OH!
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 letteroin 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