5/02/02

MUSIC: CONCERT REVIEW

John Scofield/Modern Groove Syndicate at Starr Hill

Tuesday, April 23, 2002

By DAMANI HARRISON

It's a Tuesday. Seasoned and versatile guitarist John Scofield has chosen our town as the place to end a 50-date tour to promote his newest album Uberjam. Modern Groove Syndicate, the scheduled openers, are already playing by the time I arrive. Composed of a random hodgepodge of talented young players whose list of ex-affiliations is a yard long, MGS is an off-kilter blend of jazz improvisation, rock energy, and funk groove that can hit the right spot if you are in the mood. Tonight I was in the mood.

John Scofield has been around the block a few times. I am sure that the over-40 members of the audience were familiar with Scofield's earlier work-- the more traditional, straight ahead jazz sounds. Conversely, the larger and younger crowd probably discovered Scofield around the time he released A Go Go with Medeski Martin and Wood in 1995. It was apparent that his new incarnation had created a huge generation gap in his listeners.

If the first few songs the John Scofield Band played are any indication of what's on Uberjam, I better reconsider my oath never again to touch a hallucinogen. I felt sorry for the people who felt the need to dance. There wasn't even a steady beat.

When the quartet returned from an early set break, the mood was altered and the groove multiplied by 10. The rhythm guitarist supplemented the sounds with synthesized drums and a variety of samples from a Roland Groovebox. No matter the foundation of the tune-- house, jazz, calypso, funk, drum 'n' bass-- Scofield wove his trademark tone skillfully around the pocket. Just when the jam couldn't get more spaced out, the entire unit dropped back into the initial groove with surgical precision.

Scofield played in the spirit of any red-blooded jazz artist: he played like nothing mattered but the music. The audience reciprocated, lovingly and loyally hanging on to the band's every note. Like a cool down following an intense workout or a cigarette after sex, he chose to perform a mellow, meditative tune to send us home.

I took one last glance around the room to see how many old-timers hung in until the end of the show. Not a one. I don't believe any even made it through the first set.

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