“ Falling Grace” and John Scofield (112)

“Falling Grace,” composed by Steve Swallow and first recorded by Gary Burton in 1966, is a structurally modern jazz standard built on lyrical melody and elegant, bass-directed harmony. Its unusual 14-bar A and 10-bar B form is unified by sustained opening tones, recurring triplet figures, and carefully balanced chord tones and extensions. The harmony is defined by half-step bass motion, slash chords placing 3rds and 7ths in the bass, and fluid cycle-of-fourths movement, giving the tune a floating yet logical quality. John Scofield brings a unique authority to the piece. Born in 1951 and educated at Berklee, Scofield emerged in the 1970s and gained international prominence during his tenure with Miles Davis (1982–85), where his blues-inflected tone and rhythmic bite helped shape Miles’s electric comeback era. Over five decades, Scofield has bridged post-bop, funk, fusion, and roots music, influencing generations of guitarists with his gritty sound, elastic phrasing, and harmonic daring. On Swallow Tales (2020), his interpretation honors the tune’s lyricism while highlighting his gift for motivic development and deep harmonic awareness, reaffirming his lasting impact on modern jazz guitar.

Gary Burton

John Scofield

The Jazz RealBook Playlist Vol.2

Thelonious Monk -Underground

Released May 1968

Released in May 1968 on Columbia Records and produced by Teo Macero, Underground captures Monk with his longtime quartet: Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone), Larry Gales (bass), and Ben Riley (drums), plus a vocal cameo from Jon Hendricks on “In Walked Bud.” The record balances new compositions like “Green Chimneys” and “Boo Boo’s Birthday” with revisited Monk staples, all delivered with the group’s seasoned interplay and elastic swing.

Though jazz was competing with rock’s cultural dominance, Monk remained uncompromising—angular melodies, dissonant harmonies, abrupt silences, and percussive attack intact. The Grammy-winning cover, depicting Monk as a member of the French Resistance, symbolized both defiance and individuality. Artistically rather than commercially driven, Underground closes a defining chapter in Monk’s Columbia era and reaffirms his singular place in modern jazz. (S5-Ep7)

Björn Meyer is a Swedish six-string bassist and composer born in Stockholm in 1965, known for his expansive approach to the electric bass across jazz, ambient, and world music contexts. After early studies in piano and trumpet—and even playing guitar in punk bands—he turned to bass at 18, becoming a professional musician in 1989 before relocating to Switzerland in 1996. Meyer has collaborated widely, including long associations with Anouar Brahem and Nik Bärtsch’s RONIN, and released his acclaimed ECM solo debut Provenance in 2017. His 2026 ECM release Convergence continues his sonic exploration, captured through meticulous, detail-oriented recording. The album showcases his richly resonant six-string bass, subtle electronics, and spacious production aesthetic, highlighting remarkable clarity, depth, and tonal nuance.

Björn Meyer- Convergence