John Scofield Trio Feat Chris Potter Aarhus 2005 -

Critics at the time noted that Potter almost stole the show. But that misses the point. Scofield has always been a generous bandleader. He doesn’t want sidemen; he wants partners . In Aarhus, he found one in Chris Potter.

Bill Stewart, meanwhile, is a drummer’s drummer. He doesn't bash; he converses . His cymbal work during Potter’s solo on was a marvel of controlled chaos—rustling, splashing, and snapping, pushing the saxophonist into a frenzy before pulling back for a whisper. The Highlight: "Scrapple from the Apple" The surprise of the night was a radical deconstruction of Charlie Parker’s bebop anthem "Scrapple from the Apple." Scofield took the head at a broken, slinky tempo, playing the melody as if he were a blues guitarist who’d accidentally wandered into a jazz club. When Potter entered, he played the changes straight for exactly eight bars—then detonated. John Scofield Trio feat Chris Potter Aarhus 2005

From the first downbeat of the opener—a blistering take on (from Überjam Deux )—it was clear this wasn’t a polite guitar-and-sax duet. Critics at the time noted that Potter almost stole the show