Memories of Home: Scofield & Holland’s First Duo Album

Guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland — two of modern jazz’s most expressive and distinctive voices — have crossed paths for decades, sharing bandstands with legends like Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, and Miles Davis. They even co-led the spirited ScoLoHoFo quartet with Joe Lovano and Al Foster. But Memories of Home marks a first: their debut album as a duo.

Scofield recalls that the idea had been simmering for years. A planned tour was canceled in 2020, but when they finally hit the road in late 2021, the chemistry was undeniable. A second tour in 2024 sealed the deal. The album, like the shows, blends new and older compositions from both musicians — a reflection of the decades of shared musical references that make their interplay so rich. “The similarities and differences in our approaches make for a more interesting collaboration,” Scofield says.

It’s hard to talk about either artist without invoking Miles Davis, and fittingly, Miles’ influence threads through Memories of Home. The album opens with Scofield’s “Icons at the Fair,” inspired partly by Herbie Hancock’s arrangement of “Scarborough Fair” (on The New Standard, where both Scofield and Holland played) and partly by a subtle nod to a Miles-style trumpet line. Holland’s “Mr B,” a blues-infused tribute to his bass hero Ray Brown, swings with joy and ease, while “Not for Nothin’” and “You I Love” revisit gems from Holland’s early ECM days.

The title track, “Memories of Home,” resurrects a Holland tune from a 1980s session with progressive bluegrass greats Vassar Clements and John Hartford — a perfect canvas for Scofield to lean into the folky, country-inflected side of his playing. Elsewhere, Scofield classics like “Meant to Be” and the tender “Easy for You” showcase both musicians’ gift for nuance and emotional depth.

Scofield’s recent ECM work has ranged from the expansive, improvisation-rich Uncle John’s Band to his autobiographical 2021 solo album and the trio exploration Swallow Tales. Holland’s ECM legacy is even broader, spanning collaborations with Anouar Brahem, Chick Corea, Barry Altschul, Barre Phillips, and his own groundbreaking ensembles that introduced players like Steve Coleman and Chris Potter to wider audiences. His What Goes Around with the Dave Holland Big Band earned a Grammy in 2003.

Recorded at NRS Studios in Catskill, New York, in August 2024, Memories of Home distills two lifetimes of musical exploration into a warm, intimate, and deeply conversational set.

John Scofield / Dave Holland – Memories of Home
ECM · Release Date: November 21, 2025