Customer Reviews

Blue Matter

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's inevitable that when an artist puts out such a completely phenomenal record like "Still Warm", his next record is bound to be a letdown. "Blue Matter" is not at the level of its predecessor, but it's pretty darn close.

The records begins with Scofield's funkiest of all his songs, "Blue Matter", which features some hot soloing by Scofield laid over a slap-bass playing in perfect unison with double-bass drums. "Trim" maintains the energy level, while "Heavan Hill" showcases Scofield's softer side. "Now She's Blonde" is a good song with a great title, but it's on "The Nag" where Sco lets it loose; his solo there is one of his very finest of his '80's "fusion" era.

Scofield uses a band that lacks the big names of the predecing record, but are still more than competent (in fact, Dennis Chambers has since gone on to become one of the most sought-after drummers in fusion and rock). Plus, Steve Swallow carries over as producer, and he does another fine job, although the producation is a little rougher than on "Still Warm". Perhaps a more raw sound was intended.

If you love "Still Warm", you will like "Blue Matter". Definitely worth the purchase.

John Scofield is most known for his recent jazz albums which are good, however, his early fusion matierial is incredible. If there is one thing John knows how to do, it's putting together great bands! In this case he has put together one of the greatest and least known combinations of Drummer and Bassist in Dennis Chambers and Gary Grainger. Track #7 "The Nag" will blow your mind! "Now She's Blonde" as the sweetest groove, but then again all of the tracks do. These two players play so tight it is a joy to listen to them. They play together on 2 other John Scofield albums, "Loud Jazz" and "Pick Hits Live", if you are a bassist or drummer, you NEED to hear these albums.

The only thing that makes this sound at all dated is some of Mitchell Forman's keyboard samples, but they are still cool, particularly the pad sounds on the last cut "Time Marches On."
Overall, I would say the lenghthier tunes on the album are the best, "Trim" and "Time Marches On" clocking in at seven and one half minutes a piece.

In some ways, I find this album more listenable then Sco's current, more jazz oriented releases. This is truly an unparalled band, and as one reviewer noted, the bass/drums combo is exceptionally killer. Aside from the technical prowess displayed, the album is suprisingly catchy. One of the albums I own that is easy to listen to in it's entirety, day after day. It's not trying at all, but still deep music. I only wish it would be remastered for better sound quality as this release is quite old.

While not as impressive as the previous, excellent SW, BM is a shorter version with many of the same elements providing similar stimulus.

CD is ok,at best, but not many hit selections on this CD and nowhere as good as the Hand Jive CD.