John Scofield has completed A Moment’s Peace, his first album since 2009’s Gospel influenced Piety Street. For this album, Scofield found inspiration from legendary ballad artists such as Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone. The record finds Scofield, pianist/organ player Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones, Walter Becker), bassist Scott Colley (Jim Hall, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny) and drummer Brian Blade (Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan) working their way through five new originals as well as a cover of The Beatles “I Will” and Carla Bley’s “Lawns.”

A Moment’s Peace also marks the first time Scofield and Brian Blade have recorded in a studio together. Colley played in Scofield’s touring group in the early 90s while pianist Goldings appeared on Hand Jive, Groove Elation and That’s What I Say.

“It’s an album of slow, gentle music,” says Scofield, “But at the same time we didn’t want it to be easy listening. We tried to really play on all the tunes. For me, no matter what kind of music, it’s really important that it be fresh and that we’re really playing something. The creativity, when accompanying or soloing, has to be there.” The album will be officially released through EmArcy Records on September 27.