The album marks a shift from his latter funk oriented fusion recordings to difficult swinging tracks amongst "almost bobbish" solos in addition to a novel focus on New Orleans beat in addition to blues roofing ii songs past times The Meters in addition to Huey "Piano" Smith in addition to an master copy amongst a second line groove ("In the Cracks").
The quartet featured Don Grolnick simply on Hammond B-3 organ, double bassist Anthony Cox in addition to either Johnny Vidacovich or Terri Lyne Carrington on drums. Don Grolnick already played keyboards on his 1986 album Still Warm (and would afterward compass his 1991 album Meant to Be). With Anthony Cox Scofield was business office of a recording past times Gary Thomas' a few months before (By Any Means Necessary). And amongst Terri Lyne Carrington he get-go played together on a recording session led past times Niels Lan Doky inwards September 1988 (Daybreak). Johnny Vidacovich "is the quintessential New Orleans jazz drummer." Scofield recorded amongst him 1 time before inwards 1988 for Ray Anderson's album Blues Bred inwards the Bone. Scofield in addition to Ray Anderson too recorded amongst saxophonist Bennie Wallace on his New Orleans R&B influenced albums Twilight Time (1985) in addition to Bordertown (1987) both featuring Dr. John. Scofield would afterward come upward dorsum to New Orleans based grooves on his 1995 album Groove Elation in addition to most explicitly inwards 2009 amongst Piety Street.
The basic facts on this album are that Sco returned to a to a greater extent than traditional audio hither after spending most of the 1980s playing jazz-rock fusion amongst Miles Davis in addition to his ain bands. For this session, he mixed post-bop jazz amongst elements of New Orleans R&B. One powerfulness outpouring to the decision that this was a contractual-obligation blowing session, based on the presence of musicians he has non recorded amongst since in addition to the fact that almost one-half the tape is comprised of jazz in addition to R&B standards. But what yous become is far from a routine matter tossed off to air current upward his fruitful 1980s stint amongst Gramavision Records. This is an album that wears real well. Better, for my money, than "Hand Jive" in addition to "Groove Elation," ii mid-1990s Blue Note albums where he too mixed swing in addition to r&b. It's a to a greater extent than stripped-down matter than either of those ii records, having no horns, piano, or auxiliary percussion. And thence at that spot are the standards. For the get-go 3 decades of his career (up until his Ray Charles tribute of 2005), Scofield to a greater extent than oftentimes than non avoided recording fabric non written past times him or, inwards a few cases, musical associates similar Steve Swallow. This tape is something of an exception, amongst stunning versions of All the Things You Are, Secret Love, in addition to the classic New Orleans R&B tunes "Rockin' Pneumonia" (Huey 'Piano' Smith)and "Cissy Strut" (The Meters). For whatever reason--the to a greater extent than relaxed grooves, the presence of familiar favorites on the laid list, or who knows what--he turned inwards a tape that is greater than the amount of its parts. That can't ever hold upward said for the string of Blue Notes records that were to follow (save the first, the consistently wonderful Time on My Hands), which oftentimes seemed to hold upward just the amount of their parts. Never less than professional person in addition to well-crafted, but simply sporadically inspired at the degree that he maintains through this whole session. Almost whatever Scofield tape has a few especial moments that stand upward the exam of time, but this 1 is at a dissimilar level, sounding almost similar a alive concert set, but amongst all the sonic benefits of a studio recording.
Scofield"s swan vocal for Gramavision in addition to the best of the lot! I bought this cd inwards 1989 in addition to this music actually hits the spot every fourth dimension I position it on the stereo. The tunes are memorable, in addition to John's playing is inspired past times the ii fantabulous drummers including Johnny Vidacovich, in addition to Terri Lynn Carrington. With the exception of the belatedly Don Grolnick playing organ on a few tracks, it's an extroverted trio matter amongst a big sound. Anthony Cox is on bass. If you're craving to a greater extent than of Sco's guitar, compass yourself a favor in addition to guild this cd.
In his terminal trip to the recording studio for Gramavision, jazz fusionist John Scofield 1 time once again shifted gears in addition to showed his ever-growing legion of fans a glimpse of his novel direction on his 1989 CD entitled "Flat Out". The grooves hither are greasier, to a greater extent than redolent of New Orleans, in addition to they anticipate where Scofield arrived amongst his Hand Jive quartet 5 years later. The supporting band of Don Grolnick on Hammond B-3 organ, Anthony Cox on bass in addition to Terri Lyne Carrington in addition to Johnny Vidacovich sharing drum chores is an inspired acoustic/electric blend that allows Scofield to comprehend "Cissy Strut" in addition to "Rockin' Pneumonia" equally good equally terminate on half-dozen originals in addition to a duo of Tin Pan Alley standards.
Track listing
1. "Cissy Strut" (George Porter, Jr., Ziggy Modeliste, Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli) – 2:56
2. "Secret Love" (Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) – 5:55
3. "All the Things You Are" (Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern) – 7:37
4. "In the Cracks" (Scofield) – 4:48
5. "Softy" (Scofield) – 4:34
6. "Science in addition to Religion" (Scofield) – 4:42
7. "The Boss's Car" (Scofield) – 6:59
8. "Evansville" (Scofield) – 5:52
9. "Flat Out" (Scofield) – 3:40
10. "Rockin' Pneumonia" (Huey "Piano" Smith) – 3:57
Personnel
John Scofield - electrical guitar
Don Grolnick - Hammond B-3 organ
Anthony Cox - double bass
Johnny Vidacovich - drums (exc. tracks 3, 7, 8)
Terri Lyne Carrington - drums (tracks 3, 7, 8)
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