Performer Notes

Medeski, Martin & Wood: Chris Wood (bass guitar); John Medeski, Billy Martin .
Personnel: Marc Ribot (guitar); Briggan Krauss (saxophone); Steven Bernstein (slide trumpet); John Medeski (keyboards); Billy Martin (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Marc Ribot.
Audio Mixers: Chris Shaw ; John Stanley King .
Recording information: Shacklyn Studios, Brooklyn, NY; The Medina, Los Feliz, CA.
Photographer: Danny Clinch.
This 2004 Blue Note release by Medeski Martin & Wood is yet another example of this band's ability to create infectious grooves and fascinating tonal colors. This is not jazz, per se; MM & W frequently blur genre lines, experimenting with a variety of styles and sounds.
On END OF THE WORLD PARTY (JUST IN CASE), the trio continues in its quest for funky beats and intriguing soundscapes. "Shine It" and "Curtis" have a 1970s retro feel, and on these selections, the group uses a Fender Rhodes, a wah-wah pedal, and earthy drum sounds. In contrast, "Anonymous Skulls," and "End of the World Party" boast state-of-the-art, high-voltage energy. On these tunes, keyboardist John Medeski uses atmospheric sound effects to swirl around the melodies, generating strange, cacophonous noises. Labeled as a jam band of sorts, Medeski Martin & Wood stand out among their peers because of their attention to detail; their grooves are contagious, and they infuse their music with lots of uniquely quirky timbres and textures.

Professional Reviews

Down Beat (p.68) - 4 stars out of 5 - "The vamps are more limber, the sonic sculptures are more thoroughly conceived and the breadth of melodic ideas is more far-flung."

JazzTimes (p.86) - "MMW show once again that retro and modern, analog and cyborg, can flow quite naturally in the same musical sentence."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[M]arrying offbeat jazz with skewed dance beats, spacey loops and amorphous soundscapes....The soundtrack to one hell of a party."

Album: End of the World Party (Just in Case) [Digipak]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Anonymous Skulls
2)	End of the World Party
3)	Reflector
4)	Bloody Oil
5)	New Planet
6)	Mami Gato
7)	Shine It
8)	Curtis
9)	Ice
10)	Sasa
11)	Midnight Poppies/Crooked Birds
12)	Queen Bee

Album: End of the World Party (Just in Case) [Digipak]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Anonymous Skulls
2)	End of the World Party
3)	Reflector
4)	Bloody Oil
5)	New Planet
6)	Mami Gato
7)	Shine It
8)	Curtis
9)	Ice
10)	Sasa
11)	Midnight Poppies/Crooked Birds
12)	Queen Bee