Previously recorded outings by Scofield have found him performing in elaborate settings. His works range from the plugged-in, electronically tweaked jamming of his last Verve release, Up All Night, to the full orchestral setting of the recent Scorched, a collaboration with British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage issued earlier this year on the venerable classical imprint, Deutsche Grammophon. But for EnRoute, Scofield wanted to focus on the high-wire interaction of a small, closely knit band in the heat of a live setting. He arrived at the Blue Note armed only with his trusty guitar, amp and whammy pedal, and left his more elaborate electronic gear at home.
"I wanted to make a real jazz-improvising statement in a live situation with two of my favorite musicians," Scofield says. "It’s really challenging. You don’t rely on arrangements as much as on the way the group plays together. You don’t rely on anything other than good playing, and you know there’s no lifejacket or safety net involved. That doesn’t happen as often in a studio setting: I think the big difference is the audience. There is a symbiotic affinity between the artists and the audience that makes for something special."
