It's a Jungle in Here
Pouring their jazz out of a postmodern blender, Medeski Martin & Wood reference Sly Stone, King Sunny Ade and John Coltrane on the same album; Thelonious Monk and Bob Marley in the same song ("Bemsha Swing-Lively Up Yourself"). And it works: By turn funky ("Beeah," "Shuck It Up") and avant garde ("Worms"), thoughtful ("Moti Mo," "Sand") and over-the-top ("Where's Sly?"), MMW know that for music to matter, it must reflect its time--and "to entertain" is not an evil verb phrase. This piano/organ, bass and drums trio (joined here by top-flight special guests on brass, woodwinds and guitar) is the voice of Future Jazz--and you can hear it now.--Suzanne McElfresh