John Scofield rocked the Club Majestic last night, a steamy, barn-like converted ballroom on Woodward in Detroit. The place was packed -- perhaps 400 or so, and not one of them could sit still once the band started. I love the insistent funk of Scofield's music, propelled by drummer Bill Stewart, keyboardist Larry Goldings and bassist Steve Logan and capped off by Scofield's range of distortions and effects. Even his acoustic guitar playing has a heavy punch.

They played several tunes from "A Go Go", which was done with Medeski,Martin & Wood, but his regular band is at least as good. I especially like Bill Stewart, who provides your basic funk foundation and adds all kinds of accents and colorations. Very fresh and creative. And Goldings fits in perfectly, sometimes meshing so completely with Scofield's lines it's hard to tell what's the guitar and what's the keyboard. A very together band in a deep hard groove.

It was the perfect remedy for a series of storms that ripped through these parts. Fortunately no damage at our house, but we have almost no electricity. Just enough for a dim bulb (the Gerald Ford style of lighting). Some big trees went down on our block, one through the roof of a house four doors away. Yikes.