Blog Archives
FAITU#57
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE
(FAITU#57)
2001-05-05
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MMW poster 2001-05-05
Source info:
2001-05-05.fob.neumann-ak40.4544.t-flac16
– ONE SET (tracks 1-15) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE (FAITU#51)
This gig is a MUST HAVE for anyone dipping into MMW or hardcore fans alike. It has a wild section from the trio to start the set, with (another) guest spot by their bus driver Dom wailing on trumpet for Felic, but then it’s Michael Ray, Mark McGrain, Roger Lewis & Clarence Johnson III that send things out there … when Michael Ray’s involved in the horn section, there always seems to be extra fun … and the jam that comes out of 3rd Stone just sounded like they’re riffing off the I Wanna Be Like You groove without actually playing the song, really … anyway, GREAT GROOVES in here for a spring Friday Afternoon In The Universe!
enjoy the grooves,
dug
THE SHACK STREAM
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD ANOTHER SHOW!
FAITU#52+#53+#54+#55+#56
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE
(FAITU#52 & #53 & #54 & #55 & #56)
2001-04-20
2002-04-20
2004-04-20
2005-04-20
2013-04-20
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2001-04-20
MMW c.2001
Source info:
2001-04-20.neumann-u89.117619.t-flac16
– ONE SET (tracks 1-23) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
Another opening slot with The Dropper, but this time the band basically jumps right into the tune and WE ARE ROLLING! Cool little Shack out of there and we move into *yet another* kick ass single spring set show! Super fun Acoustic Intro > Chubb Sub too …
enjoy the grooves,
dug
2002-04-20
MMW c.2002
Source info:
2002-04-20.schoeps641.9521.t-flac16
– SET I (tracks 1-7) –
– SET II (tracks 8-15) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
Speak of the devil! Take Me Nowhere pops up here … Lifeblood, again cool with an extended outro of sorts … Creole > Felic might be the highlight of the show for me … well, the Moti Mo to close is in competition but not quite … Nocturnal Transmission is a wicked tune! And the move into Where’s Sly? is wacked! HA!
Can’t speak to Dan the Automator additions to the show too much … I’m just not a DJ guy … I simply can’t recall one way or the other at the moment …
enjoy the grooves,
dug
2004-04-20
Wood & Martin 2004-05-28 @Harmony Park Music Garden, Geneva, MN
Source info:
2004-04-20.fob.dpa4023.23966.t-flac16
– SET I (tracks 1-11) –
– SET II (tracks 12-27) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
Standing out as one of the most incredible run of shows MMW has ever played, these April 2004 gigs of 100% improvisation exhibit the band at the height of their SHACK skills, pulling endless melodies and grooves out of thin air, along with the usual visits to more out-there/open space.
Each night encores with a tune intended for release on End Of the World Party (Just In Case) later in 2004 — Whiney Bitches never made it to the US release, but I think was on the Japanese release, and was later found on the Note Bleu-Best of the Blue Note Years 1998-2005 compilation disc.
All that to say: Dig into these gigs of pure musical exploration … you won’t be disappointed.
enjoy the grooves,
dug
2005-04-20
MMW @The Staircase, Scranton, PA 2005-05-13
Source info:
2005-04-20.akg463.29083.t-flac16
– SET I (tracks 1-5) –
– SET II (tracks 6-13) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
The show opens in fine form with lots of exploration solidifying in a tweaked-out groove — Medeski’s keys are wild! We move through 2 incredible improvisations in the first 30min — you have to listen to these guys constructing these pieces on the fly, it’s unreal, boiling down to Chris letting loose on a Bass Solo before illyB joins back in and the two groove out and play around for a few minutes before landing into Hegaz — this is an incredible tune the guys played throughout April ’05 thanks to Brahim Fribgane bringing over this Club D’Elf tune during his sit-in @Tonic in NYC the previous March. Thought it might be the Zorn tune Ziphim for a while, but it’s a D’Elf tune, I believe written by Brahim. John sticks on piano throughout for this one which is real nice — each version of this tune is worth checking out for what the band does over the course of its brief inclusion in the live repertoire. Curtis is a hard groove resolving to the soothing wackiness of ITAHTLMJ to close the set, a tune benefiting nicely from Medeski’s ’05 key sounds.
