Innovation in jazz can lead listeners to unlikely destinations. Saturday at the Folly Theater, John Scofield guided the audience of about 800 on a magnificent detour to Nashville. The guitarist's artful interpretation of Charlie Rich's country hit "Behind Closed Doors" served as the emotional pinnacle of the evening. If only the rest of the night had been so viscerally passionate.
Scofield owns one of the most distinctive instrumental voices in jazz. His warm yet mildly abrasive tone on electric guitar has been at the vanguard of the jazz scene for decades. The 57-year-old is a living link to Charles Mingus and Miles Davis.
It's not difficult to hear why those jazz legends employed him. Having completely absorbed the concepts developed by guitarists Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery, Scofield continues to brazenly step ahead into new, previously unexplored, territories.
A reading of Charlie Parker's "Dexterity" confirmed Scofield's place among the masters. Even as he subtly acknowledged Parker's bop, Scofield thoughtfully translated the composition into his own unique vernacular.
While Scofield's vision is consistent, he still careens between several styles. He evoked the big twang of Duane Eddy, referenced the blues inflections of Jimi Hendrix, served up a couple slices of greasy funk and offered some dissonant sonic experimentation.
"Thanks for hanging in there with us," Scofield sheepishly said after a particularly thorny burst of art noise.
It was one of a handful of passages that seemed spiritually hollow.
One or two fumbles with his guitar pedals aside, Scofield's technical authority was beyond reproach. Still, the clinical interaction between Scofield, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Bill Stewart sometimes felt insular and bloodless.
The trio's astonishing musicality kept even the sterile moments engaging. A great deal of the performance's success lies with Stewart's busy but never frenetic drumming.
Stewart's endlessly inventive contribution played a large role in the standing ovation the trio received at the conclusion of the second set. Among the most enthusiastic audience members were the tie-dye-clad jam-band tribe that Scofield has actively courted in recent years.
These young fans realize that Scofield is a masterful tour guide on a trip well worth taking.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
This guy is the most OVERrated type of guy, that he is. He thinks he is SSOoooo this and that, and you know about that?? DONT YOU??
Well, I will tell you one thing about this guy, he is a guy doing a thing .... and if you dont believe that, THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING!!! and I dont mean a word of it,,,I GAURANTEE THAT!!!
Posted by: whowhat | February 02, 2009 at 05:55 PM
brilliant!
Posted by: Denny | February 03, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Except that HE'S NOT and he isn't even trying to be; he just hasn't figured out any of it yet. But he will, once he figures that out.
Posted by: Donkey Shane | February 03, 2009 at 03:11 PM
what the hell are you all talking about. if your mission to confuse people you've succeeded greatly. cut the batsh*t on here.
Posted by: jake | February 03, 2009 at 03:27 PM
No, you dont seem to
understand, it is very simple, in a complex way...if you know what I mean, just say YES, or feel free to say no, if you dont,, either way it is very clear, and plain to see, that this is a very important issue,
Please spread the word.
I hope this clears all of that up, if not, then look below, to see the above comment, which will explain what this is all about.
Posted by: plainly speaking | February 04, 2009 at 02:03 AM