Past Present

I'd have to go back to Scofield's 'Enja Period' to find as consistently rich, song-form blowing as on 'Past Present'. It's great hearing him dig in so much in what, I think, is his most comfortable, 'home-base' setting: the trio + sax. The recorded guitar tone is gorgeous - upfront and warm, with plenty of 'amp' and plenty of percussive undertone (pick feel) that I haven't enjoyed so much since the 'Works For Me' record. Scofield likes to feel some string resistance and tends to pick closer to the bridge, which gives his legato phrasing clarity and definition. There's nothing flabby or 'glissy/ghosty' about his playing - the notes speak, picked or slurred.Scofield remains a underrated jazz composer with as pure a melodic sense as you'll come across in any genre. He's that uncommon guitarist whose tunes rarely descend into guitar-cliches. Double-stops may evoke harmonic stabs and bent notes vocal and horn expression, but it never feels like it's about the guitar, always about the music and the interaction of the musicians. A deceptively complex sense of form and harmony make his tunes great fun (and educational) to study and play.With so much writing under his belt it's natural to hear echoes of tunes-past on 'Past Present'. But if like me you're as much a fan of his writing as his playing, you won't mind at all.Sad to read about his son's passing in the notes (I'm pretty sure I stood next to the young man at a gig in upstate NY several years back attended by Scofield's parents as well). It's a very poignant gesture to use his son's words to name the project and tunes.Scofield can be such a musical chameleon - and he rarely disappoints - but I hope he sticks around for awhile in this particular incarnation. I go back to his days with Galper and the trio with Swallow and Nussbaum. And I think, without a doubt, 'Past Present' is as good as anything he's done.

John Scofield and Joe Lovano have always had a special chemistry. Between the three albums recorded in the nineties and Scolohofo from ten years later, a new recording always holds great promise. This one delivers on that promise. The two of them weave lines in and around each other effortlessly. The songs are simpler this time around with a touch of groove that reflect Scofield's work in that area over the last twenty years. One other review talks about Scofield "missing notes?". I don't know too many guitarists who can "miss notes" this elegantly and creatively as Sco does. Highly recommended.

Scofield has been jammin' like this for a long time. More people should take the time, sit down and listen to this CAT!!!

John Scofield continues to excel. Great record from one of the leading jazz guitarists to ever grace the music.

The music has touched me in a very deep way. I have played it at home and now is in my car. It seems that the music transports me to another dimension. It's not easy to describe sensations with words. It loses something in the translation

One of Scofield's best albums.

Attended the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May saw John Scofield with Joe Lovano. Am very pleased with this disc.

Great Scofield disc.

John Scofield is one of those musicians whose sound is instantly recognisable and whose BB King meets Ornette earthiness always makes me smile. His quartet with Joe Lovano from the late 80's / 90's was one of the defining groups of that era and this union is extremely welcome. It was an inspired partnership the first time around and the passing of the years has added a maturity to the proceedings which very few bands these days can match. As good as John Scofield's records often are, the combination with Lovano has always yielded his best results and it is great to see these old pals meet up in the studio once more. I am sure than most jazz fans feel exactly the same about this as I do. This is a great band.Joe Lovano is perhaps the Great tenor man of our era, capable of some pretty sinewy playing, his tone often chewy and coruscating juxtaposed with phrasing with real warmth. He has something of an affinity for guitarists with his collaboration with Bill Frisell in Paul Motian's trio being another favourite band. Here, the approach is tauter and less abstract but again complimented by a perfect foil in John Scofield. The quartet is fleshed out with bassist Larry Greandier and the excellent drumming of Bill Stewart whose playing I had regrettably lost sight of over the last few years. Winding forward nearly 30 years from the group's debut, the album is perhaps slightly more restrained than the free-booting "Time on my hands" yet this is a record which I have found to sound better and better with each successful listen. There is a maturity about the playing of these musicians that cannot be bought and you can sense the genuine craftsmanship of four absolute master musicians on this disc that instantly shouts out quality. Scofield's ear for a good improvised line and gritty vocabulary coupled with his ability to compose tunes which have an instant familiarity about them make this disc an absolute winner. This is a stellar quartet comfortable within their art , playing with the kind of confidence that has been acquired through years of honing their art. I would unreservedly recommend this brilliant album.

Some of the best writing from John Scofield in years.Very good cd.

