a slick or commercial way – and still cerebral enough to show the world that Davis wasn't selling out late in the day. Miles plays a bit of keyboards in addition to trumpet – and other players include Bill Evans on saxophones, John Scofield on guitar, Marcus Miller on bass, and Al Foster on drums. Titles include "Come Get It", "It Gets Better", "Speak", "Star People", "U N I", and "Star On Cicely". LP, Vinyl record album

A great look at the fresh energy that Miles Davis was bringing to his music in the 80s – and a set that's nicely different than some of the other albums issued in the "bootleg" series – in that two thirds of the collection features unissued studio material from the dates in the title! Those tracks are great – numbers that were recorded in the same sessions that gave the world the records Decoy, Star People, and You're Under Arrest – with work from players who include John Scofield and Mike Stern on guitars, Robert Irving III on keyboards, Bill Evans on tenor and soprano saxes, and the great Al Foster on drums. Miles even plays a bit of keyboards himself, but is also really focusing strong energy on his trumpet lines – more tightness than some of his 70s material, but not in a way that's slick or commercial either – still plenty of bite throughout. Studio titles include "Celestial Blues, Part 2", "Minor Ninths, Part 2", "Santana", "Freaky Deaky (Vinyl Edit)", "Hopscotch (Fast)", "Never Loved Like This (Studio Session Demo", and some alternates of Miles' versions of "Human Nature" and "Time After Time". LP, Vinyl record album

With Michael Cain on piano, Will Calhoun on drums, Joan Henry on vocals, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, and John Scofield & Vernon Reid on guitars. CD

A really great moment in the career of the Finnish saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen – a player who'd been making huge waves on his local scene in the 70s, and finally got the chance to record this date in New York during the following decade! Eero is wonderful throughout – a masterful leader who really brings out a special spirit in the group – a stellar lineup of all-star American players, with Tom Harrell on trumpet, John Scofield on guitar, Jim McNeely on piano, Ron McClure on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums! Even if you know work from these other players, the sound here is quite different – much more the boldness that we know from Koivistoinen's 70s material, given new expression by these musicians. All tunes are originals by Eero – and titles include "Second Thought", "Kindergarten", "Patana", and "Linewriting". Features bonus tracks – "Sunburst", "Artic Blues", "Algo Fresco", "Second Thought (alt)", and "Patana (alt)". LP, Vinyl record album

A surprisingly wonderful 70s meeting between Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker – recorded live, with sweet electric touches from CTI – in a style that shouldn't work so well, but which really comes off great! The approach is simple – Mulligan and Baker solo in a manner that's a bit like their 50s work, but which also unfolds more than usual with backing from a group that includes Bob James on electric piano, Ron Carter on bass, John Scofield on guitar, and Harvey Mason on drums. Tracks are long, with lots of space – hanging in a beautiful balance between electric and acoustic sounds. Titles include "It's Sandy At The Beach", "Bernie's Tune", "K-4 Pacific" and "There Will Never Be Another You". LP, Vinyl record album

Bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen has been the background force on countless jazz records over the years – and when he gets the chance to step into the spotlight as a leader, he always seems to bring a lot to the proceedings! Here, Pedersen exposes the qualities of his bass in all sorts of wonderful ways – sometimes spare and very melodic, sometimes with more force driving the group – a great lineup that includes David Liebman on tenor, soprano, and flute – plus John Scofield on guitar and Billy Hart on drums. Scofield and Pedersen have a way of resonating together wonderfully – and titles include "Future Child", "Evening Sound", "Clouds", and "Dancing On The Tables". CD

A great later jazz set from Toots Thielemans – recorded half in New York and half in LA – as you might guess from the title! The sound is still very much Toots' own, though – no easy nods to styles from either city in earlier years – and despite the fact that the record is on the Private Music label, which could sometimes put out snoozy new age, it's definitely a jazz date through and through – with relatively stripped down small combo instrumentation on all numbers. Players include John Scofield on guitar, Christian Mc Bride and Charlie Haden on bass, Mike Maineri on vibes, Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Lyle Mays on piano, and Peter Erskine on drums – and tracks include "In Walked Bud", "Con Alma", "Groovin High", "In Your Own Sweet Way", "Giant Steps", "Waltz For Debby", "A Child Is Born", and "Take Five". CD

There's definitely an art to the way that Bennie Wallace handles the saxophone – a style that's schooled in all the best references from the old days, but cast in some fresher, sharper tones as well! It's clear that Bennie's got plenty of love for Coleman Hawkins in his tenor, but also reaches forward to a host of other influences as well – and the arrangements can be quite compelling, especially on some of the more modern moments that come from Wallace's original compositions. Players include John Scofield on guitar, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – and titles include "Thangs", "Edith Head", "Rhythm Head", "Monroe County Moon", and "All Too Soon". CD

Bennie Wallace plays tenor in a host of different groups – with players who include Ray Anderson on trombone, John Scofield on guitar, Eddie Gomez on bass, and Dr John on piano, organ, and even vocals on one track! Dr John produced, too. CD