2nd set gets going with a solid (as always) EOTWP (love that bowed bass!), with a HUGE Reflector close on its heels containing a Drum Solo which is fairly common for the tune but not a given, so I like to note it, and this jams into the nice combo of New Planet > The Lover, leading to a Bass Improv Outro that takes us to the slink of Sasa. The quietness of Everyday People follows (ya know, I honestly hardly recognize this cover!), and Queen Bee (a common closer) rocks us out to end with the cries of Whiney Bitches — what a pairing to wrap-up the set! Every version of Whiney Bitches is worth hearing as well …
Who The Fuck? is a short but VERY sweet encore — FRICKIN’ LOVE THIS PJ Harvey tune! Never listened to the original because I’m afraid how much it might ruin my love for MMW’s version … it rocks SO HARD!
enjoy the grooves,
dug
2013-04-20
Wood @Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, Davis, CA 2013-04-20
Source info:
2013-04-20.neumann-km140.124444.t-flac16
– SET I (tracks 1-6) –
– SET II (tracks 7-12) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
An electric gig drops on 4/20 in the midst of an acoustic run …
– SET I –
Some mildly piercing tweaks of feedback-like noise begin our journey through this 4/20 excursion, I believe the sounds are coming from Chris bowing below his bridge on the stand-up — it makes that kinda uncomfortable sounds. John is filling in some atmospheric sounds while Billy tinkers with some percussive injections. This open space is sifted and mined for groove until just after 5min or so the band allows the groove to emerge — Chris has already been building up the bassline, but @5:20 of track #2 John hits a mild riff and things evolve smoothly from there … this feels nice and welcoming even with its haunted edge. The last couple of minutes of the track sees the band developing what sounds like the beginning of an entirely new piece but it only lasts a couple of minutes … could really just be the outro from the previous improvisation, but I’ve noted it separately and it actually chills down to a very brief skittering from illyB on the kit before we reach silence.
Martin @Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, Davis, CA 2013-04-20
The next track picks up the energy a bit with an illyBeat kicking hard before John chimes in with a nice and funky Clav riff followed by some nasty slide work from Chris on his electric — and we’re suddenly in a much funkier territory that’s almost feels scary to follow but also so nice. The organ comes in with a complimentary/contrasting riff to the Clavinet and this is a FUNKY TUNE, folks! Too bad we’ll never hear it again … THANK YOU TAPERS!!!
Track #4 I’ve dubbed “Mondavi Piano” — it’s incredible. It’s comprised of a few sections that sound to me like they all work together as a composition — spontaneous? I dunno … but listen and you’ll love it. The intro section moves smoothly into the main piano groove of the song c.3:40 — beautiful work from John here, complimented so perfectly by Chris and Billy. Wicked good. This builds to some chaos, out of which John continues a piano riff as the track rolls over and Billy joins in on percussion …
Medeski @Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, Davis, CA 2013-04-20
Medeski drops out and illyB keeps playing his mettalic percussives for a spell, and then John slowly joins in with a murky little riff on (what I think is) the Wurlitzer — oh yeah, and Chris starts to compliment John as Billy switches to the kit and things start movin’ and groovin’. This is great and leads us to a Drum Solo closing the set — I recall an old interview where Billy noted the first time they ever did that, close a set with a Drum Solo, and how different it felt and how cool it was … not sure, think around ’03 … anyway, set break!
– SET II –
The 2nd set gets back to tunes, with a great selection, cool to hear, especially since in 2013 we weren’t hearing much else from the band other than the surrounding acoustic gigs that were the thrust of this spring ’13 tour. I think you had to hit some European festivals to catch MMW electric that year — HA! — so, lucky for our friends across the Atlantic. Anyway, great selection of tunes that are all at the top of their game, with a nice loose yet in control and confident feel.
Wood & Martin @Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, Davis, CA 2013-04-20
Shacklyn Knights is a good slinky way to begin the set, followed by a Bass Solo, while LCTDT(P) is a particular highlight — stellar piano from John. JLIPI takes me back to my first live experience with MMW in ’98, and I’m a sucker for always hearing No Ke Ano Ahiahi for similar reasons — it’s a tune my wife and I both love as well. Heaven on Earth is a tune we could hear more from the band … if/when they play again more …
enjoy the grooves,
dug
THE SHACK STREAM
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD ANOTHER SHOW!
