CD - John Scofield: Piety Street

I'll be the first to admit that the Shades CD collection isn't awash with John Scofield releases; obviously a singular guitar talent, just not one that has found its way into the blues, R&B and soul catalogue of the Primer (or any other part of the catalogue for that matter)! Known to Shades as a fluid and technical virtuoso, his previous releases just never struck an emotional chord. Which makes my reaction to this release even more surprising.

As Scofield himself says of this release "I'm just shifting the balances for this one. I've always wanted to record and tour a blues project. That's where I started as a guitarist and I'm feeling that music more than ever of late. I launched a personal search for musical inspiration beyond the standard 12 bar blues and found it in "old time gospel" music - the closest relative to and inspiration for the R& B that we all love. I've always treasured Gospel but never really dug deep into it. My search led to countless songs that really move me. It's really powerful stuff. Of course, it will be Gospel done my way - all the arrangements are mine".

That last bit is important because the arrangements are great. I've read one review that considers the performance and arrangements 'lifeless' but we can't have been listening to the same CD. A band that includes Jon Cleary on keyboards, George Porter Jr. on bass and Ricky Fataar on drums is simply not going to deliver a lifeless set and it doesn't.

This is gospel music in an understated setting and there are 13 excellent examples of Scofield's obvious arranging skills on here, mainly well-known gospel standards with a couple of originals thrown in to the mix for good measure. The guitar playing is understandably first rate throughout - simpler and more direct than Scofield fans are used to maybe, but showcasing what a fine blues guitarist he can be. The title track, 'It's A Big Army', 'Ninety Nine and a Half' and 'Just a Little While' are favourites but the whole CD hangs together very well. So understated it may be, but it's certainly not lifeless - there's more than one way to play any genre and it doesn't always have to be flat out and high octane.

A couple of minor quibbles - the CD feels a little bit over produced for music centred on New Orleans jazz and blues and I will concede that some of the vocal performances are not up to the standard of the playing - John Boutte is particularly average. But overall this is one of the best and most surprising releases I've heard this year.

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