With Medeski, Martin And Wood as his band. LP, Vinyl record album

John Scofield on acoustic guitar – with Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, Steve Swallow on bass, and both Duduka Da Fonseca and Bill Stewart on drums, plus guest trumpet from Randy Brecker. 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

With Joe Lovano on saxophone, Charlie Haden on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums! CD

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A tremendous pairing of guitarists – both musicians who first helped change the sound of the instrument in jazz during the 70s, and who somehow come together here at a level that not only brings out the best in both, but also seems to evolve the music too! Scofield and Metheny are masters of color and tone – and together they create these amazing lines together – really the best that both of them had to offer, and maybe a bit more – as both musicians use electric and acoustic, and are given superb accompaniment by Bill Stewart on drums and Steve Swallow on acoustic and electric bass. Titles include "Message To My Friend", "No Way Jose", "I Can See Your House From Here", "The Red One", "One Way To Be", "You Speak My Language", and "SCO". CD

An especially beautiful album from guitarist John Scofield – and one whose key strength lies in its title! The "Swallow Tales" here are all original songs by bassist Steve Swallow – many from years back, when Steve was a key member of the group of Gary Burton – but recast here in a very different light, thanks to the beautifully chromatic tone of John Scofield – a player with an equally strong sense of color as Burton, but who sets things out in a style that's uniquely his own, and which has been for decades! The mix of Scofield's guitar and Swallow's songs and basswork is wonderful – and drummer Bill Stewart knows just how and when to participate, really giving the two stringed players lots of open space, on titles that include "Portsmouth Figurations", "Falling Grace", "She Was Young", "Awful Coffee", "Eiderdown", "Hullo Bolinas", and "Radio". CD

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

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

A really great funky moment from guitarist John Scofield – kind of a bridge between the chromatic hues of his music from the 80s, and the tighter, sharper direction he'd take in years to come! The set has some classic-styled soul jazz elements at the core, really living up to the cover image – including Hammond from Larry Goldings and tenor from Eddie Harris – both of whom really deepen the sound of the record, especially when Scofield is still sliding out into some of the fuzzier tones in his bag. Rhythms are nice and tight too – with Dennis Irwin on bass, Bill Stewart on drums, and Don Alias on percussion – and tracks include "Don't Shoot The Messenger", "She's So Lucky", "Do Like Eddie", "Dark Blue", "I'll Take Les", and "Out Of The City". CD

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 Abercrombie and John Scofield on guitar – accompanied by George Mraz on bass and Peter Donald on drums. CD

With Medeski, Martin And Wood as his band. CD

A fantastic little record from guitarist John Scofield – the kind of set that really reminds us that he's kept constantly creative, constantly fresh over the years – maybe more so than most guitarists of his generation! The album's a quartet date – with great piano and organ from Gerald Clayton, who's got this way of shading things in with all the bold, blocky elements that John brings to his own chromatic style – fantastic phrasing throughout, echoed by the equally bold rhythms of Vincente Archer on bass and Bill Stewart on drums! Even if you think you know Scofield's music, you'll find plenty fresh ehre to discover – on titles that include "Icons At The Fair", "Can't Dance", "Combo Theme", "Willa Jean", "Uncle Southern", "Dang Swing", and "I'm Sleeping In". CD

John Scofield's a musician who's changed up his sound wonderfully over the decades – and yet, throughout it all, he's never stopped to give us an album of solo guitar – something he does here in a wonderfully fresh way – mixing up a surprising array of songs alongside his own work on guitar, which is sometimes augmented by loops! Scofield mixes in his own compositions with a few traditional tunes, numbers by Hank Williams and Buddy Holly, and a few standards as well – all to deliver a surprisingly personal record, and one that never lets the looping effects get in the way of the sensitive sounds on the guitar. Titles include "Elder Dance", "Since You Asked", "Not Fade Away", "My Old Flame", "You Win Again", "Trance De Jour", "Junco Partner", and "Coral". LP, Vinyl record album

With Scofield on guitar, Joe Lovano on tenor sax and alto clarinet, Marc Johnson on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums. CD

Wonderful guitar work from John Scofield – awash in those warm chromatic tones that make his work from this period so great – set up in a sweet trio with Steve Swallow on electric bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums! The sound has a nice sort of focus – still some of the ethereal moments of other Scofield work of the 70s, but often a bit tighter too – grooving in ways that slightly hint at John's move towards funkier styles in the 90s, yet delivered on long tracks with plenty of open-ended playing, too. Titles include "Miss Directions", "Out Like A Light", "Holidays", "Last Week", and "Melinda". CD