FAITU#40
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE
(FAITU#40)
2001-08-25
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Marshall Allen c.2001
Source info:
2001-08-25.sbd.12422.t-flac16
– ONE SET (tracks 1-10) –
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE (FAITU#40)
– SHACK THOUGHTS –
It’s like the band decided to peripherally perform the album, THE DROPPER, in this live setting since Marc Ribot and Marshall Allen were both there. This set is EXACTLY why I listen to MMW. Not the only reason, but one of many that are all EXACTLY why I listen to MMW … while spontaneous composition/improvisation isn’t heard much in this gig, what these musicians do with the songs played is absolutely stunning … let’s dig in!
MMW w/ Marc Ribot @Umbria Jazz Festival,
Teatro Mancinelli, Orvieto, Italy 2001-12-31
– ONE SET –
The set begins with an Open Improv, exploring the space — I think just the trio until about 2min in and then you can hear Ribot’s guitar howl out, and we’re getting some squawks and squeals from Marshall Allen as well … it’s all very abstract, but also sort of a loose introduction to The Dropper (the song) — we get John’s key sound signifying the tune @3:22 on the first track, but then it all sort of falls apart a bit — it seems — simply as a way to restart into The Dropper and get it rolling. So when the track rolls over, this time John’s keys hold the line, Billy kicks in the beat and we are grooving along by the time Chris brings in the base to punctuate things, and essentially hold the melody and foundation of the tune for us. Oh yeah, and then Marc starts letting out some rhythmic spatters and joins the fray nicely. @2:45 Allen asserts himself in the mix — it’s hard to tell if some of the sounds preceding this were coming from him or the keys, but at this point he’s getting horny and we can dig it — listen to Ribot strumming off those spaces in the back of the sound! Things just get MORE CRAZY from here, so just after 7min when John is bringing back the head of the tune (if you can call it that), he’s really wrestling for space in the cacophony of Ribot and Allen — WHOAH! Tune boils down to nothing …
And the Partido Alto groove emerges, feeling so good and about to get super rockin’ as a result of one of the guests — but I ain’t complaining! Ribot comes in with a nice sweet rhythmic pattern again, interjecting some solo lines … the beat picks up as illyB moves to the kit from the percussion, and we are cooking now — and Ribot basically takes over driving this one, I think. He ROCKS this tune HARD … until it simmers down through a drum interlude of sorts, sweetened by John’s piano tinkering in the final moments of the track …
Marc Ribot c.2001
Chris gets us going with a Bass Solo next — fast fingers here! Beats his wood for a while here with high energy until he hits those sweet descending notes leading into Shacklyn Knights, and the Knights step right into the groove and we are moving with the trio only at this point — love the groove/feel of this tune! A Drum Solo comes out of Shacklyn, leading us to Big Time, again with just the trio — heavy vibe on this tune, always fun. In the final noise moments of the tune, just as it’s becoming Felic, Allen and Ribot can be heard again in the mix helping along with the open wacky sounds.
Felic is SOOOOOOOOO f#$kin awesome! And with Ribot and Allen throwing down in the mix, this is some HEAVY shit! Lovin’ it! Chris keeps pulsing that bass line, keeping it together. This tune erupts even more over time, pushing and pushing until we are …
ROLLING! We Are Rolling kicks in, and just when it seemed like Felic was the “heavy” tune, our heads are pushed that much further to the brink — the 5 voices on stage are all clamouring for space in the sound and it is INTENSE! Until we hit that space break with a reggae tinge … but it’s all about to explode again! And AGAIN!
Note Bleu is the soothing sound to follow the previous chaos, but keeps an edge due to Marshall’s sound — such bite to his playing!
