John Scofield Uberjam CD

UBERJAM was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

With the ascendancy of acid jazz and jam bands in the early '90s, funky jazz guitarist John Scofield suddenly found himself curiously in vogue for his blend of fusion and funk. The band Scofield presents on UBERJAM is the one that's accompanied him at many a jam-friendly festival, and even the guest artists (saxman Karl Denson, keyboardist John Medeski) hail from that scene. These facts, along with the album's title, seem to suggest Scofield fully embracing his jam-god role, and why not? Improvisation is what jazz is all about anyway.

As one would expect, nearly every tune here is driven by a hard-grooving funk rhythm courtesy of Jesse Murphy's kinetic bass and Adam Deitch's deep-pocket drums. Of course, there are variations; "Jungle Fiction" finds Scofield ringing changes over a contemporary "jungle" beat, and the more laid-back, acoustic-tinged "Tomorrow Land" is the closest thing to a jazz tune. Still, it's a thrill to hear a gifted guitarist like Scofield giving his talents free reign over a percolating backbeat full of funk, R&B, and hip-hop flavoring.

1. Acidhead


2. Ideofunk


3. Jungle Fiction


4. I Brake 4 Monster Booty


5. Animal Farm


6. Offspring


7. Tomorrow Land


8. Uberjam


9. Polo Towers


10. Snap Crackle Pop


Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York between July & September 2001.

John Scofield Band: John Scofield (electric guitar); Avi Bortnick (acoustic & electric guitars, samples); Jesse Murphy (bass); Adam Deitch (drums).

Personnel: John Scofield (electric guitar); Karl Denson (flute, saxophone); John Medeski (Clavinet, Mellotron); Adam Deitch (drums, percussion); Avi Bortnick (sampler).

Audio Mixer: Joe Ferla.

Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (07/30/2001-09/06/2001).

Arrangers: Jesse Yusef Murphy; John Scofield; Avi Bortnick; Adam Deitch.

Additional personnel: Karl Denson (saxophone, flute); John Medeski (Clavinet, Hammond B-3 organ, Mellotron).Entertainment Weekly (2/01/02, p.107) - "...A texturally varied and fiendishly funky thing..." - Rating: B+
Q (1/02, pp.106-107) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...as satisfying as the most low-baked and lacquered contemporary jazz....a riot of tense and twisted electric guitar..."
Alternative Press (3/02, p.88) - 8 out of 10 - "...Constantly challenging and reinventing himself, he pays homage to his considerable rock and funk roots...with creatively use of contemporary sampling technology and a fine cast of young, hip sidemen..."
Down Beat (4/02, p.60) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...The soundscape here is so varied that it sounds as if Jimi Hendrix had returned to Earth after 32 years and wandered into his old studio in Greenwich Village..."
JazzTimes (4/2002, p.102) - "...Scofield and his band construct uberjam from many groove-based musics..."