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Undone mp3 Medeski, Martin, and Wood Radiolarians III
You know I’ve been listening to MMW for only about a year now, and from the moment they hit my ears, I’ve been craving the opportunity to hear all this jazz-rock wildness live. In most things, this tart gets her way. And Saturday night, as the crowd roared (absolutely roared!) their welcome, Medeski, Martin and Wood took the stage. It was all madness from there on out. I could give you my usual metaphors and flowery language, and frankly music like this deserves that, but the lasting impression of this show was just one of breathlessness. Even when they toned it all down and play slowly, giving drummer Billy Martin a moment to wipe the sweat from his face, I found myself all tensed up and excited still. The opening number must have lasted fifteen minutes, building and crashing and warming up the crowd. Did I already mention they were absolutely roaring? The House of Blues knows a thing or two about selling the bar. And the atmosphere was very party-hearty.
I climbed up to the upper balcony to catch a good stage view. It’s not easy being a shorty in a crowd like that, and luckily this venue is made for people like me. Peering down at the trio, I could trace how John Medeski (often labeled an octopus for his skill at handling so many keyboards in an elaborate setup) not only hit the keys but also the melodica, to my delight! You KNOW it’s gettin good when the melodica comes out. No, I cannot tell you the titles of anything they played, well…. I did hear quite a bit from the Radiolarian series, and therefore I know I heard some “Riffin Ed” and some “Flat Tires” as well as “Chantes Des Femmes” and so much more…
You must go over here and read Radio Free Chicago’s interview with Chris Wood, his bass playing was/is truly a masterpiece. When he switched to upright bass the audience went a little crazy, and I watched him carefully go from plucking to bowing to thumping and knocking and just abusing the hell outta that instrument in such a lovely manner. I have to admit, that was a highlight of the show for me.
Well, that and one other bit that perhaps only I appreciate because I’m just one of those quirky little people. The transitions between songs, the moments when the band has to accommodate someone changing out instruments, or taking a moment to catch a drink, or simply to just change up the pace, those transitions are flawless. After nearly 20 years playing together, MMW have perfected the art of easing from one song to the next and they do so in some unique little ways. At times Billy will reach over for a rattle or shaker or both. Or turn all the way round and tackle his metal disks with a small mallet. There were so many noise-makers on his table of goodies, and he used them all in various ways along with John and Chris to set the tone for the next piece. It was simply fascinating each time it happened and I found myself paying as much or more attention to this between-song or slow moment as I did to the fast, jazz flurry of truly inspired music that dominated the evening. And of course, there were the drum solos. I need to see them again, I’ll tell you more when I can stop shaking my head in amazement and disbelief and breathe more deeply. It was gorgeous, m’dears, xoxo
Their three record set is repackaged for holiday release with some real nice goodies, including live tracks that I’ve heard and that are truly beautifully, improvisational. Go directly to the band or to Amazon to check out Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set for that music lover you’re buying for this season.
Medeski Martin & Wood are bringing together the final pieces of a project begun way back in the spring of 2008. It is a project that resulted in: three albums, hundreds of performances in the US and Europe, two seasons of Camp MMW wherein music students of all sorts and from with all sorts of skills could participate in workshops with the trio, and now, finally a DVD feature film. Wow! If I was that productive in the past 18 months my wife would probably fall over in shock.
This box set is more than just the three albums and the movie, m’dears. It also gives you bonus tracks and 10 remixes by cool DJs who I don’t know at all but who you might (Dan The Automator, DJ Spooky, DJ Logic, DJ Olive, Scott Harding). It also of course includes vinyl, you knew it would, right? It’s a double vinyl LP of highlights from Radiolarians I, II, and III. Oh, and there’s a 70 min. live album in this box set as well. Geeze, what freaking great present this would be, and yes, I know I’m sounding like a commercial here, but honestly, this is great stuff. I was just at a party last night discussing Medeski, Martin & Wood with a jazz lover and saying how Radiolarians II was my introduction to jazz music. Really, I love these guys, they’re incredibly accessible for any rock n roll lover. The Radiolarian series is a wonderful stepping stone to more traditional jazz music. Or just stay right here with them, it’s a fine place to be. xoxo
Tour Dates
11.12.09 – Mass MoCA – North Adams, MA
11.13.09 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
11.14.09 – Nokia Theatre – New York, NY
11.15.09 – Westcott Theatre – Syracuse, NY
11.17.09 – Kent Stage – Kent, OH
11.18.09 – Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
11.19.09 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN
11.20.09 – The Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI
11.21.09 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL
Ah, Radiolarians III is about to hit us! I’ve been waiting. Ever since reviewing the second installment of this three part project, the taste of thumping, swisssshing, jazz has been on my lips. Medeski, Martin, & Wood are prepared to drop yet another dose of their magic on us Tuesday, and this one is rich and wonderfully made. I shocked myself listening to Radiolarians II – shocked with how accessible it was, how very prog-rocky it felt (!), how they made a strange place like jazz so comfortable for a girl like me.