MMW @The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul, MN 2001-10-18
A short Open Intro and we are vibing to Sun Ra’s Angel Race (I’ll Wait For You), a tune MMW had been playing for a couple years at this point. Having become part of a medly with Nostalgia In Times Square in the spring 2000 acoustic tour and throughout the remainder of that year, here we get a full treatment of the tune with one of Sun Ra’s band members and Marc Ribot — yeah, this is pretty damn sweet! (I’d heard the trio play Angel Race in ’99, just after it entered the live repertoire, and it was wild with just the three of them — these 5 on stage are wild!) There is what seems like digi-noise c.4min and at times after that, but I think it’s what Allen is doing on his horn! How he’s playing it is eliciting that sound, and then you hear him come in more melodically, but those staccato breaths are breaking the peak!</p
Bubblehouse — does Chris tease the melody from Zappa’s Peaches En Regalia c.6:48?!?! NO! It’s Jelly Belly – RIGHT? Or is it? You decide! Bubblehouse is always grooving and welcome by the crowd, but Ribot and Allen raise the stakes a bit more — you’ll like it, trust me.
You can tell MMW love playing with Ribot, it just shows, and then the addition of Allen finds everyone playing at their tops! Not that the trio ever sounds like they’re slacking on other nights, but this gig just has a VERY special vibe … perfect for a wacky Friday Afternoon In The Universe …
enjoy the grooves,
dug
THE SHACK STREAM
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD ANOTHER SHOW!
MMW Halloween History
– KNOWN/CIRCULATING RECORDINGS FROM HALLOWEEN (2000-2008) –
Trouble playing/downloading tunes?
| ~ HALLOWEEN Shows ~ ~ FLAC & MP3 filesets ~ ~ Download and/or Stream ~ |
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| 2000-10-31.schoeps-m222-mk41.96277.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #1] Beacon Theater, New York, NY Tuesday, October 31, 2000 # with Whirligig Percussion Ensemble (Paula Potocki, Arno Buzack & Gregg Burrows with Billy Martin & Cyro Baptista) * with Robert Randolph on pedal steel with Marc Ribot + Cyro Baptista on entire second set + encore |
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| 2001-10-31.fob.schoeps-cmc64.6158.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #2] The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY Wednesday, October 31, 2001 w/ Marc Ribot w/ Kid Koala and DJ P-Love # w/ Whirligig Percussion ensemble |
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 MMW – Halloween 2000 |
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| 2002-10-31.fob.neumann-tlm170.13067.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #3] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Thursday, October 31, 2002 # “Stridulations” are a series of independent percussion compositions written by illy B (aka Billy Martin), of which two were performed on this date, one leading right into the other. The five performers were: MMW, Steven Bernstein, and percussionist Carl Nilsen. * w/ DJ Spooky + w/ Mauro Refosco ^ w/ Smokey Hormel % w/ Uninvisible Horns of NYC: Steven Bernstein – trumpet, slide trumpet, director Briggan Krauss – alto sax Howard Johnson – tuba Curtis Hasselbring – trombone |
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| 2002-10-31.mbho603.13050.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #4] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Thursday, October 31, 2002 # “Stridulations” are a series of independent percussion compositions written by illy B (aka Billy Martin), of which two were performed on this date, one leading right into the other. The five performers were: MMW, Steven Bernstein, and percussionist Carl Nilsen. * w/ DJ Spooky + w/ Mauro Refosco ^ w/ Smokey Hormel % w/ Uninvisible Horns of NYC: Steven Bernstein – trumpet, slide trumpet, director Briggan Krauss – alto sax Howard Johnson – tuba Curtis Hasselbring – trombone |
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| 2002-10-31.mg210.112715.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #5] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Thursday, October 31, 2002 # “Stridulations” are a series of independent percussion compositions written by illy B (aka Billy Martin), of which two were performed on this date, one leading right into the other. The five performers were: MMW, Steven Bernstein, and percussionist Carl Nilsen. * w/ DJ Spooky + w/ Mauro Refosco ^ w/ Smokey Hormel % w/ Uninvisible Horns of NYC: Steven Bernstein – trumpet, slide trumpet, director Briggan Krauss – alto sax Howard Johnson – tuba Curtis Hasselbring – trombone |
