May 3–10, 2001

cd reviews|jazz

John Scofield

Works for Me

(Verve)

"You can just play and I’ll catch you," drummer Billy Higgins says assuredly at the start of this album. The words form a sort of mission statement, since it’s Higgins’ unmistakable rhythmic nuance (more than any other single factor) that galvanizes the disc. But make no mistake: there are many other pleasures here as well. Guitarist John Scofield, back from jam-land, has finally crafted a straight-ahead outing on par with his early-’90s work on Blue Note. In fact, his playing — marked by fluid economy and a confident conversational style — may be stronger than ever. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by all-stars (Higgins, alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Christian McBride, and pianist Brad Mehldau) who manage to check their egos in service of eleven sharp but spacious tunes. Despite many memorable solos, what really stands out about Works for Me is the collective interplay: Mehldau’s responsive accompaniment on the head-wagging "Loose Canon," for instance, or the airtight ensemble groove on "Big J." All told, a stellar set.

—Nate Chinen