Friday Afternoon in the Universe

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 more

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Smarter Choice Friday Afternoon in the Universe CDs. Friday Afternoon in the Universe	4,164 reviews *smarter certified	$8.39 Free Shipping Coupon 2 coupons available Code: Detail: Free USPS shipping at DeepDiscount.com Expires:Nov-20-2010 Restriction:Unknow Code:No Code Required Detail: Free Standard shipping on any order at DeepDiscount. Expires:Aug-31-2010 Restriction:Unknow	See it
Friday Afternoon Friday Afternoon	Buy.com 23,982 reviews *smarter certified	$8.99 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: Take $5 OFF the purchase of $100 or more at Buy.com Expires:Nov-30-2009 Restriction:New Customers Only. Coupons are not valid on Marketplace items	See it
Friday Afternoon in the Universe Track Listing: 1. Lover, The, 2. Paper Bass, 3. House Mop, 4. Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps), 5. Baby Clams,...	Best Buy 14,835 reviews *smarter certified	$11.99	See it

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ProductReviews96/100 (19 Reviews)

Recent Reviews

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-22-2008; Excellent ! ! ! !; Simply stated -- this is their album that best balances depth and accessibility. Incredible grooves (as always) and a great variety of sounds make it the album I most often turn to when I'm in the mood for some MMW. You just gotta love...; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Jan-22-2007; Gotta love that vibe; I love this cd. Totally chill, even with their (sometimes loud) sound experimentation. This album was my introduction to Medeski Martin & Wood, and it made me a big fan.; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Oct-26-2006; say huh; Just for starters, I am an avid MMW fan, and I need everyone thinking about getting an MMW album to think about this......DONT start with this one.....I have a real hard time understanding the other reviewers because to me, this is the...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-29-2006; Hands down the best MMW!; I have all the MMW albums through the latest - End of the World Party - and Friday Afternoon in the Universe is, in my opinion, their definitive album. It has all the elements that make MMW special - sensuous, funky grooves flowing in...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-22-2008; Excellent ! ! ! !; Simply stated -- this is their album that best balances depth and accessibility. Incredible grooves (as always) and a great variety of sounds make it the album I most often turn to when I'm in the mood for some MMW. You just gotta love...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Oct-26-2006; say huh; Just for starters, I am an avid MMW fan, and I need everyone thinking about getting an MMW album to think about this......DONT start with this one.....I have a real hard time understanding the other reviewers because to me, this is the...; read full review | report as inappropriate