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| 2003-10-31.akg393.retracked.122619.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #6] Beacon Theater, New York, NY Friday, October 31, 2003 One Set Most of show w/ DJ Le Spam * w/ Marc Ribot + w/ Spam Allstars horn section: –Mercedes Abal on flute –AJ Hill on Alto Sax –John Speck on trombone –Steve Welsh on Baritone Sax |
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| 2003-10-31.mg200.112716.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #7] Beacon Theater, New York, NY Friday, October 31, 2003 One Set Most of show w/ DJ Le Spam * w/ Marc Ribot + w/ Spam Allstars horn section: –Mercedes Abal on flute –AJ Hill on Alto Sax –John Speck on trombone –Steve Welsh on Baritone Sax |
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 MMW w/ Ribot – Halloween 2001 |
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| 2004-10-31.cad-equitek-e200(d1+d2)+mg200(d3).27302.t-flac [TSP-Halloween #8] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Sunday, October 31, 2004 One Set # with Antibalas Horn Section * cover of a song by Ethiopian keyboardist/composer Mulatu Astatqe, from the album “Liberty” (1974) ^ with Cyro Baptista (exact performance tunes unconfirmed, but sounds like these are the tracks) |
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| 2004-10-31.mg200.112717.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #9] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Sunday, October 31, 2004 One Set # with Antibalas Horn Section * cover of a song by Ethiopian keyboardist/composer Mulatu Astatqe, from the album “Liberty” (1974) ^ with Cyro Baptista (exact performance tunes unconfirmed, but sounds like these are the tracks) |
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| 2005-10-31.audix-1290-hc.31643.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #10] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Monday, October 31, 2005 One Set Entire show w/ Cyro Baptista + w/ SLAM (50+ piece band fronted by Kenny Wolleson & Jonathon Haffner) |
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 MMW – Halloween 2004 |
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| 2006-10-31.akg393.80135.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #11] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Tuesday, October 31, 2006 One Set # with Flora Purim (vocals) * with Sharon Jones (vocals) with Dave Tronzo (guitar) & Airto Moreira (percussion) for the entire show |
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| 2006-10-31.audix1290.79797.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #12] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Tuesday, October 31, 2006 One Set # with Flora Purim (vocals) * with Sharon Jones (vocals) with Dave Tronzo (guitar) & Airto Moreira (percussion) for the entire show |
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| 2006-10-31.schoeps-mk41.79897.t-flac16 [TSP-Halloween #13] Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY Tuesday, October 31, 2006 One Set # with Flora Purim (vocals) * with Sharon Jones (vocals) with Dave Tronzo (guitar) & Airto Moreira (percussion) for the entire show |
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| 2008-10-31.senn-k6.95827.t-flac [TSP-Halloween #14] Yebisu The Garden Hall, Tokyo, Japan Friday, October 31, 2008 One Set # with Cyro Baptista * with Jamie Cullum + WISM? Super Session with Shacho/Motoharu/tabu zombie/Midorin of Soil & “Pimp” Sessions |
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THE SHACK STREAM
LISTEN/DOWNLOAD ANOTHER SHOW!
FAITU#24+#25
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE
(FAITU#24 & #25)
2000-07-05
2001-06-29
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~ 2000-07-05 ~
MMW c.2002/03
Source info:
2000-07-05.sony-lapel.5588.t-flac16
– SET 1 (tracks 1-9) –
– SET 2 (tracks 10-20) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS — The Shack Project celebrates MMW @25 years!
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE (FAITU#24)
It’s been a busy couple of weeks, being on the road out of town for the Fridays, so I’m making it up a bit this week, sharing shows #24 & #25 for FAITU’s 25th week, the theme of which will extend over several weeks throughout the summer.
Festival Int’l de Jazz de Montréal.
MMW in Montreal, for this Canadian fan was a sweet deal. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it the first few times, but did catch a couple of the Montreal “events”. Each time MMW played Montreal it was a little special, at least to my ears. Always more than you might find from the trio at other festivals – not to say other festivals haven’t featured some killer MMW, which often depends on time slots, but Montreal seemed to always offer a good slot which afforded the band the chance to really put on an “MMW show”, rather than a more typical festival set.
This week we’ll dig into the first Montreal Fest gig from 2000, and the following year’s return in 2001.
