• John Scofield Out Louder Raritan Nj
• John Scofield Out Louder Raritan New York
• John Scofield Out Louder Raritan County

John Scofield Out Louder Raritan Nj

Reunites keyboardist, drummer, and bassist with guitar great, who employed the trio on his 1997 album. That record opened the creativity gates for both the trio and, who fed off and goaded each other into territories neither party had previously gone separately.

Isn't so much a rematch as an upgrade. Both and have continued to explore in the near-decade since, and they come to this project with a greater understanding of their collective abilities as well as a willingness to explore the possibilities further. Not unexpectedly, the four musicians work hard here, but they also have a ton of fun. The opening track, 'Little Walter Rides Again,' serves notice that this isn't going to be an exercise in showing off but rather four envelope-pushing musicians picking each other's brains and seeing what they find. An easygoing blues vamp with a funky, Memphis-style beat, the track keeps the quartet reined in while simultaneously allowing each musician to dance around a bit within its structure.

John Scofield Out Louder Raritan New York

That idea of holding back doesn't last long, however, as that leadoff gives way to 'Miles Behind,' a nod to electric minus the trumpet. Although the players, particularly and, take several opportunities to reach for the outside fringes, never becomes inaccessible, even during its freer-jazz moments. 'Tequila and Chocolate,' for example, takes up with a simple bossa nova rhythm that eventually goes wildly astray without losing touch with its form, and the tune 'Julia' (which, honestly, borrows only minimally from the original melody) is a soft, sweet, and sensual ballad that never strays even close to the edge yet still manages to feel edgy. That's not to say that those looking for the heavy jams will be disappointed.

John Scofield Out Louder Raritan County

'What Now' finds and challenging each other as if they were and having it out at some late-night club, and 'Down the Tube,' though essentially a simple funky blues, flirts with psychedelia, turning in some of his most startling playing of the set. The session ends with a virtually unrecognizable improv on 's reggae anthem 'Legalize It' that spotlights and in lockstep groove. If ever and decided to make something more permanent of their meet-ups, one can only guess where else they might go.