Guitar heroes
Three veteran jazz musicians come together for an album of supreme ensemble work
John Scofield
Swallow Tales John Scofield (electric guitar), Steve Swallow (bass guitar), Bill Stewart (drums) ECM 2679 The electric guitarist John Scofield comes full circle with this fine trio release, revisiting original pieces from veteran bass player Steve Swallow’s repertoire – accompanied by the composer himself. Scofield first met Swallow when he was a 20-year-old student at Berklee College, and the bassist’s beguiling, compact tunes were a training staple there. The pair have collaborated often over the 40 years since. Bill Stewart has long been Scofield’s go-to drummer.
The trio’s close rapport means they can nail a deeply satisfying session like this in just an afternoon. The pretty, song-like
‘She Was Young’ sets the scene, Scofield and Swallow’s lines melting into one another, the guitarist eventually diverging with suggestions of rhythm and blues; Stewart’s touch is lighter than air, yet he creates an atmosphere that crackles with energy.
The classic ‘Falling Grace’ begins all warm toned and lyrical, Swallow walking the bass up and down behind Scofield before artfully breaking time in his solo to lift the temperature. The musical synergy is thrilling. As Scofield succinctly puts it in the CD liner: ‘When we play it’s like one big guitar, the bass part and my part together’. ★★★★★
July round-up
Michael Olatuja grew up in the UK, has Nigerian roots, and studied electric bass at the Manhattan School of Music. All those influences come out on Lagos Pepper Soup,a bubbling Afrojazz concoction that encompasses cinematic string arrangements as well as small group simplicity.
It’s peopled by an all-star cast of musicians and singers, as Angelique Kidjo, Laura Mvula, Becca Stevens and Dianne Reeves share lead vocals through a programme that weaves slick afrobeat and high life with polished radio friendly jazz. The sudden textural changes might be bewildering were it not for the constant presence of Olatuja’s limber, muscular bass lines which successfully unify this ambitious project. (Whirlwind Recordings WR4754) ★★★★
Ambrose Akinmusire followers will know to expect the unexpected from the Californian trumpeter after half-a-dozen sharply contrasting albums. His last release, Origami Harvest, blended spoken word, classical chamber music and hiphop. On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment is another refreshing set, this time in terms of the music’s unpredictable harmonic structure and the often wayward dialogue between the quartet’s piano, drums and bass. ‘Yessss’ is a loose, woozy ballad with heartfelt, wayward playing from the leader, while on ‘Mr. Rosco’ the piano and querulous trumpet vie for attention. The Ornette Colemanlike ‘An Interlude’ juxtaposes Akinmusire’s beautifully bleak toned horn with cascading drums that are pushed high up in the mix. (Blue Note 0892619) ★★★★
Kevin Figes cites a number of influences on his writing style, from Paul Hindemith to Hermeto Pascoal. Actually, all the music on his quartet album Changing Times has an English whimsy to it. Figes originally studied sax with Soft Machine’s Elton Dean and the progressive elements of numbers like ‘Strange Place’ with its breezy vocal harmonies, juxtaposed with his theatrical wailing, reflect that grounding. ‘Stone Lion’, which opens with the sound of background static and then a Fender Rhodes theme, switches into a 1970s-style jazz-funk groove, Figes digging in on baritone sax. He takes up the flute for ‘Radio Play’, his breathy trills steering the tune doggedly through flurries of notes from
Jim Blomfield’s piano, random percussion and a whining theremin sound. (Pig Records PIG10) ★★★★
The American pianist George Colligan isn’t (yet) a big bill topping name but the fact that he has an incredible 130 albums under his belt as sideman to the stars is testament to his stature in the business. Live In Arklow, a new straightahead trio album confirms him as a scintillating leader. Colligan says his sound and approach echo Mccoy Tyner and Bill Evans, but I also hear Don Pullen’s sparkle on numbers here like Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Up Jumped Spring’. It’s such a rewarding programme, mixing lesser known standards with clever original material. The way Colligan builds up the tension on the Buster Williams tune ‘Lost On Fourth St’, delaying its release, is masterful. (Ubuntu Music UBU0055 ) ★★★★
Like George Colligan, the Danish pianist Niels Lan Doky is much in demand as a sideman. But he retains his own rather sleek trio back home in Copenhagen and their new album River of Time is a masterclass in smooth mainstream jazz. Sugar-coated it may be, but we need a little high-calorie comfort listening in these trying times.
(Inner Adventures IA002) ★★★