JOHN SCOFIELD — A Go Go (review)

JOHN SCOFIELD — A Go Go album cover Album · 1998 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
js
Before it even came out back in 1998, this CD got a lot of attention. MM&W were one of the leaders of a brave new nu jazz/acid jazz scene that had not been totally accepted by the jazz establishment yet. John Scofield was one of the first veteran jazz musicians to reach out to this nu scene when he invited MM&W to record “A Go Go” with him. Expectations were running so high for this one that it was hard to make everyone happy and the resultant CD is a decent funky jazz workout, but nothing particularly new or mind-blowing either. MMW’s feel for the funk is a little on the loose and jazzy side of things, so if you are looking for blistering tight funk ala The Meters or The JB’s, this one will also leave you looking as well.

The first five cuts on here are fairly solid jazz/funk numbers, somewhat old school, but with a modern slight hip-hop shuffle feel in the drums. The overall approach on here is kind of relaxed and loungey, although they do get heated sometimes too. Scofield and keyboardist John Medeski play great solos throughout and favor clever twists on clichés over pyro-techniques which goes well with the relaxed rhythmic feel. Martin and Wood are a decent rhythm section, but Scofield has played with better.

After the first five cuts the band gets a little more experimental, with mixed results. MM&W, along with other groups from the “jam band” scene, have brought back a certain shaggy hippy approach to music that may have more appeal to young jam band fans than jazz fans, or even fusion fans. Overall this is a good CD and should appeal to fans of both artists as well as fans of the jazzier end of today’s jam scene.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Sued, Nandayapa, Bergmann, Saunders : Mad Dream Avant-Garde Jazz
BRUCE SAUNDERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Juno What It Is Jazz Related Electronica/Hip-Hop
MATT TWADDLE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Blue House Session Hard Bop
MUNEER NASSER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Camera Obscura Post-Fusion Contemporary
PIERRE VAIANA
Buy this album from MMA partners
21days Post-Fusion Contemporary
SUKEZA BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Juno What Time It is
MATT TWADDLE
js· 18 hours ago
Sukeza Band - When She Dreams
SUKEZA BAND
js· 1 day ago
Zac Harmon - Stop the Killing
ZAC HARMON
js· 1 day ago
Richard x Bennett - SCAVENGER in 6 parts
RICHARD X BENNETT
js· 3 days ago
Rangelands (feat. Josiah Joyce & Ben Thompson)
COLIN TRUSEDELL
js· 4 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed