In 1979, when Live first appeared, critic Chip Stern raved: “Spirited soloing and studio savvy stand as trademarks of 28-year-old John Scofield, a jazz guitarist who in a few short years already has garnered an impressive catalogue of gigs and LPs with top jazzers like Billy Cobham, George Duke, the late Charlie Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, and a host of others. In addition, John recorded a solo album: John Scofield Live, which captures him in a modern jazz setting with pianist Richie Beirach, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Single lines possessing a horn-like fluidity and sweetness abound, while his chord voicings articulate a natural, unstilted approach to the electric guitar. So whether he's soaring on flights of improvisational fantasy, or getting down to some smoking bebop, John Scofield has come of age in the world of electric jazz.”