Interesting re-visit of his earlier styles

Me parece muy buen esfuerzo que John Scofield ha realizado para llegar conseguir tales temas que podemos escuchar de él. Es muy notable lo que desea expresar en todo su movimiento para poder considerar un estilo personal interpretado. Lo único que extraño concibo de esta publicación simplemente es que la comparo con el trabajo de otros guitarristas que han grabado y que he llego escuchado siempre. Pero esta valoración no es para darle mayor importancia sino mejor ver que John Scofield ha trabajado muy bien y que muy bien deja huella en su personalidad. Por esto tanto aconsejable es muy buena música que disfrutar y que no tanto es para escucharla sino también para improvisar con ella. Muchas gracias Amazon

- Produit, tout composé par John Scofield (g) et enregistré les 16 & 17 mars 2015, ce magnifique disque signe les retrouvailles des fidèles amis du guitariste, je veux parler bien évidemment de Joe Lovano (ts), Bill Stewart (dm) amis et vieux partenaires depuis plus de vingt ans déjà - et du nouveau venu, Larry Grenadier (cb) - cela s'entend et quel plaisir ! Le groove du Sieur John Scofield, ses thèmes qui chantent, sa décontraction, sa sonorité reconnaissable de suite, ses harmonies qui chantent, tout est là !- Une pépite donc à acheter les yeux fermés, pour les fidèles et autres fans !...

Fantastico album di Scofield! Questo disco ci riporta alle atmosfere di Meant to be, uno dei migliori album dell'artista. Il quartetto storico con Lovano al sax e Stewart alla batteria si arricchisce di Granadier al basso, grande feeling!

Chris Potter stimola Scofield a ritornare su temi impegantivi e importanti. QUi la tecnica e in suono di Scofield solno al servizio del gruppo. Il titolo del disco definisce perfettamente il mood del progetto.Sentirli dal vivo sarebbe strepitoso

The chemistry between Scofield and Lovano is exceptional....two longtime friends in perfect sync supported by a heavyweight rhythm section that offers perfect support and some incredibly tasteful soloing!

Bellissimo disco!!!! Una panoramica sull'esperienza musicale di Scofield che mette in evidenza l'esperienza e la maturità del grande chitarrista, accompagnato da un Joe Lovano superbo, per non parlare del CB e D.

lo seguo da sempre e ogni volta riesce a sorprenderti. brani di un eleganza che oggi fatico a trovare in altri artisti

Non è una novità un disco di questo genere per john scofield. Ma non è detto che ripercorrere strade già esplorate sia un male, anzi. E' un opera piacevole da ascoltare, arricchita dalla presenza del sax, altrimenti estraneo al trio classico di Scofield.

Wie der Plattenname schon verratet: Wieder mehr Standard-Jazz mit seinen altbekannten Musikern mit immer überraschende, interessante Klänge. höchst empfehlenswertes Album.

good cd

I love pretty much all of John Scofield's work, but it is particularly exciting to hear him returning to his '80's/'90's supergroup format, with his perfect sax partner Joe Lovano. The Lovano/Scofield axis is taut and beautiful, and their playing interweaves perfectly, becoming more than the sum of its parts. And then you have the exciting rhythm section: Bill Stewart's crisp and deep-sounding drums; Larry Grenadier's artful bass. It's all good. Sco's tunes are thoughtful, hummable and particularly moving (some of the titles were coined by his late son, before his tragic death). They do work like songs without words. His guitar tone is clean and more 'jazzy' than some of his mid-period recordings (which the old Penguin Jazz Guide, slightly unfairly, called 'clotted' - but I know what they meant), as if he is saying: 'yeah, I can still do this'. Buy with confidence. And if anyone has not got Time on My Hands, then you are in for a mighty treat. Oh, and Past Present is on Impulse...

Coincidiendo con el cambio de casa discográfica Johnn Scofield ha decidido revisar su propia historia con un potente cuarteto. Joe Lovano, Larry Grenadier y Bill Stewart. Todo revisado desde un punto de vista mas rotundo y musicalmente perfecto. Algunos temas nuevos y algunas sorpresas de un músico que parece no tener limites. Maduro y técnicamente brillante es una gozada escuchar este disco desde el presente pero que curiosamente mira al futuro. Espléndida música electro-acustica editada por Impulse. Un disco para los amantes del jazz en general y de Scofield en particular.