It remains difficult to predict which way John Scofield will take with each subsequent CD. On the one hand, he regularly delivers CDs on which he shows his qualities as an extremely inventive composer. Due to its abstract nature, this work is not for everyone. On the other hand, he does not shy away from accessibility by occasionally releasing CDs on which funk and groove are central. That's What
… I Say: John Scofield Plays The Music Of Ray Charles is a CD from the latter category. With a backing band consisting of Larry Goldings (keys), Willie Weeks (bass) and Steve Jordan (drums and production), Scofield performs using the guest vocals of Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Mavis Staples, Warren Hayes and John Mayer, and occasional wind pieces by tenor saxophonist David 'Fathead' Newman's repertoire of Ray Charles in a particularly idiosyncratic way. For example, What I'd Say gets a Latin treatment and Sticks And Stones is transformed into cool funk. For the rest, the original Ray Charles feeling is appropriately preserved on this tribute CD. (AD)more
