Lalo Schifrin:the Legendary Paris Concert

With a career that spans over three decades, John Hammond is one of handful of white blues musicians who was on the scene at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-'60s. That revival, brought on by renewed interest in folk music around the U.S., brought about career boosts for many of the great classic blues players, including Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, and Skip James.

Active during a period of jazz history when it seemed radical innovation was a thing of the past, Joe Lovano nevertheless coalesced various stylistic elements from disparate eras into a personal and forward-seeking style. While not an innovator in a macro sense, Lovano has unquestionably charted his own path. His playing contains not an ounce of glibness, but possesses in abundance the sense of spontaneity that has always characterized the music's finest improvisers. Lovano doesn't adopt influences – he absorbs them – so that when playing a standard, he exudes the same sense of abandon as when playing totally free (which, it should be pointed out, he does well, if infrequently).

John Scofield is considered one of the most important and influential jazz guitarists and composers since he arrived on the scene in the mid seventies. A masterful improviser at the peak of his creative art, Scofield revisits today compositions & interpretations richly combining post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R&B influences. The New Morning is deeply honored to welcome this 2010 performance by John Scofield (backed by master drummer Bill Stewart, bassist Ben Street and pianist Michael Eckroth) to its series of DVDs dedicated to the great musicians of the Sons of Miles generation. A veteran alum, John toured & recorded with Miles for nearly four years in the eighties.

The 2001 get together of these two masters at their creative peak was an unforgettable experience fuelled by mutual love and respect, freedom of inspiration and the sheer pleasure of playing. Could there be a better reminder that blues and rock find the main source of their energy in the complicity between musicians? Before you shove the disc into the player, a bit of friendly advice: fasten your seat-belts!