My review of Gov't Mule featuring John Scofield's Sco-Mule, today at All About Jazz.

Since the news came out that Gov't Mule--the power trio that began as a part-time side project for then-Allman Brothers Band guitarist/singer Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody but which, along with drummer Matt Abts, was so well-received that the southern-roots jam band ultimately took on an unexpected life of its own--was finally releasing Sco-Mule, a collaboration with broad-minded jazz guitarist John Scofield, there's been plenty of speculation and anticipation. Now that the live recording--first held up and then shelved after the harrowing tragedy of Woody's still-unexplained death six months after the group's third studio album, Life Before Insanity, was released in February, 2000--is finally here as part of Mule's ambitious release and gig schedule to celebrate two decades together, there are only two words that truly apply:

Who knew?

There are so many surprises on this two-disc (three if you're one of the people who pre-ordered the release directly from the group), two and a half-hour all-instrumental extravaganza that it's hard to know where to begin.

First, the more-or-less easy part: Scofield had, by this time, already begun building a new fan base in the jam band community with A Go Go (Verve, 1998), the first of what has since become a number of ongoing collaborations with germinal jazz jam band Medeski, Martin & Wood. Pairing with Mule was a perfect fit; Scofield's blues and soul-drenched version of jazz guitar had separated him from the pack almost from the beginning of his career, when he released the still seminal Live (Enja, 1977), an incendiary date with pianist Richie Beirach, bassist George Mraz and drummer Joe LaBarbera.

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