MMW c.2002/03
** Wednesday, July 05, 2000 **
Medeski Martin & Wood w/ Marc Ribot, George Garzone, Mino Cinelu & DJ Logic
– SET I –
We Are Rolling has to be one of the BEST opening tunes. Ever. Killer version that stretches out there a bit into that wacked reggae mid-section before wrapping around and drifting into the Latin love of Brigas Nunca Mais. Macha starts a run that leads the trio through to the end of the set, first finding comfort in twisting out ITAHTLMJ before the Latin beat pushes forth again with Latin Shuffle, featuring solos from illyB and Chris before an Open Improv leads to the set closer Swamp Road, which is a super groovy way to close the set, surprisingly played without Logic on stage, who comes out next set. Love when MMW give you a full trio set before settling in with some guests for an evening, and this hour of music – before the 2hr 2nd set – is more than satisfying on its own. But how great for there to be a 2nd set …
MMW c.2000
– SET II –
With a full stage of musicians, the set begins in some open exploration of HUGE LAYERED sound – everyone is looking for their pocket and gradually the sound breaks down a bit, thins out, as various musical conversations erupt across the stage, interjections interrupting ideas while others flow a little more smoothly. All the while, those on stage are working together towards something meaningful. This is beautiful to hear even if it is ugly and harsh to start. As we approach the 5min mark of the opening Improvisation a groove has settled and Garzone and Ribot have been zapping each other with Medeski playing along. This develops into a solid groove and track #2’s Improv is really like a natural outgrowth of the first Improv’s development – but also sounds DAMN familiar! Like a crossbreed of Note Bleu (played later in the set) & Smoke (debuts over a year later). Whatever it is, it once again has fantastic interplay between the three lead voices (Medeski, Garzone, & Ribot) while the rhythm section (Martin, Wood, & Cinelu) lays the bed for the play – and of course, nobody adheres strictly to these roles, but that’s a general breakdown. This slides nicely into Start/Stop which fits this group so well, moving through a cool Percussion/Logic breakdown into Dracula – which has this odd percussive “boom-boom” at the end of the usual bassline melody run, presumably initiated by Cinelu, and it adds a cool twist to Dracula’s usual sly groove, making it bumpier. A Percussion/Logic Improv gains some momentum for a couple of minutes before launching into the Sugar Craft groove, where the solo hat gets passed around to wonderful effect. The Sugar groove just keeps pushing out there landing in Hey Joe – now, it sounds to me like the guests have left the stage or are silent for this tune, but then you can hear them in the final outro chord crescendo which oddly just leads to silence. After a quick break Note Bleu kicks in – reminding us of that earlier improvisation – and the guests are throwing in full on this tune, extending it nicely to lead into the EVER welcome Africa. Africa once again allows the ensemble to breathe together and show off a bit for each other before driving us home with the Bubblehouse groove – complete madness with these 6 players on stage.
Moti Mo, with all these cats, is so full and rich – and when Garzone belts in with the melody on his tenor sax it all just feels so right … what a wonderful celebration Moti Mo is for ending an evening. I often think of it as a quieter number, but the build that rises over the performance, as the solo hat is passed around and group interplay weaves those moments, it really brings the energy way up – yeah, a celebration!
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** Friday, June 29, 2001 ** >>> 2001-06-29
And so begins our run through MMW’s history at the Festival Int’l de Jazz de Montréal.
As always, BIG THANKS to the tapers, and a special shout-out to Blane Harvey for all his work in getting Canadian shows taped and/or shared – as a fellow Canuck, I’m forever grateful, and I’m sure the other MMW Shackers are too! Not sure if you’re still out there, Blane, but next time MMW hit Montreal we gotta have a beer together!
More Montreal MMW Madness coming over the next few Friday Afternoons In The Universe …
enjoy the grooves,
dug
2001-06-29
MMW 2001-06-24 @Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Source info:
2001-06-29.mbho603-200.5589.t-flac16
– ONE SET (tracks 1-16) –
– SHACK THOUGHTS — The Shack Project celebrates MMW @25 years!
FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN THE UNIVERSE (FAITU#24)
It’s been a busy couple of weeks, being on the road out of town for the Fridays, so I’m making it up a bit this week, sharing shows #24 & #25 for FAITU’s 25th week, the theme of which will extend over several weeks throughout the summer.
Festival Int’l de Jazz de Montréal.
MMW in Montreal, for this Canadian fan was a sweet deal. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it the first few times, but did catch a couple of the Montreal “events”. Each time MMW played Montreal it was a little special, at least to my ears. Always more than you might find from the trio at other festivals – not to say other festivals haven’t featured some killer MMW, which often depends on time slots, but Montreal seemed to always offer a good slot which afforded the band the chance to really put on an “MMW show”, rather than a more typical festival set.
