As discussed back on 6 April John Scofield has a new Steve Swallow-themed album coming out soon. 'Hullo Bolinas' from the album is now streaming.
Reactions? Well the piece, in 3/4 time, has an engagingly laidback feel, drummer Bill Stewart shuffling along while Sco delivers a very pretty treatment of the opening theme; Swallow takes a solo, softly rendered, around the 2mins 18secs mark and after about a minute Sco starts harmonising against the bass guitar. The whole ensemble play opens up then with Stewart becoming a little busier succinctly emerging more towards the close. I have added earlier versions of the composition so that you can hear how Gary Burton in a solo vibes version (on the 1972 released album Alone at Last) and Bill Evans in trio formation (from The Tokyo Concert released in 1974) approached the composition. In case you are wondering about the Bolinas in the title, it refers to a small place in Marin county, California, little more than a dozen miles north of San Francisco.
Steve Swallow, top left, John Scofield and Bill Stewart. Photo: via Saudades.
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