Since early 2008, this trio has been focused on this project of turning the music business on it’s head. Writing, touring, then recording for each installment has meant that hours and hours have been spent with the tracks before their “authorized” form is recorded and released. This final record of the series, Radiolarians III reflects that process, as a whole, in that, as a record onto itself, it feels complete. It feels whole. It reeks of something akin to finality but without that lifeless quality we think of when we say “final.”
There is nothing lifeless about Radiolarians III. From it’s opening track, “Chantes Des Femmes,” stretching from electronic to traditional jazz riffs, to “Gwyra Mi,” a bass-heavy, syncopated affair (with a drum track that I really wish to see performed live), this record will easily make my short list for favorite albums of 2009. Each song plays off the other, but not necessarily in a way that demands they be heard in their order. The tingly piano beginnings of “Kota” are so achingly beautiful. While “Won Ton” is particularly reminiscent of what I expected jazz to be before I listened to it: fingers flying across the keyboard, drum rolls galore, and a repeating bass line to keep it all in place, ending with a crash. A smile spread across my face at the dramatic opening of “Broken Mirror,” waiting to see where they’d take it. Hoping for irony, I was disappointed in heavy organ-sounding keys and it wasn’t until a bit after the 2:00 minute mark that things began to unravel nicely, …but not enough, I’m afraid. It is the only track that I felt just wasn’t “young” enough. “Undone” shows just how creatively they can build layer after layer around an idea, making you wonder if the ending was there in their heads all along or if it just evolved and was cemented in time for us. Peppered throughout Radiolarians III are surprise changes and switchbacks, “Walk Back” startles me a bit in the middle, evening out again and then ending with that bit of heaviness that teased and surprised me. “Jean’s Scene” is so very close in sound to “Amber Gris” off of Radiolarians II but also so turned inside out that I love hearing them both, even right up next to one another. Yes, there is a definite theme, a riff running through this entire project and tracing how Medeski, Martin, & Wood weave that theme in and out of each track, in and out of each record is the task of the listener, … Tart stating the obvious, I know.
When listening to an album like this (nuanced – falling and rising in great big waves of sound with layers of drum and guitar and bass) I am convinced you have to imagine the difference between the sound of it in your speakers or headphones versus how it must sound in a concert hall. About a month after reviewing their second record of this series, I had the great pleasure of attending a show by the Marco Benevento trio. Now I’m not going to compare the two; that would be silly and pointless (and I do hope that all parties consider it a compliment to be thought of at the same time!) However, in my limited experience with jazz it is my only point of reference. And that experience, of hearing Marco play piano, bouncing off his wonderful drummer and bassist, in that great big room was honestly a highlight of my concert-going life. So now that I hear this album, Radiolarians III, I sit in awe of my imagination of what it must be to hear this as it is intended, … played, performed, given to you for your pleasure, and your appetite, in the flesh. To devour this record would be more than magic. It would be an exhilarating experience and one that I envy all of you who have or will have had it.
Tour Dates
09.11.09 – The Mann Center – Philadelphia, PA
09.12.09 – Boykin Ball – Acme, PA
09.13.09 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
09.15.09 – The Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
09.16.09 – Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN
09.17.09 – Workplay Theater – Birmingham, AL
09.18.09 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
09.19.09 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
09.20.09 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
10.02.09 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Oh, I’ve been looking forward to this record ever since I laid my ears on Radiolarians II! Medeski, Martin, and Wood recorded the newest installment of their Radiolarians project back in December ’08 and it’s ready for release in August 4. If you happened to miss the previous two records don’t fret. Radiolarians III promises to be the “strongest and most cohesive” of the series. I’ve never before really immersed myself in Jazz, always thinking I had to really invest time and energy to “get it.” And when this group came across my radar screen with a request for review I tentatively said yes. What followed was really a labor of love. The first two albums, with their brilliant blending of jazz and rock, completely won me over. I can’t wait to hear the final part of their creation, I’ll let you know as soon as I get it. In the meantime, Undone gives us a nice teaser, eh?
