Überjam Deux / Uberjam Deux

After a decade-long stretch where he recorded tributes to Ray Charles and gospel, collaborated with Medeski Martin & Wood, and led various small conventional jazz combos, guitarist John Scofield returns to Uberjam to do a third album. Scofield is particularly known for his groove-based brand of jazz, but Uberjam (along with his work with MMW, whose John Medeski guests here) finds the guitarist firmly in jam-band territory. Rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick pushes that agenda by playing chords and vamps or picking African and funk-based riffs. His sampler and keyboard work brings the band into the electronic side of that scene (particularly on “Endless Summer” and “Cracked Ice”). The aptly named “Dub Dub,” on the other hand, finds the band in reggae territory, anchored by bassist Andy Hess; drummer Adam Deitch also stands out as he lays down some tasty fills. The album's lone cover song, The Main Ingredient’s “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” ups the R&B quotient, and certainly no one will complain about the soulful “Al Green Song.”