For those of you not familiar with the brilliant music of John Scofield, he is a premier, modern jazz guitar player. Mr. Scofield is truly a unique voice and has played with the greatest musicians of modern times including Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, and Pat Metheny. In recent years he has branched out stylistically to suit his fancy including the R&B grooves of Ray Charles' music, tender ballads, small-combo horn arrangements, and collaborating with the swampy jazz-funk trio Medeski, Martin, & Wood. Among these efforts is another group he has cut a few records with that is inevitably grouped in with the "jam-band" scene; those being 2002's Uberjam and 2003's Up All Night. Scofield continues in this vain with the long awaited sequel: Uberjam Deux.
The stellar musicians that comprise the band on this record include rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick, bass player Andy Hess, drummers Adam Deitch and Louis Cato splitting duties, and the ever reliable John Medeski playing keyboards on select cuts. Bortnick delivers his impeccable consistency as a rhythm player along with immersive knowledge of samples and synths, providing a wonderfully complimentary voice to Scofield's astronomical probings. Hess holds it down with his tasteful low end that gives new meaning to the concept of smooth. Deitch lends his typical hip-hop meets jazz style that sounds like an alien landed in New Orleans. Cato gets a chance to showcase his driving groove coupled with elegant dynamics. And Medeski's undeniable touch rounds out the sound of this record with an excitable quirkiness that only he can conjure.
On top of all this Scofield navigates the waters of fusion from the bouncy swagger of tunes like "Boogie Stupid", reggae inspired grooves in "Dub Dub", the sexy and aptly titled "Al Green Song", and electro-inspired tranc-y burners like "Torero". It seems as though no note is off limits for the veteran guitar player and he continues on his inspirational trek through the annals of music with this recent effort.
If you enjoy some good 'ole stinky funk, irresistable grooves that are equally mellow and danceable, and truly sterling musicianship, then I urge you to have a listen to this record.
Uberjam Deux iTunes
Uberjam Deux Amazon
Uberjam Deux Spotify
Happy listening,
Ty
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