Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood - Out Louder

John Scofield is an organic mood these days. On Saudades, the recent release by Trio Beyond, the guitarist hooked up with Hammond B-3 man Larry Goldings (and drummer Jack DeJohnette) to pay tribute to Tony Williams' fusion-pioneering Lifetime. Here, in the role of guest artist, he revives his partnership with organist John Medeski--and bassist Billy Martin and drummer Chris Wood, all of whom backed him on his smartly grooving 1998 effort, A Go Go. As the crunching "Miles Beyond" demonstrates, MSMW has got fusion on its mind, too. But on what may be the futuristic Medeski crew's most aggressively varied effort, they also partake of spaced-out blues jams, Beatles balladry ("Julia"), full-throttle soul, rhythmically recast reggae (Peter Tosh's "Legalize It"), New Orleans tradition ("Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing") and a Brazilian-inflected tune on which Scofield makes like Wes Montgomery. The first album to be issued on MMW's own Indirecto label, Out Louder is a consistently enjoyable world tour that has just the edge and sense of surprise that has been missing on some of Scofield's and MMW's recent albums. --Lloyd Sachs Amazon.com

out louder

This is still experimental Jazz fusion, but something about adding Scofield to the mix tames MMW. This is not a bad thing, in fact it is brillant! This is a cd that I will listen to again and again and highly reccomend. It has mellow ballads and chops that make you want to dance, another brillant masterpiece that will have staying power.
---Anthony hanley October 10, 2008

red dog

I love MMW, and with a good guitarist that obviously "gets" them, it not only makes great jazz, but fantastic jamming music. Then again, I am a big fan. June 30, 2008

Dropping acid with Grandpa

I don't really understand MMW's fascination with Scofield. I'm guessing that it has to be their roots of influence in traditional jazz. I wish that they could have chosen Grant Green, but the results would've probably been the same honestly. A trio is something special I think, a heart, lung, and brains, go. Add some other organ to that and I think/feel that you waste something, sort of wait around. That's it, the spontaneity is lessened. Not gone, but definitely slowed down some.
I unfortunately need to take back everything that I have just said upon hearing "Julia". That is beautiful.
I love these guys, and always will, so I guess that if they want to play quartet from time to time, I'll just buy it.
But, I'd rather the Trio. March 5, 2008

Combination Team Effort

This is funkdafied music. Being a big jazz fan I took a chance and this album had me occupied for awhile where nothing could distract me. It is just plain interesting and unique. Favorite tracks include: Track 1 (what a bluesy feel), Track 3 and Track 5 (builds nicely). Recommend for anyone into the late Miles Davis stuff or just wanting to explore some new beats. January 16, 2008

Good with potential evident

This is a good and solid effort and will be money well spent but a bit restrained in performance and that is disppointing as I've seen Scofield live several times in Montreux (a spectacular show with Lovano in the Stravinsky with Bireli Lagrene following, and then in the early 90s with Pat Metheny "See Your House..." music where he let loose) and also have seen on separate occasion MMW in Montreux where they really did let loose and the results were spectaularly entertaing, though MMW with Scofield were to play Montreux this summer (2007) and must have been the realization of the material and music on the record, and the place to be............. October 28, 2007

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