John Scofield Quartet - Meant To Be (1991)

Tracklist

1. Big Fan
2. Keep Me In Mind
3. Go Blow
4. Chariots
5. The Guiness Spot
6. Mr. Coleman To You
7. Eisenhower
8. Meant To Be
9. Some Nerve
10. Lost In Space
11. French Flics

personnel :

John Scofield - guitar
Joe Lovano - tenor saxophone, alto clarinet
Marc Johnson - bass
Bill Stewart - drums

Meant To Be features guitarist John Scofield's 1990 pianoless quartet on eleven of his compositions. During the best selections (such as "Big Fun" and "Mr. Coleman To You") one can hear the influence of not just the original Ornette Coleman Quartet but the Keith Jarrett/Dewey Redman Quintet. Joe Lovano's increasingly original tenor sound (mixing together John Coltrane, Dewey Redman and even Eddie Harris on this set) works well with Scofield, and the tight but loose rhythm section (bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Bill Stewart). "Eisenhower" (a slightly tongue-in-cheek, boppish romp) and "Some Nerve" (which uses New Orleans parade rhythms) are also memorable performances. The colorful and enjoyable set is modern mainstrem music of the 1990s, stretching ahead while holding on to the roots of hard bop, funk and fusion. ~ Scott Yanow