John Scofield: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Track

Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Artist

John Scofield (guitar)

CD

Piety Street (Emarcy B001265602)

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Musicians:

John Scofield (guitar), George Porter Jr. (bass), Ricky Fataar (drums), Jon Cleary (piano, keyboards, vocals), John Boutté (vocals), Shannon Powell (drums, percussion).

Traditional song arranged by John Scofield

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Recorded: September-October, 2008

John_scofield-piety_street

Rating: 89/100 (learn more)

Scofield took a tried and true gospel tune and gave it a tight, soul blues treatment with just a dash of The Big Easy. Fataar and ex-Meters bassist Porter bond together to form an impenetrable rhythm section, and with Cleary’s organ putting the Stax into the song, the stage is set perfectly for the guitarist. Scofield’s trademark licks don’t suffer from too many notes and as manage to be both fluid and acerbic at the same time. It’s in this setting where one can truly detect B.B. King in his playing style.

There’s another star on this tune, however, and it’s Cleary with his sweet, grounded lead vocal. He doesn’t possess the power of Wilson Pickett or even Al Green, but his natural, soulful rendering works just right for this tune. The unexpected reggae coda wasn’t planned, but adds a fun, joyful element. And isn’t gospel supposed to be about joy, anyway?

Reviewer: S. Victor Aaron

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