Swallow Tales (John Scofield album)

Last updated
Swallow Tales
Swallow Tales cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 12, 2020 (2020-06-12)
RecordedMarch 2019
StudioJames L. Dolan Recording Studio
NYU Steinhardt
Genre Jazz
Length53:16
Label ECM 2679
Producer Manfred Eicher
John Scofield chronology
Combo 66
(2018)
Swallow Tales
(2020)
John Scofield
(2022)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
The Arts Desk Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Financial Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Jazz Journal Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Jazzwise Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
PopMatters 7/10 [8]
RTE.ie Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Swallow Tales is a studio album by jazz guitarist John Scofield recorded in March 2019 and released on ECM June the following year. The trio features rhythm section Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart. Swallow Tales refers to the trio's bassist, who composed the nine tracks, re-arranged for the recording. [11] [12]

Contents

Reception

Chris Pearson in his review for The Times wrote, "This set, taped in half a day by a trio led by the American guitarist John Scofield, centres on that legacy to set the record straight." [10]

A review by RTE.ie stated, "In sum, a collection of sensitive, knowing interpretations of the Swallow classics which you should let play continuously until the inevitable result - you will need its sound in your life for a while, weaving in and out of your rooms." [9]

Matt Collar of AllMusic added, "The album arrives on the heels of several other Scofield small group sessions, including 2017's Hudson and 2018's Combo 66... It's a sound whose earthy lilt sometimes has the feel of a three-member vocal group, rather than an instrumental trio." [2]

Will Layman of PopMatters commented, "The jazz guitar trio is a classic format, and John Scofield, Steve Swallow, and Bill Stewart are as well-equipped as many musicians could be to venerate it and renew it a bit. That is the accomplishment of Swallow Tales." [8]

Michael Ullman in his review for The Arts Fuse noted, "This is an intelligent, inventively performed, be-boppish tribute to a composer I now know better than ever." [13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Steve Swallow

No.TitleLength
1."She Was Young"9:33
2."Falling Grace"5:27
3."Portsmouth Figurations"3:31
4."Awful Coffee"9:28
5."Eiderdown"7:13
6."Hullo Bolinas"4:15
7."Away"4:54
8."In F"4:34
9."Radio"4:21
Total length:53:16

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Swallow Tales
Chart (2020)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [14] 96
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [15] 56

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Scofield</span> American jazz guitarist and composer (born 1951)

John Scofield is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in the band of Miles Davis, and has toured and recorded with many prominent jazz artists, including saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson and Joe Lovano; keyboardists George Duke, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Larry Goldings and Robert Glasper; fellow guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino and Bill Frisell; bassists Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius; and drummers Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers. Outside the world of jazz, he has collaborated with Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Gov't Mule.

Mick Goodrick was an American jazz guitarist who spent most of his career as a teacher. In the early 1970s, he worked with Gary Burton and Pat Metheny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Swallow</span> American jazz bassist and composer

Steve Swallow is an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, and Carla Bley. He was one of the first jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Stewart (musician)</span> American jazz drummer

William Harris Stewart is an American jazz drummer. He has performed with Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Lonnie Smith, Nicholas Payton, Bill Carrothers, Steve Wilson, Seamus Blake, Larry Goldings and Peter Bernstein, and Jim Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Abercrombie (guitarist)</span> American jazz guitarist (1944–2017)

John Laird Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.

<i>EnRoute: John Scofield Trio LIVE</i> 2004 live album by John Scofield Trio

EnRoute: John Scofield Trio LIVE is an album by the John Scofield Trio featuring bass guitarist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart that was recorded at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City in December 2003.

<i>Quiet</i> (album) 1996 studio album by John Scofield

Quiet is an album by jazz guitarist John Scofield. As with his 1992 album Grace Under Pressure, Scofield chose to integrate a horn section into his compositions. The album also features bass guitarist Steve Swallow, and drummer Bill Stewart. Quiet is unique in Scofield's discography as he plays only acoustic guitar. Veteran saxophonist Wayne Shorter appears on several tracks. Scofield returned to this album's format of a trio with orchestration on This Meets That in 2007.

<i>Shades of Jade</i> 2005 studio album by Marc Johnson

Shades of Jade is a studio album by American jazz bassist Marc Johnson, recorded in early 2004 and released on ECM September the following year—his first release for the label since 1987. The album's title is a reference to, Scott La Faro's "Jade Visions," first featured on Sunday at the Village Vanguard; both La Faro and Johnson came to prominence as the bassist in Bill Evans' Trio.

<i>This Meets That</i> 2007 studio album by John Scofield

This Meets That is a studio album by jazz musician John Scofield. Featuring longtime collaborators Steve Swallow on bass guitar and drummer Bill Stewart, along with a four piece horn section. Fellow guitarist Bill Frisell appears on one track.

