Track Listing

1. Lover
2. Paper Bass
3. House Mop
4. Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)
5. Baby Clams
6. We're So Happy
7. Shack
8. Tea
9. Chinoiserie
10. Between Two Lines
11. Sequel
12. Friday Afternoon in the Universe
13. Billy's Tool Box
14. Chubb Sub
15. Khob Khun Krub (Thai for "Thank You")

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85059 in Music
• Released on: 1995-01-24
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
They may attract Sufi-dancing Deadheads to their rock-club shows and they may have connections to lower Manhattan's art-music scene, but when you get right down to it, Medeski Martin & Wood are just a jazz organ trio. Organist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood don't work a whole lot differently from the old Jimmy Smith Trio; they get a good groove going, add a catchy hook and then improvise changes on both the rhythm and the melody. They may take more liberties than Smith ever has, but that familiar combination of a thick organ sound and funky drum patterns is still the core. The third Medeski Martin & Wood album, Friday Afternoon in the Universe, is the best reflection yet of the trio's live show, for 13 of the 15 tracks feature no guests, just the interaction among the three principals. And that interaction has been honed by three years of extensive roadwork into a genuine give-and-take. There's no parade of disconnected solos here, no fast, flashy playing for its own sake; the three players move as one through impressionistic, atmospheric patches into driving funk grooves and then off onto spacey tangents. Medeski plays some piano and synthesizer, but everything he plays has the thickened textures associated with a B-3 organ--thick enough to make three pieces more than sufficient. --Geoffrey Himes

From the Label
For its latest release, Medeski, Martin & Wood repaired to a hideaway on the island of Hawaii and jammed its way into an album worth of material with a characteristic blend of keyboard textures, heavy funk and a penchant for the sonic frontier. A harder-hitting effort than the previous Gramavision release, with less reliance on supporting guests, this provides the best approximation of MM&W's wildly popular live sets.

Customer Reviews

MMW's Best?
This, this! This is my favorite trio recording in my life so far. A while ago I claimed that The Dropper was a better album, but months later I can confidently say that this is the priceless MMw recording. Even if you prefer the accoustic MMW, this is such an emotional recording that just wont let you down. It's a perfect fusion of the new and old. On one hand you have Billy MArtin who really at this point, stepped into that on-the-one hip-hop sound, but then you have John Medeski really running with it. You'll hear such moody, united rythym that breaks right out of tangents to follow straight, hard, funk grooves or drum and bass jams. I love the play between the members (loose--> Tight). The focus of the album is that: loose tangents and avant-garde, dark sounds bursting into tight grooves. Some of the sounds are so touching they'll make you want to cry. John Medeski's reverb piano solo in "Last Chance to Dance Trance" makes me feel like I'm waltzing at a royal ball with the most beautiful woman ever touched. "Chinoiserie" has a loose jazz sound until the trio snaps into a united climax and Billy Martin takes a solo on drums. Fans of trio's, the ultimate setting for quality musicians, will immeaditely see the beauty in this recording. missing it would be a real goddamn shame. This is a testiment to the beauty of the Jamband scene. Brilliant!

I can't believe it
I consider myself a music lover...fanatic would be a much better word. It embarrasses me that I did not learn of MMW sooner. Last Chance to Dance Trance is one of the sexiest songs I have ever heard. This groop can groove and blend unlike anyone I have ever listened to. This album is one of their best if not the best. Martin and Wood can shape the music into fantastic new directions that never cease to offer new perspecives. Like I said, LCTDT is mind-blowing music and Chinoiserie is another magical feat...I just can't get enough. MMW...DON'T EVER BREAK UP...THIS IS TOO GOOD

Thick, thick, thick, thick really good stuff!
Imagine the strongest jazz rhythm section you can (bass, drums, keys), get rid of all the superfluous stuff that usually hides them (vocals, guitars, and light shows), and then let 'em get nice and funky. MMW are only about advancing their groove, with an egoless melding that baffles the mind. Each of the plays so loosely, yet together they offer something that's incredibly well structured.

This release is really good stuff - "Chubb Sub" especially - and is the release that got MMW's name out of NYC and into the many converstations nationwide. However, your interests might be inclined toward one of their other realeases. For example, _It's a Jungle in Here_ is a bit funkier, _Tonic_ is quite a bit more mellow, and _Notes from the Underground_ is a bit more convenitonal.