Tour Dates
07.03.09 - Liburnia Jazz Festival – OPATIJE
07.04.09 – Cankarjev Dom, Cultural & Congress Center – LJUBLJANA
07.05.09 – Treibhaus – Innsbruck
07.07.09 – Kulturetage GmbHg – Oldenburg
07.08.09 – Barbican Hall – London
07.09.09 – Teatro de Galapagar – Galapagar
07.10.09 – Parque de Valdevira – Jaen
07.12.09 – Teatro Romano di Fiesole – Fiesole
07.13.09 – Old Town Square – Prague
09.11.09 – The Mann Center – Philadelphia, PA
09.12.09 – Boykin Ball – Acme, PA
09.13.09 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
09.15.09 – The Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
09.16.09 – Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN
09.17.09 – Workplay Theater – Birmingham, AL
09.18.09 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
09.19.09 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC
09.20.09 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
10.02.09 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
I used to think that any description of music that had the word “jazz” in it was pretentious and therefore soulless. Yeah, sometimes I’m that harsh a critic! Aside from my undying love for Vince Guaraldi’s Peanut’s Christmas music, I’m a complete ignoramous when it comes to Jazz. But, I gave this a shot. The teaser I posted on Friday was really good, wasn’t it? Well, I spent the rest of the weekend soaking up Radiolarians II and it was glorious!
If you know anything about Medeski, Martin, & Wood, you know they’ve turned the whole concept of what it is to make an album on its head. They wrote, they toured and performed, and then they recorded. What resulted on Radiolarians I was a feeling of being at a jam session, the organic creativity of music shone through. It’s not only duplicated on their new release, it’s superseded.
From the first chords of the first track, I was hooked. Bass heavy, noisy, a little prog-rockish, and some full on, earthiness that you can feel when you’re standing up close to the amp. Well, you know how I am about bass players! There’s a reason, darlin’s …. they feel that tone, you feel that tone… it’s powerful stuff. Track 1, “Flat Tires” wanders off into some piano riffs and swishy drum bits and finishes on a full speed ahead big finish. I was wowed. The rest of the album woos you, takes you in, and you barely notice the intent of it. Radiolarians II feels like that exciting stranger you meet on vacation. He’s just foreign enough to be intriguing, but not enough to be creepy. And you know it won’t last long so you’d better make the most of it, if you know what I mean. Yeah, I’ve been wooed by an Englishman or a Scot like this (mostly Glaswegians I must admit), they’re slick and they make you feel smart and oh so attractive, even after it’s over.You don’t regret a minute of it.
By the time track 3 came along, “Padrecito” I was totally into the piano riffs. I felt so very pleased that I wasn’t hating it, that I actually felt the swell and fall of it as it builds and burns and fades into nothingness. There is nothing soulless about this album. I kept finding new bits to hear, the noise/sound effects in “ijiji” (oh forgive me if there’s a technical term for those), the amazing drumming throughout but especially in “Chasen vs Suribachi,” the cello (?) in “Dollar Pants” and that gorgeous bass drum in “Amish Pintxos.” By track 10, “Baby Let Me Follow You Down,” I was basking in the afterglow. There are albums I listen to intently to review because I want to dissect them and enjoy them more, and then there are albums I listen to intently because I want to dissect them and enjoy them and I know I’ll listen to them again and again. Radiolarians II is that exciting stranger that I want to meet over and over.
Hop back over to this post to hear “Amber Gris” again, xoxo
Official website ….. MySpace ….. Camp MMWMedeski Martin &Wood are also gearing up to host their Camp MMW again this summer. Applications are currently being accepted for the second annual Camp MMW, to take place August 4 – 9, 2009 at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. All types of musicians are encouraged to apply. Camp MMW is an incredible opportunity for musicians of varying levels and ages, to live and study with MMW in the Catskill Mountains. Campers will gather together for five days of intensive workshops and seminars, deep listening, musical exploration, and improvisation.
Ok, ok, ok, I get it! New music is just flowing out of the ether, guys! Hungry Villagers, Medeski Martin & Wood, Pete Doherty, and Children (of all things!), all have new, awesome albums out and tours coming your way. Here’s a round up, apologies for not being able to devote a whole page to each of these deserving bands (the Tart is job hunting, grrrr)… but if/when they come through Chi-town, you know I’ll give you the low-down on the show!
