Celebrating his 66th year on earth, (hence the band’s monicker), guitarist John Scofield showed the audience at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz that he is at the stage of his career that he can bring in all of the influences from his fertile career and create a sound and style that his all his own. With an adroit team combining long time associates like drummer Bill Stewart as well as welcoming newcomers such as pianist Gerald Clayton and bassist Vincent Archer, Scofield doesn’t play music that sounds like someone else, but now plays on his guitar like someone else is inspired to imitate.
Emphasizing material from his newest Combo 66 album, the Grammy winning guitarist showed flexibility on the elastic yet hard hitting “Icons At The Fair” while the trudging and bluesy “Combo Theme” included Monkish angularity by Clayton, snappy stick work by Stewart and an incessant bass line and creative solo by Archer sandwiched between Scofield’s creative linear tones. A gloriously frenetic and hard swinging “Dang Swing” had the leader feverishly whipping out Chet Atkins-styled Western Swing while the rhythm team dug a rivulet that no one wanted to escape from.
With Clayton switching over to the Hammond B3 and Steward riding the cymbal, Scofield made the strings slide, glide bend and whine on the hiply grooved “Can’t Dance” before the team dug deep into a swampy funk on the relaxed yet forward moving “Green Tea.” Like a wiper blade cleaning off the windshield, Scofield’s solo ranged back and forth from thick and fuzzy clouds to clear and succinct lines before Stewart’s fluid solo brought things to a cruising conclusion.
A reading of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” brought out the romantic and tender aria to Scofield’s strings as Clayton provided church like chords and calm waters. Closing with the chunky and funky Memphis Stew of “New Waltz,” with some Fabulous Flame work by Clayton and Stewarts toe tapping backbeat, Scofield’s searing strings here and throughout the evening displayed an artist that can take colors from many an artistic palate and create his own masterpieces. A sonic walk through the museum of modern jazz guitar.
