John Scofield: New Morning—The Paris Concert

Former Miles Davis sideman John Scofield guides his jazz quartet through a 12-track set for this low-key 2010 performance at the New Morning club in Paris, conjuring up a gentle, groove-oriented sound with Michael Eckroth on keyboards, Ben Street on acoustic bass, and Bill Stewart on drums. Lost in the music, guitarist Scofield closes his eyes during much of the set—which lasts more than two hours—coming out of his reverie to introduce a few numbers, like Dizzy Gillespie's “Woody ‘n' You” and “My Foolish Heart,” a song he says he's “loved for a real long time.” Eckroth, Scofield's former student at NYU, takes the spotlight on “I Want to Talk About You,” alternating between piano and organ. The audience clearly enjoys the show, breaking into spontaneous applause when Scofield solos, as on “Lost, Found, and In Between,” or whenever the players are particularly in the groove. Easy on the ears, this is sure to please fans of jazz guitar. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and PCM 2.0 stereo, DVD extras include the featurette “Soundcheck Sketches,” which combines backstage footage with commentary from Scofield. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)