Hungry Villagers have such an achingly good sound. Did you get to see them at SXSW? I so wish I could have! I’m slightly reminded of early REM here, on this song, but you know, better. Three brothers and a friend make up this band, Jacob, Abraham and David Houck plus Ferrik Hallaron IV, and the vocals are deep, rich, just really earthy and hollow in a tonally pleasant way. What could be a real dragging, depressing sound is lifted up by gorgeous jangly guitar work that would please any Brit-pop fan or 90′s American rock hanger-on like me Don’t let me fool you, they sound up to date as well, go to their MySpace page to hear four more songs. And Houston, they’re playing for you twice tomorrow!
Medeski, Martin & Wood, I must confess are new to me, but that’s only because I’ve not made myself familiar with the jazz and rock fusion genre since the days of Steely Dan. And it’s to my detriment! There will be a full album review of this release coming very soon to this page, so I’ll not go into this in detail now. But suffice it to say, this is turning me on something fierce! It is simply gorgeous. Go hear it now. Don’t blame me if you end up wooing your sweetie to this tonight over a glass of wine and some candlelight. There will be some cheek to cheek dancing involved and not those cheeks, the other ones
Amber Gris mp3Medeski, Martin & WoodRadiolarians II (due out April 14th) …. preorder it!
Medeski, Martin & Wood Shows
04.17.09 – Smith Opera House – Geneva, NY
04.18.09 – B-Side Jazz Fest – Minneapolis, MN
04.19.09 – Loyal Earth Festival – St. Louis, MO
04.23.09 – Congress Hall – Warsaw, Poland
05.01.09 – Beale Street Music Festival – Memphis, TN
05.02.09 – The Studio at Colton Theater – New Orleans, LA
05.23.09 – Summer Camp – Chillicothe, IL
06.04.09 – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – Richmond, VA
06.06.09 – 3 Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh, PA
Pete Doherty needs no introduction, surely?But if you’re thinking, “oh no… not him again” just go peek at this song. You might be surprised to find you’re liking it. Always lyrically interesting, it will be fascinating to see where he goes off on his own, no? He’s playing at Troxy tomorrow in London, if you’re around.
You can download an mp3 of “New Love Grows On Trees” by entering your email addy on his site here. Have a listen to him at his MySpace there’s links there to Amazon and itunes to buy the album, darlings.
Now don’t get whiplash here, luvs… but Children is kinda cool if you’re into thrash metal, which I have to admit I get a hankering for sometimes! This is perhaps vocally not exactly what I’m always looking for, but it’s not exactly all growly, there’s some singing in it and I really like that! The guitar work is extreme… great, fast, and hard. How can a tramp like me not like this shit? Ok, and here’s the super cool part; to be released in tandem with the album, pro-skater Ethan Fowler’s Bummer High Skateboards will produce a limited edition, numbered skate deck with Children (to be sold in skate shops, online and at future shows). The deck reflects the cover artwork of Hard Times Hangin’…, done by Kim Krans. Each deck will include a download card on the hang tag where buyers will receive a free download of the album and options to buy other Children merchandise at discount. You know these metal folk know how to merchandise!
Power Spirit mp3ChildrenHard Times Hangin’ At The End Of The World (due out May 12th) ….. go to their MySpace for tour info, etc…
That’s not all darlin’s, I’m cooking up an awesome contest for you! I’ve got some vinyl… and even though I don’t wanna, I’m giving it all away, xx
You know I’ve been listening to MMW for only about a year now, and from the moment they hit my ears, I’ve been craving the opportunity to hear all this jazz-rock wildness live. In most things, this tart gets her way. And Saturday night, as the crowd roared (absolutely roared!) their welcome, Medeski, Martin and Wood took the stage. It was all madness from there on out. I could give you my usual metaphors and flowery language, and frankly music like this deserves that, but the lasting impression of this show was just one of breathlessness. Even when they toned it all down and play slowly, giving drummer Billy Martin a moment to wipe the sweat from his face, I found myself all tensed up and excited still. The opening number must have lasted fifteen minutes, building and crashing and warming up the crowd. Did I already mention they were absolutely roaring? The House of Blues knows a thing or two about selling the bar. And the atmosphere was very party-hearty.
I used to think that any description of music that had the word “jazz” in it was pretentious and therefore soulless. Yeah, sometimes I’m that harsh a critic! Aside from my undying love for Vince Guaraldi’s Peanut’s Christmas music, I’m a complete ignoramous when it comes to Jazz. But, I gave this a shot. The teaser I posted on Friday was really good, wasn’t it? Well, I spent the rest of the weekend soaking up Radiolarians II and it was glorious!
Don’t let me fool you, they sound up to date as well, go to their 
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Pete Doherty
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