This week we’ll dig into the first Montreal Fest gig from 2000, and the following year’s return in 2001.
** Wednesday, July 05, 2000 ** >>> 2000-07-05
** Friday, June 29, 2001 **
Medeski Martin & Wood w/ John Scofield & DJ Logic
– ONE SET –
Exploring some open space that’s really just a loose intro to Bone Digger – once again letting the Montreal crowd know that the trio is not just laying down your typically groovy funked-out festival set – they are here to find new sounds with this festival audience, and that’s what they do. MMW keep Digging the Bones – man this tune is wacked! – and this dying groove slides into the more upbeat Big Time and lets the band welcome the crowd with a bit more friendly sounds, and begins a run of some more groovier numbers that should get the crowd dancing.
MMW 2001-06-24 @Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Big Time, always a nice big groove itself, moves into its outro as some Coconut Boogaloo emerges, coloured by some nice Medeski piano work, sprinkled with a small illyB solo, some raunchy bass fuzz from Wood, and joined by Logic near the end of the tune before we head into the PHAT groove of Jelly Belly – it’s THICK! Some wonderful back and forth between Medeski and Logic on this tune before it busts into a Drum Solo … and interestingly, since he’s onstage, but Logic doesn’t join in with illyB … a few years previous, when Logic was a on tour more often with the trio he and Billy would regularly jam off one another when John and Chris dropped out.
The sweet bassline of ITAHTLMJ pops up next, some wonderful screeching from John’s keys on the main theme, Logic jumping into the fray, while Billy propels us along. A solid take on the tune with Logic bits for intrigue, but then the tune drifts into some short open space exploration that leads us into the crazy Felic groove – it’s a weird tune and I love it for that reason; not easy listening.
More wacky Open Improvisation follows Felic, and Scofield finally joins the fray in the aftermath, tinkering as his sound cuts right into the Open Space – he’s unmistakable, much to the chagrin of some, and to the joy of the rest of us. The overall sound thins out as Medeski, Sco and Logic trade some “licks”, illyB gets his talking drum in there, Chris plunks a little, and it all drops into The Dropper. For you Sco haters out there, just check out the imagination on this tune as he creates his own part throughout the song – this is NOT a tune Sco guests on, usually, but this is the 2nd – and last – time within a week, so he’s not oblivious to the song, but still! Very interesting to hear Sco’s input on The Dropper, vs. Ribot’s (plays on the album version and a couple of live performances).
MMW c.2001
Next up, another MMW live staple, Partido Alto has Logic and Scofield adding new textures, before we get to some Scofield tunes from the A Go Go album he made with MMW a few years prior. The title track, nice slinky groove, and Hottentot, a rocking groove, follow next with Sco taking charge a bit for those tunes. (An aside: I caught Sco at the Montreal Fest in ’98 after the release of A Go Go. He was the featured musician that year so he played like 5 nights with different ensembles, so we caught the A Go Go night with Bill Stewart, Larry Golding, and some terribly boring bass player (seriously, especially in comparison to Wood’s input on the album itself), but the overall music was incredible; then we caught Sco with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and finally got to stand and dance at the festival – upon request from the DDBB to get our butts shakin’!)
The guests remain onstage until the end of the show, but we’re back to some MMW live show tunes again, with first Note Bleu – another chance for comparing Sco’s input to Ribot’s album take – resulting in a hefty Bass Solo intro into the Hendrix tune, Third Stone From The Sun – again, Logic fits nicely in here, as usual, and cool to hear Sco’s take on the rock number. MMW’s take on the Hendrix tune is ALWAYS a treat!
The Hendrix theme continues into the encore, and so do the guests, with a PUMPING Crosstown Traffic to close out the evening.
And so begins our run through MMW’s history at the Festival Int’l de Jazz de Montréal.
As always, BIG THANKS to the tapers, and a special shout-out to Blane Harvey for all his work in getting Canadian shows taped and/or shared – as a fellow Canuck, I’m forever grateful, and I’m sure the other MMW Shackers are too! Not sure if you’re still out there, Blane, but next time MMW hit Montreal we gotta have a beer together!
More Montreal MMW Madness coming over the next few Friday Afternoons In The Universe …
enjoy the grooves,
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