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1996 · Album

Quiet

↑ John Scofield

Personnel: John Scofield (acoustic guitar), Steve Swallow (bass), Bill Stewart (drums), Wayne Shorter (saxophone) · Notable Reception: Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings: 4/4
Quiet

Acoustic Light: Scofield's Turn Inward

Scofield trades his electric sound for acoustic guitar, anchored by Swallow and Stewart, with Wayne Shorter's saxophone floating through.

Quiet stands apart in Scofield's catalog because of a single decision: to play only acoustic guitar. That choice shaped everything that happened in the studio. With Steve Swallow on bass and Bill Stewart on drums forming a working trio, Scofield brought in a horn section to arrange around the acoustic sound—a setup he'd tested before on Grace Under Pressure (1992), but refined here. Wayne Shorter appears across several tracks, his saxophone voice moving through compositions built for transparency rather than the electric density Scofield is known for. The acoustic guitar forces clarity. There's nowhere to hide in the tone, no effects to thicken the sound. Instead, the rhythm section has to breathe space into the music, and Swallow and Stewart do exactly that—responsive, listening hard to what Scofield is doing rather than pushing. The horn section, integrated into the writing from the start, doesn't overshadow; it complements. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded it a perfect 4/4, recognizing what Scofield had pulled off: a genuine departure that didn't feel like a gimmick. This isn't where to start with his work—that would be A Go Go (1998)—but it's worth hearing if you know his electric side. He returned to this trio-with-orchestration format years later on This Meets That (2007), suggesting the approach had staying power for him.

Who's playing
Roger Rosenbergbass clarinet
Steve Swallowbass
John Scofieldguitar
Howard Johnsonbaritone saxophone, tuba
Wayne Shortertenor saxophone
Randy Breckerflugelhorn, trumpet
Lawrence Feldmanflute
Charles Pillowalto flute
Bill Stewartdrums
Duduka da Fonsecadrums
John ClarkFrench horn
Listen next
By John Scofield
I Can See Your House From Here 1994
Wayne Shorter's own record
A Tribute to Miles 1994
Wayne Shorter plays tenor saxophone here
More Post-Bop
African Venus 1994
Dewey Redman
Recording Info
Track listing
1After the Fact5:28
2Tulle5:04
3Away With Words6:53
4Hold That Thought6:26
5Door #35:50
6Bedside Manner6:51
7Rolf and the Gang5:25
8But for Love5:41
9Away3:34
Musicians
Further Reading
Read more

Where next?

More by John Scofield
I Can See Your House From Here 1994
Flat Out 1989
Überjam Deux 2013
A Go Go 1998
All 40 albums →
The musicians on this record
A Tribute to Miles 1994
Wayne Shorter
plays tenor saxophone here
Deconstructed 1997
Steve Swallow
plays bass here
Amanda 1985
Randy Brecker
plays flugelhorn here
Their own records, close in time
More Post-Bop
African Venus 1994
Dewey Redman
Blue Light 'Til Dawn 1993
Cassandra Wilson
Friendly Fire 1999
Joe Lovano
Gratitude 2001
Chris Potter
All 222 Post-Bop artists →

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