Up all night

John Scofield’s career spans more than three decades now, and he can’t get enough of the… John Scofield’s career spans more than three decades now, and he can’t get enough of the improvisational jam band style, as evidenced by his band’s new release. Up All Night is the epitome of on-the-fly jam sessions.

It’s as eclectic with musical influences as it is creative. It’s so diverse that even if you aren’t into the non-lyrical jam style that is laid out on this album, you will respect what is done in these 11 songs.

On the album’s second track, “Watch Out For Po-Po,” the band plays a funky groove mixed with samples played in reverse, making for an unwound, high-speed-dubbing feel. It traverses into what sounds like a direct rip-off of the “Hawaii Five-O” theme, but it wasn’t intentional, as everything was improvised on the spot.

A disco’#30;era feel is apparent on the track “Freakin’ Disco,” while “Thikhathali” possesses African music vibes.

With grooves unheard in traditional music and beats that are the envy of any DJ scratching a Nelly record, Up All Night is a beautiful look into the minds of the incredible musicians that make this stuff up on the spot.