New album: Juice
Artist: Medeski, Martin & Wood
Label: Indirecto
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Jazz guitar legend John Scofield has teamed up with Medeski, Martin & Wood several times before, but their latest collaboration, “Juice,” takes their already telepathic interplay to a new level.
Kicking off with an uber-funky cover of the Eddie Harris classic “Sham Time,” the proceedings start off with a bang and never let up. Billy Martin’s genre-hopping drum work along with Chris Wood’s sinewy bass playing put down a foundation as dense as a rain forest. Even when Scofield and keyboardist John Medeski venture out for solos, it’s the Martin/Wood rhythm section that keeps things swinging.
On most MM&W albums the band writes as a unit, but on “Juice” most of the songs are credited to individual members. The one group-written track — “Juicy Lucy” — features Scofield venturing in to Andy Summers territory while the band vamps on themes reminiscent of “Louie Louie” and Herbie Hancock. Totally rearranged readings of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love” have a loose jam feel — although one played by some of the best musicians on the planet.
As for the originals, no one comes up short. Wood’s ‘Helium’ features one of the most sinister grooves ever laid down by MM&W, with Scofield and Medeski carrying on a musical conversation of Tyner/Montgomery proportions. The breezy vibe of Martin’s “Louie The Shoplifter” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Booker T. & The MGs album, while Scofield’s “North London” sounds more like early 1960s Memphis.
If there’s anything negative to say about MM&W or John Scofield, it’s that they make so many other bands look bad. On “Juice,” these guys sound like they’re having fun — even though what they’re doing is all cerebral and stuff. Whether you’re a music snob who needs something to figure out or just a regular schmo who wants something cool to listen to, “Juice” fits the bill in spades.
Classic album: The Complete Bukka White
Artist: Bukka White
Label: Columbia/Legacy
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Say you’ve never heard Bukka White’s music? I’ll bet you have.
The last song on Led Zeppelin’s third album — ingeniously titled “III” — is listed as “Hats Off To Roy Harper.” Roy Harper is an English folk/prog/eccentric who most know through his lead vocal on Pink Floyd’s “Have A Cigar.” The song “Hats Off To Roy Harper” features a fair chunk of Bukka White’s “Shake ‘Em On Down,” which was recorded near the end of the 1940s. White’s name is nowhere in the song credits, so make of that what you will.
The material on “The Complete Bukka White” was recorded between 1937 and 1940, with White accompanying himself on slide guitar that was in a tuning that could only be learned by meeting Legba at the crossroads around midnight. The other well-known track in this collection — “Parchman Farm Blues” — was covered by nearly every English blues-rock band worth their salt in the 1960s.
Unlike his contemporaries, White didn’t rely on whiskey and women for subject matter. One listen to his world-weary vocals on “High Fever Blues” and “District Attorney Blues” and you tell the guy had a lot on his plate.
“The Complete Bukka White” is vital stuff. Anyone whose only knowledge of acoustic blues is Robert Johnson should pick this up immediately.
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Jon Dawson’s album reviews appear every Thursday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or jon.dawson@kinston.com.