All that (good) jazz

Got these two recently.

• John Scofield: Combo 66. Sco is back & his masterstrokes are all over. New for this release, the inclusion of pianist Gerald Clayton. Sco is jazz but his approach is highly unformulated & entertaining. If you can't muster the discipline to sit through a serious but offbeat take on the genre, this might be the time to try.
• Alex Skolnick Trio: Conundrum. It's definitely not the metal Alex Skolnick plying his shred stuff in a trio format, so be warned. Like Sco, this is a lesson in skills & mastery, nothing too extravagant to warrant an individual acclaim by any of the members. Why jazz? Alex Scolnick is a schooled jazzer, it's as simple as that. I might be wrong but hearing what's on offer, Skolnick is stretching a hollow body for most numbers. Great release for me, personally.