John Scofield: Works for Me

Musical all-star projects are often met with justified anxiety. Exciting as it sounded on paper, Super Bowl XXXV's half time extravaganza sadly failed to fulfill its promise. But occasionally, great talents will work together to produce something extraordinary. John Scofield's latest project is a welcome example.

Works for Me sees Scofield's return to straight-ahead jazz following funkier collaborations with the likes of Medeski, Martin, and Wood. The album boasts a lineup comprising some of jazz's best, a group which Scofield calls "my one-time-only dream band." Billy Higgins has been shaping the sounds of important recordings for decades with his talent on drums. Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau have received widespread acclaim for leading the new generation on bass and piano, respectively. And Kenny Garrett, a protegé of Miles Davis in the early '90s, has developed one of today's most distinctive voices on alto saxophone.

Each of these musicians has cultivated a variety of hard-hitting virtuosity on his own instrument. Yet, in a jazz scene often dominated by technicians eager to showcase their chops, Works for Me constitutes a welcome break from the norm. Higgins generates a shimmer on his rides, which sets the tone for an album dedicated more to intricacies of harmony, tone, and color than to pyrotechnics and licks. Scofield's use of distortion and his knack for placing notes just behind the beat give the guitar a singing, breathy sound that complements Garrett's alto perfectly. Indeed, some of the album's most enchanting moments come when they match tone and even vibrato to exchange phrases.

Scofield is a master of melody, and his 10 beautiful compositions for this recording take shape from the group's rich improvisations. The result may be one of the best jazz albums this year. (Verve) —Aaron Jakes

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