A great title for this Impulse debut from legendary guitarist John Scofield – as the set's got a way of bringing together all the best elements of his past and present modes of performance! Scofield's really wowed us with his leaner, single-line skills in recent years – especially when he adds his talents to funkier jazz records, in a way we wouldn't have expected back in the 80s. But during that decade, we also really great to love John's way of fuzzily compressing lots of notes together – into a tonal mode that seemed inspired by James Blood Ulmer, but which was a lot warmer too – a sound he seems to bring back here and mix with his nimble leaner notes – in a blend that's completely sublime! The setting of the album is perfect for this shift, too – a tight quartet with great tenor from Joe Lovano, plus Larry Grenadier on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. Titles include "Slinky", "Chap Dance", "Mr Puffy", "Past Present", "Season Creep", and "Get Proud". CD

In one of the more surprising turns of the 90s, guitarist John Scofield has emerged as one of the better funky players of his generation. Scofield never set out to blow anyone's mind as a funkster – but recent underground live sets with groups like Medeski Martin & Wood and Soulive have proved to audiences that he's really picked up a groove – and scattered performances on Blue Note recordings of the past few years have showed him to be equally funky on CD. This 11 track set collects the best of these groove-oriented performances by Scofield, creating one funky CD out of scattered tracks from other albums. Titles include "Camp Out", "Kool", "Do Like Eddie", "Fat Lip", "Big Top", and "Twang". CD

John Scofield on guitar with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza. CD

A group who take their name from the Hudson River Valley – beautifully pictured here on the front cover – and a quartet who work in an equally expansive array of sounds – all sharp elements of tone and timing from a lineup that features Jack DeJohnette on drums, John Scofield on guitar, Larry Grenadier on bass, and John Medeski on piano, Fender Rhodes, and Hammond! The Hudson influence doesn't just stop at the name, though – because all these upstate New York musicians often pay tribute to other artists who left the city for points north – Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, and The Band – each of whom gets a tribute track on the album. About half the set is originals by members of the group – and if we had to pick one instrument that seems to have the strongest voice in the group, it might be the guitar of Scofield – maybe in part because he can skirt the two different worlds so well. Titles include "Tony Then Jack", "Dirty Ground", "El Swing", "Hudson", "Lay Lady Lay", "Woodstock", "Wait Until Tomorrow", and "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall". 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

Produced by Ben Sidran and featuring Paul Motian on drums, John Scofield on guitar, Joe Lovano on alto, Randy Brecker on trumpet, and Ray Mantilla on conga! CD

A wealth of great music from pianist Paul Bley – all of it recorded for the Soul Note label, where Bley really got a chance to explore some ideas that might not have appeared in other venues! Some of the work here follows on the seminal Bley sides for ECM in the 70s – either solo material, or work that has Paul paired up with a key contemporary – such as drummer Paul Motian or bassist Gary Peacock. Both other work features bigger groups – one a quartet with guitarist John Scofield, the other a combo with John Abercrombie on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums. One real treasure is a trio date with the great Jimmy Giuffre on clarinet and Steve Swallow on bass – and another trio outing features Tony Oxley on drums and Furio Di Castri on bass. There's plenty more surprises within – and the package features 9 full albums, all with original artwork – records that include Sonor, Tango Palace, Hot, Notes, Mindset, Live At Sweet Basil, Memoirs, Conversations With A Goose, and Chaos. 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". LP, Vinyl record album

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". 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

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

Early 80s live work from Miles Davis – done at a level that's a nice change from some of his studio work of the time! If you've ever heard Miles in a live setting like this from the decade, you know that such recordings are a great reminder of the way he can really deliver an extended solo with plenty of spirit and imagination – stretching out here on long tracks with a group that also features lots of great work from John Scofield on guitar, and up and coming saxophonist Bill Evans – who plays soprano, tenor, and flute! Miles also plays a bit of keyboards, and the rest of the group features Darryl Jones on bass, Al Foster on drums, and Mino Cinelu on percussion – on titles that include "Star On Cicely", "Hopscotch", "What It Is", "It Gets Better", "Speak", "Code 3", "Jean Pierre", "Star People", and "Creepin In". LP, Vinyl record album

