The highly innovative trio have carved out a territory that straddles the space between avant-garde improvisation and groove-based beats which, since the early 1990s, has brought them critical acclaim and enormous popularity.
Much of this has stemmed from the five albums that they cut for Blue Not ebetween 1998 and 2005. Note Bleu is a collection of tracks from each of those albums; the best- selling, groove heavy Combustion, the acoustic Tonic, recorded live at the eponymous New York club, the electric The Dropper, 2002's Uninvisible and End Of The World Party (Just In Case) from 2004.
Since their inception MM&W have been notably influential in the direction of American jazz, not least in the rise of B3 organ trios and recording with DJs. Along the way they have spawned many imitators but they remain ahead of the pack as ground-breaking jazz and funk innovators. Note Blue: The Best Of The Blue Note Years offers an excellent introduction to their music.
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Track Listing :
The Dropper; Sugar Craft; I Wanna Ride You; Nocturne, Partido Alto; Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho; Note Bleu; Pappy Check; Mami Gato; Off The Table; Queen Bee; Hypnotized; Hey Joe; End Of The World Party; Uninvisible.
Personnel :
John Medeski (keyboards); Chris Wood (bass); Billy Martin (drums). |
