Überjam

Überjam

ASIN: B00005RTDC

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Like his most famous employer, Miles Davis, John Scofield has had his own classic band eras. With Bill Stewart, Marc Johnson, and Joe Lovano he used his distinctive playing and compositional skills to bring a freshness to the sound of the straight-ahead jazz quartet; and on his 1987 Pick Hits Live, he and cohorts Dennis Chambers, Gary Grainger, and Robert Aries used a piercing intelligence to temper fusion's athletics. His more recent funk efforts have suffered; some from the sensitive but "grease"-deficient work of Larry Goldings and some from a general excess of politeness. Bump was an interesting, if tepid, foray into modern hip-hop grooves, but hitting the road in front of the Phish/MMW crowd has forged that sound and his road band into something to be reckoned with. It is no accident that Uberjam is credited to the John Scofield Band; the title tune was created by the members over three years of road dates. Far from being a pastiche, it demonstrates the cohesive unit that this group has become. Whether it is rhythm-guitar wiz Avi Bortnick adding Indian samples to Jesse Murphy's dub bass on "Acidhead," or former Average White Band drummer Adam Deitch laying in the phat-ist of phat grooves, it is apparent that Scofield has come up with another classic ensemble--one well equipped to take jazz into the 21st century. --Michael Ross

Tracks:

Acidhead
Ideofunk
Jungle Fiction
I Brake 4 Monster Booty
Animal Farm
Offspring
Tomorrow Land
uberjam
Polo Towers
Snap Crackle Pop

Amazon.com

Like his most famous employer, Miles Davis, John Scofield has had his own classic band eras. With Bill Stewart, Marc Johnson, and Joe Lovano he used his distinctive playing and compositional skills to bring a freshness to the sound of the straight-ahead jazz quartet; and on his 1987 Pick Hits Live, he and cohorts Dennis Chambers, Gary Grainger, and Robert Aries used a piercing intelligence to temper fusion's athletics. His more recent funk efforts have suffered; some from the sensitive but "grease"-deficient work of Larry Goldings and some from a general excess of politeness. Bump was an interesting, if tepid, foray into modern hip-hop grooves, but hitting the road in front of the Phish/MMW crowd has forged that sound and his road band into something to be reckoned with. It is no accident that Uberjam is credited to the John Scofield Band; the title tune was created by the members over three years of road dates. Far from being a pastiche, it demonstrates the cohesive unit that this group has become. Whether it is rhythm-guitar wiz Avi Bortnick adding Indian samples to Jesse Murphy's dub bass on "Acidhead," or former Average White Band drummer Adam Deitch laying in the phat-ist of phat grooves, it is apparent that Scofield has come up with another classic ensemble--one well equipped to take jazz into the 21st century. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews:

Very good.......2007-01-04

John Scofield is so versatile, and Adam Deitch lays down some awesome beats. Good if you like Drum n' Bass and Hip Hop.

Dream-team band takes groove to the 21st century.......2006-05-03

Imagine if Scofield, Medeski, Denson, Bortnick and Hess combined on one album. Can you imagine the funky groove? then throw in some electronice type sampling and freaking guitar playing and you can move to this album all day. To hear how Scofield has funked up his tastes for this album (though Bump and his work with MMW hinted at this)is inspiring. I consider this something so new and futuristic that if it was released in 50 years people would still be amazed at the hip and deep grooves. Special note: check out Avi Bortnicks rhythm guitar, its so snappy and funky it makes me cry! Enjoy something so special.

Is this jazz? Does it matter?.......2006-01-16

I first heard this disc cranking loud in a music store that caters to the studded leather 20-ish crowd who listen to Korn and make the annual pilgrimage to Ozzfest. The clientele and the employees in the store were all groovin' to the funky beat. I start bopping along to, then all of sudden I think, "Wait a minute, I recognize that guitar. That's John Scofield! What the heck are these kids doing listening to JAZZ?" Then I thought, "They don't even know it's jazz. They all think it's some kind of new heavy metal." And they're right. That's how hard it is to categorize this recording. But it doesn't matter. Uberjam kicks booty. Next thing you know, those kids will be checking out Bitch's Brew and thinking they've discovered new music. And they'll be right.

GROOVY & ENJOYABLE.......2004-06-29

This guitarist can play his guitar quite creatively.Sadly enough,this kind of guitarists are hard to find these days.In this CD John sets himself in a JAMMING feel,and throws himself back into a GOLDEN AGE OF JAZZ FUNK ERA.Moreover he pushes himself into another stage of his creativity.If you like JAM BANDS,like PHISH,GREATFUL DEAD,SPIN DOCTORS,MMW,etc,you will like this.Like his usual album ,his unique guitar style stands out like a mountain that rises so high.The keyword is "EXPERIMENTAL&HUMOROUS JAMMING".

fighting for space.......2004-02-29

This album doesn't quite make it for me... it has lots of interesting sounds and rhythms, but the music doesn't end proposing ideas i think. It is a long jam as the album says.. but just lick after lick and drum fill after drum fill.. i don't know, for me it's still not an 'album'. You have to really struggle to tell one piece from the other.. and the guitar improvising is all over 1 or 2 chord progressions..

I love Scofields playing and just don't feel this is one of his better works.

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