Electric Outlet - John Scofield

Apr

24

Electric Outlet - John Scofield

≡ Category: 1980s, Post Bop, Recommended |
≅ Written by: Michael Kydonieus

Jazzbo Notes Recommended Recording

Rating:

One of the relatively minor works from John Scofield’s phenomenal association with the Gramavision label, Electric Outlet makes up in warmth what it lacks in urgency.

Electric Outlet is unusual in that this is the only one of Scofield’s albums on which he plays bass. That is fitting because these tunes are not all that technically demanding to play, so there was no need to hire a bass virtuoso.

Using Dave Sanborn as a saxophonist is another indication that Scofield was going for atmosphere rather than pyrotechnics.

Sanborn has an inoffensive New York sax soul kind of solo on Pick Hits, a light funk number which is typical of Electric Outlet as a whole. The stop and go rhythms are aided and abetted by Scofield on chicka-chicka style rhythm guitar. Scofield contributes his usual incisive and technically impressive improvisation, but the highlight is a slippery messy turn by trombonist Ray Anderson. In the context of a Scofield funk tune, it’s as unexpected as it is delightful. Anderson’s trombone stylings are also featured to great advantage on Just My Luck.

The tune Great Western is a excellent example of what I mean when I say Electric Outlet is all about atmosphere. The composition evokes images of prairies, big skies…and strip malls anchored by chain motels. The pace is slow, the feel is openhearted and welcoming, and yet modern. The harmonies are simple, but not in a feebleminded way. The piece is utterly charming.

I should mention that even though most of Electric Outlet is light funk, Scofield’s guitar style on this album is very much post bop. He plays bebop lines with advanced harmony, sometimes in double time. It would be another five years or so before he slowed down and started concentrating almost exclusively on tone and phrasing.

Electric Outlet is perhaps not a very significant album, but an unfailingly pleasant one. It could serve as a gentle introduction to John Scofield for people who don’t really like jazz all that much. Even my wife likes it and she HATES my music, preferring to listen to the collected love songs of Elton John.