Robert Glasper takes on the music of Miles Davis – in a set that's way more of Glasper's own than you might guess from the presentation! True, the tracks are all based around Miles Davis material from the Columbia Records vaults – but Robert really opens things up right away with his own sort of vibe, and uses the Davis elements to weave into a much larger fabric – one that incorporates a range of hip contemporary styles, in the manner of his great Black Radio projects! So while you will hear some of Miles at times – both playing and (even cooler) speaking – the real strength of the record lies in Glasper's amazing keyboards, especially Fender Rhodes, and the wonderful bass work of Derrick Hodge, whose bottom currents really make the whole thing glow with a subtle, soulful fire! And we haven't even gotten to the guests – a great lineup that rivals the sorts of folks that Robert had on the Black Radio project – as the record includes contributions from Stevie Wonder, Bilal, Phonte, Hiatus Kaiyote, Erykah Badu, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Illa J, John Scofield, Ledisi, and King. Titles include "They Can't Hold Me Down", "Ghetto Walkin", "Right On Brotha", "Milestones", "Song For Selim", "Little Church", "Violets", "Maiysha", and "Silence Is The Way". 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

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

A rare 70s funk outing for trombonist Urbie Green – a player who first made his name on cool jazz sessions of the 50s, but who really breaks out here with a whole new vibe! Green never stopped playing over the years – honing his craft on countless sessions for dozens of artists in the 60s and 70s – and here, he steps strongly back into the limelight amidst some very hip arrangements from David Matthews – whose funky vibe turns out to be a great fit for Green's sound! Musicians include Matthews on electric piano, John Scofield on guitar, and Grover Washington Jr on tenor and soprano sax – and Grover's soulful sound makes for a nice contrast to the more compressed tone of Green. The album includes versions of Charles Mingus' "Ysabel's Table Dance", Chick Corea's "Captain Marvel", and Horace Silver's "Senor Blues" – all done in slightly Latin electric-tinged styles! 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

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". LP, Vinyl record album

Live performance from the 1997 Montreux Jazz Festival broadcast, with Michael Brecker on tenor and soprano, John Scofield on acoustic and electric guitar, Dave Holland on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Tom Harrell on flugelhorn, Bob Berg on tenor sax, Niels Lad Doky on piano, John Scofield on guitar, Ray Drummon on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. CD

The lyrical side of Eddie Henderson – laid out beautifully in a lovely quartet recording that also features John Scofield on guitar! The album's mix of trumpet and guitar is extremely haunting – and Eddie hits a warm note that's mighty nice – almost a nod back towards some of his 70s modes, yet without any R&B touches – pure jazz all the way, couched in Scofield's strong tone – with added support from Doug Weiss on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. The album's a great balance to some of Eddie's other work in recent years – a great reminder of this side of his talents, on titles that include "Be Cool", "Missing Miles", "Popo", "By Myself", "Sand Storm", "Cantaloupe Island", and "Jitterbug Waltz". CD

Features Joe Henderson on tenor, John Scofield on guitar, Dave Holland on bass, and Al Foster on drums. CD

Late work from the tenor legend Joe Henderson – his last album for Verve – leading an impeccable core combo and guests through the Gershwins' classic Porgy & Bess! The players including Jon Scofield on guitars, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Stefon Harris on vibes, Dave Holland on bass, Jack Dejohnette on drums, Conrad Herwig on trombone – plus guest vocalists Chaka Kahn on on number and Sting on another. Henderson's take on Porgy & Bess is respectful to the source material, but he makes it his own, a slow rolling, unfussy take on the material that goes over really well. Special promo only CD – with 4 tracks from the album! CD

Late work from the tenor legend Joe Henderson – his last album for Verve – leading an impeccable core combo and guests through the Gershwins' classic Porgy & Bess! The players including Jon Scofield on guitars, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Stefon Harris on vibes, Dave Holland on bass, Jack Dejohnette on drums, Conrad Herwig on trombone – plus guest vocalists Chaka Kahn on on number and Sting on another. Henderson's take on Porgy & Bess is respectful to the source material, but he makes it his own, a slow rolling, unfussy take on the material that goes over really well. Act I is made up of a brief intro, plus "Summertime", "Here Come De Honeyman/They Pass By Singin" and "My Man's Gone Now", Act II includes "I Got Plenty Of Nothin", "Bess, You Is My Woman Now", "I Love You Porgy" and more, and Act III wraps it up with "There's A Boat Dat's Leavin Soon For New York" and "Oh Bess, Where Is My Bess". CD