John Scofield Trio

With Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart $33.50–$44.50 Scofield’s exercise of unconventional playing embraces the kind of musical exploration that drives jazz forward with optimism. —All About Jazz There has been a John Scofield Trio at play since the late 1970s, and it undisputedly remains the venerable jazz guitarist’s favorite format. The newest incarnation of the trio—Scofield on guitar, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Bill Stewart—sails through tightly knit sets that typify the musical diversity that has colored Scofield’s long career: time-honored jazz standards, rock and blues classics, savvy original compositions, and off-the-cuff improvisations that turn up on a whim. They play more than just a collection of tunes; they play music that embodies the spirit that has kept improvisational jazz vigorous and visceral since its start. Named for the Grateful Dead song that concludes it, Uncle John’s Band, Scofield’s latest double album, features the masterful guitarist at his most freewheeling, tackling jazz standards, classic pop songs, and originals inflected with swing, funk, and folk.