By: Ilya Ratner
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| John Scofield, Bill Stewart and Steve Swallow at the Dakota - Photo by Ilya Ratner (click for larger) |
And so we meet again, John Scofield. The last encounter with the guitar guru left me discombobulated. The almost inaudible cacophony was saddening and maddening. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see him live again and feared that the experience would ruin my conception of his talent. But alas, like the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, the Dakota Jazz Club saves the day.
This venue was perfect for Scofield, who isn’t under the misconception of being a romp-em-stomp-em firecracker. The halcyon atmosphere and mature crowd catered to the autumnal musician. Perhaps there was no rapport with the audience at his disheartening First Avenue show with Medeski, Martin and Wood. The crowd was much younger there, less attentive and reserved. That night was more suitable to inventive cokeheads like Keith Richards.
But Sunday was Scofield’s night. He packed the house. Not a table was open and no one was disappointed. From straight-up post-bop to fusion to Frisellian Americana, Scofield was assertive, dynamic and elegant throughout the night. Sure he can do the jazz thing as well as most trained musicians, but he shimmers most when his kaleidoscopic inventiveness is unleashed. The third song, “Green Tea,” off A Go Go ventured away from standard jazz. It was staccato funk and raspy distortion. He lit the fuse and the dynamite exploded out of his Ibanez like an angry pit bull in a zuit-suit.
His backup band was exactly that, though drummer Bill Stewart laid it out a few times with some beautiful and unusual rhythms. His quick-fire high-hat jabs were most memorable. They came out of nowhere and broke the beat in half, only to start tumbling down the toms. I wasn’t sure what to make of bassist Steve Swallow. He held down the beat, but just stood there hunched over, bald and squinting, picking at his bass methodically. Allmusic.com calls Swallow many jazz reviewers’ favorite bassist—sure, why not? I’ll just say that the guy had a terrific looking bass.
The music went up and down, fast and slow, erratic and tranquil. At one point Scofield’s dark alter-ego snuck in, he launched his Boomerang looper and descended into some sort of strident noise. It wasn’t music really, it was more of an experiment in sounds and perhaps unnecessary. But the clashing sounds dissolved back into music, back into comprehensible stanzas. As contrast, it worked.
Midway through the set Scofield played my favorite song of the night. Most Scofield CDs I’ve listened to (the fusion ones) have one song with a slow, calming melody. The tone of his guitar begins to hum peacefully. It’s something you’d enjoy on an empty beach with a pretty girl, something that makes you want to swing in a hammock and sip lemonade. On Out Louder, his collaboration with MMW, it was a cover of The Beatles’ “Julia.” I don’t know what this one was, but it was an audience favorite, and followed with hoots and excited clapping.
Though I was a bit wary of attending, it was a great set and Scofield showed off the breadth of styles he has mastered. There was a unity between the band and the audience that was absent at First Avenue and it amplified the stellar performance. Now I just hope the Scofield Band reunites.
Location Info:
Dakota Jazz Club
Artist Info: John Scofield
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