Works for Me

John Scofield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000055Y57
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,406 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #89 in Music > Jazz > Jazz Jam Bands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scofield and his "supergroup" make for a killing record, February 4, 2001

By 

Jeff Hubbard (Lehi, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Works for Me (Audio CD)

I've got a lot to say about this album (I'm listening to it right now, and this is probably my tenth complete listen this week). "Works For Me" is certainly one of the best things Scofield has ever done. His writing and improvising are at least up to the standards of anything that he's done in his career, and the band here (Brad Mehldau, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, and Billy Higgins) can hardly be faulted on any count. Higgins and McBride make an absolutely ideal rhythm section.

One notable aspect of the album is the production, which comes off sounding a LOT like a cleaner (no tape hiss) version of a 60's Blue Note session. I've read that this album was recorded with no baffling of any kind, and that it was recorded direct to two track. As a result, there is a different sort of ambience to the recording; instruments are panned left and right, and there is some bleed over between the tracks. All in all, I find the sound of the record to be one of many of its very appealing qualities.

The musical highlights, to my mind, are "Not You Again," a new melody on the changes to "There Will Never Be Another You," especially for Brad Mehldau's constantly just-outside solo over the standard changes (it's incredible the way he walks the line between the changes and playing seemingly out thoughout the entire solo); "Love You Long Time," a gorgeous bossa; and, for Scofield especially, both "Do I Crazy?" and "Heel to Toe," which feature two of the finest examples of his playing on the record. Also, "Hive" starts off quite a lot like one of Ornette Coleman's late fifties tunes, before slipping into a straight swing feel for the improvs.

This is a great record. In some ways, it contains my favorite Garrett I've heard to date, and I especially like the way his tone comes across here. And Higgins! It's amazing that he's having such serious liver problems and is still able to play the way he does here. I've heard a lot of Higgins records from throughout his career, and I've never heard him play any better than on this record.

Finally, I'll say this: I first heard about this session from Scofield himself about a year ago, right after it was recorded, and I've been waiting not-so-patiently for its release since then. It more than lives up to all the expectations I'd built up since then. I very highly recommend it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz masterpiece from guitarist Scofield., March 19, 2001

By 

"musicnu" (Deerfield, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Works for Me (Audio CD)

One cannot accuse John Scofield of releasing CD's that all sound like each other. Scofield is one of the more adventurous jazz musicians on the scene today. On Hand Jive, he teamed with the late Eddie Harris for a very electric outing and on Bump he was into synth funk. On Works for Me, John releases his most straight ahead jazz CD. John's guitar is joined by Kenny Garrett - alto sax (not KennyG), Brad Meldau - piano, Christian McBride - bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Scofield's guitar playing is very different from other releases, however it is perfect for the group. If you like jazz, you must have this CD. It is fabulous. These guys just meld into one. You will swear that this must be their third release. Although, I am sure Scofield will change style on his next, he could just stay with this group and I would not be disappointed. I would love to see these guys live. Every time, I listen to this CD, I am still amazed at how good it is. The title says it all - Works for Me!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scofield's masterpiece?, February 14, 2007

By 

Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Works for Me (Audio CD)

I often feel as if John Scofield hasn't released a proper album since this one in 2000. I'm not suggesting he hasn't been very busy. There have been a couple of albums from The John Scofield Band (2002, 2003) and while these we both very good, they were also very experimental; I've got one by The John Scofield Trio (2003) but that was a live album, and the "Trio Beyond/Saudades" project (recorded in 2004, released in 2006) was again a live album and JS was headlining with Jack DeJohnette and Larry Goldings; there was the fantastic ScoLoHoFo project (2002) with Dave Holland, Joe Lovano and Al Foster and then the "Out Louder" album (2006) was with Medeski, Martin & Wood.

And there's more: There was the BeatleJazz project (2005); and the Ray Charles tribute album, "That's What I Say" (also 2005 and my least favourite of the bunch) and apparently, he's featured on many other artists' albums (like Roy Hanes' 2002 album "Love Letters" for instance, which I do have), some of which I haven't even come across yet.

So while JS has given us a good deal of good music in the last seven years, for me, essentially, this was the last proper John Scofield album. 'Proper' as in with him playing straight-ahead jazz.

And what an album it was too. It was via this album that I learned about Brad Mehldau and I swiftly went out and got every album of his I could find. He is joined on here by the wonderful Kenny Garrett on alto saxophone, the brilliant Christian McBride on bass and the very incredible Billy Higgins on drums. It's a joyride from beginning to end though once again - and I'm beginning to feel like I might possibly be a hopeless romantic trapped in a hardened cynic's body - it's the ballads I really love: "Big J" always makes me smile. I've played "Love You Long Time" so many times I can practically hum along to Garrett's beautiful solo note for note. And as for "Mrs. Scofield's Waltz", well, I'm just lost for words. And of course there's the winding and mysterious "Six And Eight".

In my view this is Scofield's best work in recent years. He gels with his guest artists here like they've been playing together for years. I don't know if he took these guys out on the road or not but if he did, those who saw them play live would've had a great time.

I sincerely hope he'll hurry up and bring out another 'proper' John Scofield album.