Swallow tales

Description

Guitarist John Scofield celebrates the music of his friend and mentor Steve Swallow in a recording full of spirit and wit, recorded in one day in New York in March 2019 ... “old school,” as Scofield says, while acknowledging that more than forty years of friendship prepared this record to reach these heights of inspiration. John was only 20 and still studying at Berklee when he first met and played with the bassist, initiating a collaboration that has never stopped since. “I love the way he writes,” Scofield says, detailing the selection of Swallow compositions explored on the album — a choice covering a wide range, mixing a few classics such as “Hullo Bolinas,” “Eiderdown,” “Falling Grace” and “Radio,” with lesser-known works. The rapport between Scofield and Swallow shines through at every moment. John: “Sometimes when we play it’s as if we’re forming one big guitar!” On drums, Bill Stewart, Scofield’s faithful partner since the early 90s, provides an environment attentive to the slightest nuance and entirely focused on collective interaction. “What Bill does is much more than ‘playing drums,’” Scofield explains. “He feeds the music with his melodic vein, while swinging really hard.”