<i>Lost in a Dream</i> (Paul Motian album) 2010 live album by Paul Motian

Lost in a Dream is a live album by jazz drummer Paul Motian, recorded at the Village Vanguard in February 2009 and released on ECM the following year. It features tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Jason Moran.

<i>Andando el Tiempo</i> 2016 studio album by Carla Bley / Andy Sheppard / Steve Swallow

Andando el Tiempo is an album by American composer and pianist Carla Bley with saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bass guitarist Steve Swallow released on the ECM label. Though the musicians are longtime collaborators, this is their third album as a trio and second on the ECM label. It is Bley's first complete album of new compositions in eight years and is titled after a three part meditation on addiction and recovery, inspired by a friend's struggle with alcoholism.

<i>Country for Old Men</i> 2016 studio album by John Scofield

Country for Old Men is an album by American jazz guitarist John Scofield. It earned Scofield a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. It features longtime Scofield collaborators Larry Goldings on piano & organ, bass guitarist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart. Impulse! released the album on September 23, 2016.

<i>Daylight Ghosts</i> 2017 studio album by Craig Taborn

Daylight Ghosts is an album by Craig Taborn, with Chris Speed, Chris Lightcap, and Dave King. It was released by ECM Records in 2017.

<i>Far from Over</i> (Vijay Iyer album) 2017 studio album by Vijay Iyer

Far from Over is a studio album by the Vijay Iyer Sextet recorded in April 2017 and released on ECM August that same year. The sextet features brass section Graham Haynes, Steve Lehman and Mark Shim and rhythm section Stephan Crump and Tyshawn Sorey.

<i>Trio Tapestry</i> 2019 studio album by Joe Lovano

Trio Tapestry is a studio album by American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano recorded in March 2018 and released on ECM January the following year—his debut as bandleader for the label. The trio features pianist Marilyn Crispell and percussionist Carmen Castaldi.

<i>Combo 66</i> 2018 studio album by John Scofield

Combo 66 a studio album by American jazz musician John Scofield. The album was released on 28 September 2018 by Verve label. The “66” in the album title refers to Scofield's age at the time of recording. The combo themselves include keyboardist Gerald Clayton, bassist Vicente Archer and longtime Scofield drummer Bill Stewart.

<i>Juice</i> (Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood album) 2014 studio album by John Scofield, Medeski Martin & Wood

Juice is a studio album recorded by American jazz guitarist John Scofield together with trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Percussionist Pedrito Martinez was invited as a special guest to play congas and guiro. The album was released on September 15, 2014 by Indirecto label.

<i>Life Goes On</i> (Carla Bley album) 2020 studio album by Carla Bley

Life Goes On is a studio album by American composer and pianist Carla Bley recorded in May 2019 and released on ECM on February 14, 2020. The trio features saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bass guitarist Steve Swallow.

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 2020.

<i>Garden of Expression</i> 2021 studio album by Joe Lovano

Garden of Expression is a studio album by American jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano recorded in November 2019 and released on ECM in January 2021. The trio features pianist Marilyn Crispell and percussionist Carmen Castaldi.

References

  1. Patterson, Ian (June 16, 2020). "John Scofield: Swallow Tales album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz . Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 Collar, Matt (2020). "Swallow Tales - John Scofield | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  3. Scotney, Sebastian (6 June 2020). "Album: John Scofield, Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart - Swallow Tales". The Arts Desk . Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  4. Cohen, Aaron (August 2020). "John Scofield: Swallow Tales (ECM)". DownBeat . Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. Hobart, Mike (12 June 2020). "John Scofield: Swallow Tales — an irresistible polyrhythmic pulse". Financial Times . Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. Gilbert, Mark (22 June 2020). "John Scofield: Swallow Tales". Jazz Journal . Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  7. Fordham, John (2020). "JOHN SCOFIELD: SWALLOW TALES". Jazzwise . Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. 1 2 Layman, Will (23 June 2020). "John Scofield Renews the Jazz Guitar Trio on 'Swallow Tales', PopMatters". PopMatters . Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Album review: John Scofield Swallow Tales". RTE.ie. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. 1 2 Pearson, Chris (May 29, 2020). "John Scofield: Swallow Tales — mercurial pieces don't soften the great jazz-rocker". The Times . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. "ECM Records". SWALLOW TALES by JOHN SCOFIELD, STEVE SWALLOW, BILL STEWART. ECM Records . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. "John Scofield: Swallow Tales — an irresistible polyrhythmic pulse". Financial Times . Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. Ullman, Michael (27 May 2020). "Jazz CD Review: John Scofield's "Swallow Tales" — Steve Swallow's Quirky Romanticism". The Arts Fuse . Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – John Scofield / Bill Stewart / Steve Swallow – Swallow Tales" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  15. "Swisscharts.com – John Scofield / Bill Stewart / Steve Swallow – Swallow Tales". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 June 2020.