Search - John Scofield :: Quiet

Orchestration, orchestration.

Jazzmountain | 05/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arranger Sco's master class. I seldom hear chords like these. Reminds me of Debussy's surreal harmonic spheres. Yet it swings when it has to. A Scofield fan friend of mine said while listening: 'It is surprising how a pyro-heavy can calm down so swingingly'."

A Lovely Journey

Randall Klein | Eugene, OR United States | 10/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is an exquisite little gem, which seamlessly bridges Jazz and Classical. To my ears it is one piece of music with 8 or 9 movements, (Steve Sallow wrote the last piece on the album.) In the liner notes John writes that he worked several months on the compositions and arrangements, which in my opinion are inseparable. The heads and solos flow together so smoothly as to be almost indistinguishable from each other, with their long arching melodies weaving a tapestry from beginning to end which is lovely and captivating. I invariably find the melodies stuck in my head hours, or sometimes even days after hearing them. For me, Steve Sallow's solo on "After the Fact" is magnificent, his command in the upper registers being so impressive and his line so melodic that when he finally dives down into the lower register the listener may be caught off guard by the surprise that he is listening to a bass solo. The arrangements and instrumentations, which coax lovely textures from the group at times hearken back to the French school. Some of the movements at times bring to mind Darius Milhoud's "Le Creation Du Monde", which is somewhat ironic, being that the French masters Milhoud, Ravel and Debussy were highly influenced by Jazz, and so we come full circle with the their influence on Mr. Scofield. For me however, the most astounding and wonderful aspect of this music is that the distinction between the written arrangements and the improvisations is blurred to such an extent that they become one, and in their own way transcend some of the limitations of both mediums. If you are in the mood for a relaxing and undulating melodic journey, then I can't imagine not enjoying this music."

Simply great music...

Richard Cohn | New York, New York | 11/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As with all great music, repeated listening unearths new pleasures. Scofield has always been a masterful player and composer--with Quiet he proves an inspired arranger as well. Exquisite melody and harmony pour out of every track with subtle and precise horn arrangements that add the dynamics to make each selection a rich and bountiful feast. Reminiscent of Gil Evans yes, but married to a distinctive guitar style and compositional perspective that accomplishes something fresh and deeply moving. Close your eyes and listen to this one--it is the soundtrack to a sensual and colorful world of heartfelt substance and thoughtful soul."