What people search:
 | Title : OH!
Author : Scolohofo
Release Date : 20030128
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.49
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Editorial Reviews :
Scolohofo. Behind this saw-toothed creation of a word are four exemplary players: John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland, and Al Foster. They've worked together over the decades in various combinations, but never together as a quartet. And, of course, they all have the letter o in the first syllable of their last names. After two tours (in 1999 and 2002), the four convened in New York City to record this, their debut. They are all well-developed composers, nicely causing this album to tip the scales at nearly 77 minutes. That’s the length of a double album, but the playing never bogs down, due to the richness of the writing and endless surprises in the performances. Holland's more elliptical melodic sensibilities are a fine counterpoint to Scofield's postbop, with Foster's 'Bittersweet,' and Lovano's 'New Amsterdam' bringing in elements from blues to '60s avant garde. Remarkably, with writing as broad as that, this set holds together with the cohesive identity of a seasoned, unified combo. That’s a testament to their strength as players, each with a strong individual voice, but with the understanding of what's possible with sympathetic interplay. --David Greenberger
Buyer Reviews :
The mercurial John Schofield, probably the premier jazz guitarist of his day--at least from the point of view of the variety of effective settings in which he manages to make brilliant music--morphs once again--this time back from the past (a la his guitar/sax/bass/drums outings of the early 90s, 'Meant to Be,' 'Time on My Hands,' and 'What We Do') into the future. Joe Lovano, himself perhaps the finest tenor sax player of his generation, is the constant here, having played on all three previously mentioned discs. The rhythm section of Dave Holland on bass and Al Foster on drums is, of course, world class. Brought together on this session, they make something magical happen.
They seem to be in a jammin' mood here--not to be confused with a jam-band sensibility such as you might get with Phish or MMW--but they're very relaxed, groovin', and listenable, especially when they're way mellowed out, as on 'In Your Arms.,' or just having fun, as on 'Shorter Form,' patterned, one supposes, after the compositional approach of the great tenorist who was recently named musician of the year by a noted jazz periodical (I don't hear it). For their jamming sensibility, check out esp. 'New Amsterdam,' 'The Dawn of Time,' and 'Brandyn.' The thing that really amazes about this record is the astounding musicality of this group so lightly worn, the leader tossing off incredibly complex solos matched note for note by the astounding Lovano. And if anyone thought Al Foster couldn't play in this league, just listen to his magical accompaniment on 'Brandyn.'
Joe Lovano gets a unique sound from his soprano. He's got that sour, slightly pinched tone favored by many altoists, but it all seems so effortless. And his intonation is spot on-not an easy thing to do with this awkward horn. Moreover, he has neither that annoying reediness so often present in jazz sopranoists nor that cloying Kenny G thing. Check out the unison lines he plays with Schofield on 'Bittersweet,' which bears a similar relation to samba that 'Valse Triste' plays to the waltz. Also his tenderness on the beautiful ballad, 'In Your Arms.' And his incredible nimbleness on 'Brandyn.' I'd like to hear more from him on soprano.
This is jazz at its finest-burning, immediate, accessible, impossibly agile, and starkly beautiful-sometimes all at once, as on 'Faces.' By all means, don't miss out on this one.
(by Jan P. Dennis)
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