Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Rather than contempt, familiarity breeds a comfortable groove on Swallow Tales, a shared vision for a group of notable tunes written by the venerable bass veteran Steve Swallow. This straight-ahead conversation between old friends and musical partners was recorded in a brief four hours; the result is a flavorful snapshot of a long and fruitful relationship now over 40 years old between guitarist John Scofield and his mentor Swallow. The pair is accompanied by Scofield's go-to drummer, the versatile Bill Stewart, whom the guitarist has played with in a number of different musical contexts.
Energized by the easy charm of musical instinct, this session opens with one of Swallow's most beautiful ballads, "She Was Young," before shifting to "Falling Grace," where Stewart's natural and infallible rhythms support Swallow who sweeps into his signature broken time bass style. Scofield stretches out and shows his sense of invention and flair for concise solos in a fast take "Portsmouth Figurations," a tune he first heard on one of his earliest album influences, Gary Burton's Duster.
The most famous number "Eiderdown," (also the first tune Swallow ever wrote and has been covered by the likes of Chick Corea, Bill Evans and Phil Woods), receives a spirited run through with Scofield, who says he once struggled to master these changes. He deftly travels up and down the guitar neck, preferring high notes, while Stewart takes an orderly, articulate solo. Another oft-recorded tune, the waltzy "Hullo Bolinas," is taken at a brisk pace while the bassist's playful borrowing from Cole Porter—"In F"—also features another measured, tasteful solo from Stewart. A reunion more interested in bringing fresh insights to well-known repertoire than pushing envelopes, Swallow Tales is the sound of masters at work. © Robert Baird/Qobuz
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, Composer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
John Scofield, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Swallow, Composer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Christoph Stickel, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Stewart, Drums, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Manfred Eicher, Producer - Tyler McDiarmid, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
Album review
Rather than contempt, familiarity breeds a comfortable groove on Swallow Tales, a shared vision for a group of notable tunes written by the venerable bass veteran Steve Swallow. This straight-ahead conversation between old friends and musical partners was recorded in a brief four hours; the result is a flavorful snapshot of a long and fruitful relationship now over 40 years old between guitarist John Scofield and his mentor Swallow. The pair is accompanied by Scofield's go-to drummer, the versatile Bill Stewart, whom the guitarist has played with in a number of different musical contexts.
Energized by the easy charm of musical instinct, this session opens with one of Swallow's most beautiful ballads, "She Was Young," before shifting to "Falling Grace," where Stewart's natural and infallible rhythms support Swallow who sweeps into his signature broken time bass style. Scofield stretches out and shows his sense of invention and flair for concise solos in a fast take "Portsmouth Figurations," a tune he first heard on one of his earliest album influences, Gary Burton's Duster.
The most famous number "Eiderdown," (also the first tune Swallow ever wrote and has been covered by the likes of Chick Corea, Bill Evans and Phil Woods), receives a spirited run through with Scofield, who says he once struggled to master these changes. He deftly travels up and down the guitar neck, preferring high notes, while Stewart takes an orderly, articulate solo. Another oft-recorded tune, the waltzy "Hullo Bolinas," is taken at a brisk pace while the bassist's playful borrowing from Cole Porter—"In F"—also features another measured, tasteful solo from Stewart. A reunion more interested in bringing fresh insights to well-known repertoire than pushing envelopes, Swallow Tales is the sound of masters at work. © Robert Baird/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:50
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: John Scofield Steve Swallow Bill Stewart
- Composer: Steve Swallow
- Label: ECM
- Genre: Jazz
© 2020 ECM Records GmbH ℗ 2020 ECM Records GmbH
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.