John Scofield Uncle Johns Band (interview), ECM Records

Uncle John s Band the new trio album by John Scofield with Vicente Archer on bass and Bill Stewart on drums is now available on 2CDs and digital: 2LP gatefold vinyl coming 17 November. Listen now Named for the Grateful Dead song that concludes this inspired double album, Uncle Johns Band features masterful guitarist John Scofield at his most freewheeling. Wide ranging repertoire finds his trio with Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylans Mr Tambourine Man to Neil Young s Old Man, from Leonard Bernsteins Somewhere to the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool classic Budo. And jazz standards including Stairway to the Stars and Rays Idea rub shoulders with seven Scofield originals that are variously swing, funk and folkinflected. The red thread through the programme is the trios tremendous improvisational verve. I feel like we can go anywhere, says John Scofield of the groups multidirectional versati br, br,