Guitarist John Scofield Interviewed at All About Jazz...And More!

Sometimes a recording comes together easily, with a minimum of muss or fuss. Other times, life seems to conspire against it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't get done, or that it suffers as a result. Sometimes, in fact, it can make the end result even better. For John Scofield—one-third of a power trifecta of guitarists, also including Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell), who emerged in the mid-1970s to become some of their generation's most influential and highly regarded jazz artists—the road to his latest release, the aptly titled A Moment's Peace (EmArcy, 2011), was riddled with complications. But the end result is a set that stands out among the plethora of ballads albums flooding the market these days, with its unique combination of standards, less-traveled covers and Scofield originals delivered with more gentleness than is, perhaps, expected from a guitarist capable of searing paint off a wall.

AAJ Managing Editor John Kelman spoke with Scofield at length recently, about the genesis of A Moment's Peace and some of its more unusual song choices; his early days and co-composing with Miles Davis and Gil Evans; and a different perspective on the pros and cons of the changing landscape of the music industry. Read about all this and more in John's in-depth interview, John Scofield: Peaceful Pursuits and Incendiary Explorations, published today at AllAboutJazz.com.

But there's more. To celebrate the release of A Moment's Peace, All About Jazz is bringing you a wealth of additional features, including some exclusive live content, over the next two days. In addition to the interview, here's what else is up for today:

1. Read John Kelman's insightful CD review of A Moment's Peace, also published today at AAJ;
2. Download a live version of “Simply Put," A Moment's Peace's opening track, recorded just a couple weeks ago on September 11, 2011—an AAJ Live Exclusive—Today's Free MP3;
3. Watch Scofield perform an incendiary version of “Hottentot," originally recorded with Medeski Martin & Wood on A Go Go (Verve, 1998), but here in trio with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Kendrick Scott, today's Video of the Day;
   
4. James Pearce's shot of Scofield, performing at the 2010 Stockholm Jazz Festival, is featured as today's Photo of the Day.

The coverage continues on Tuesday, September 27, 2011:

1. Read John Kelman's informative DVD review of New Morning: The Paris Concert, released in 2010 by Inakustic and featuring a full two-hour performance of Scofield with his New Jazz Quartet: pianist/organist Michael Eckroth, bassist Ben Street and drummer Bill Stewart;
2. Download a live version of “Slinky," a different version of one of New Morning: Paris Concert's tracks, recorded just a couple weeks ago on September 11, 2011 with the same New Jazz Quartet, —an AAJ Live Exclusive—Today's Free MP3;
3. Watch Scofield and his New Jazz Quartet perform “Chirikawa," a clip from New Morning: Paris Concert, today's Video of the Day;
   
4. John Kelman's shot of Scofield, performing at the 2010 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival, is featured as today's Photo of the Day.

All About Jazz is committed to bringing you the most extensive coverage anywhere, surrounding new releases, so be sure to check out all the buzz surrounding John Scofield, A Moment's Peace and New Morning: The Paris Concert, today at AllAboutJazz.com!