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Notes from the Underground

Artist: Medeski Martin & Wood
Label: Accurate Records
Category: Music

New (5) Used (15) from $3.00

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

8 reviews
Sales Rank: 30614

Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1

UPC: 743431501028
EAN: 0743431501028
ASIN: B000001O41

Release Date: February 21, 1995

Tracks:

•	Hermeto's Daydream
•	The Saint
•	La Garonne
•	Orbits
•	Uncle Chub
•	Rebirth
•	Otis
•	United
•	Caravan
•	Querencia

Similar Items:

•	It's a Jungle in Here
•	Shack Man
•	Friday Afternoon in the Universe
•	Tonic
•	End of the World Party (Just in Case)

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
For folks who got turned onto Medeski Martin & Wood through the trio's later albums, MMW's 1992 debut will come as something of a shock. There's no trace of John Medeski's soulful organ workouts here--he sticks strictly to piano--and the record's disjointed rhythms and dissonant tonal shadings bring it closer to John Zorn territory or that of John Lurie and his Lounge Lizards (which makes sense, considering that Medeski and drummer Billy Martin had previously worked with Zorn and, in Martin's case, in Lurie's Lounge Lizards). But though the slinky grooves and oddball humor of records like It's a Jungle in Here are largely absent, Notes from the Underground still stands as an impressive debut from an immensely talented trio. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Acoustic Medeski Martin and Wood July 9, 2008
As with most avant-garde jazz, "Notes from the Underground" is a challenging listen, but high in integrity. Most listeners who fell in love with the rock infused albums like "End of the World Party," "Uninvisible" and "Friday Afternoon in the Universe" will probably not enjoy Medeski Martin and Wood's (MMW) debut. To appreciate "Notes from the Underground," the listener should either be a MMW die-hard or an avid fan of avant-garde musicians like Don Pullen, Eric Dolphy and John Zorn. In addition to the acoustic trio, the group is accompanied by musicians who play the trumpet, tuba, trombone, saxophones and bass clarinet. This will give the potential listener a good idea of the sonic landscape on this 1992 release. Now there's avant-garde and then there's avant-garde. While far out, it is very listenable compared to "Farmer's Reserve." These songs aren't painful to listen to, they're just not very memorable. The compositions have little staying power. Even Duke Ellington's 'Caravan' is barely recognizable. Indeed, with the exception of 'Hermeto's Daydream,' none of these pieces have earned a place on the compilations and this material has mostly been ignored during the band's regular live sets. All of that written, this will be a good listen for those who have found a place in their hearts for MMW's acoustic material. Indeed, the obscurity of "Notes from the Underground" has always been a mystery when compared to the success of "Tonic." While an interesting debut, it would not be until the following year's release of "It's a Jungle in Here" that the band would achieve a dramatic entrance.

5 out of 5 stars

Phat! Not the MMW most people know March 30, 2002
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is real Jazz folks. This is not Duke Ellington, this is not Miles Davis. Those reviewers that gave this album a negative review because it's not "traditional" jazz were completely missing the beauty of this album. No this is not traditional jazz, it only resembles traditional jazz in that it's acoustic and they do a cover of "Caravan". Jazz is not traditional, jazz is about breaking the rules and going beyond traditional boundaries. MMW has this concept hardwired into their brains. They find a way to bring a gut wrenching chaotic beauty out of what only SEEMS like noise. This album indeed contains less of their "experiemental" or "random" noise but it still has it's fair share. The only reason I can see someone not liking this album is if they don't like or don't understand complex harmonies. Creed and Brittainy Spears are popular for a reason - they are EASY to listen to. MMW often is not easy to listen to, but if you want to hear some of the best musicians in the world (Medeski and Wood went to NEC and Martin to Julliard) give you a piece of their hearts and minds listen to this album.

One of THE MOST beautiful songs of all time IMHO is La Garronne, track 3. I also believe MMW's best groove is on this album as well, that's United track 8. I would like to quickly qualify that I could never truly pick a favorite song or album of MMW or most any other band either, but I use these terms to illustrate just how insanely great I think these songs are. This of course is my humble opinion but as a Jazz pianist of many many years I hope that if you are interested in expanding your musical horizons that you will consider my opinion of value and buy this album. Yes, it is strange in some places, but all of MMW's albums have strangeness. If at first you don't dig it, put it away and listen to it again when you get bored of all your other albums. I have yet to get bored of this album.

2 out of 5 stars Not the best MMW   March 11, 2002
0 out of 10 found this review helpful

Do not get me wrong, I can not think of a more enjoyable band to see live or listen to in the car then MMW. But their first CD is just not that good. As someone else said, if I want a jazz Cd I will go buy Duke Ellington. This CD has too much basic jazz, not like their next albums which had a much more eccentric and off the wall jazz feel. Not very jam oriented either. The one good point of this disc would be the cover of the Duke's hit, "Caravan," which I would just prefer to have the original of. Do not buy if this is your first MMW pick. For only the serious collector.

3 out of 5 stars ...the bland before the storm...   January 8, 2002
2 out of 7 found this review helpful

...this was the first mmw disc i purchased and really had a hard time enjoyin it. as far as their foray into traditional jazz, this was very average (outside of about two cuts). if i was gonna buy a standard jazz album, it would be somethin by duke ellington, horace silver, miles, etc.,....
...they really came into their own, however, when they began to expand into the realm of jazz-fusion. if you are a jazz purist, then this is probably the only disc from them you would enjoy, but if your musical tastes are a bit more diverse i would suggest some of their other works.

5 out of 5 stars this is just fan-damn-tastic   March 26, 2001
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Since MMW don't seem to get any airplay, at least not in Utah, I picked up albums that were recomended by others. For some bizarre reason, none of my friends or aquaintences ever mentioned this fabulous piece of work to me. i have owned it for several months now, and even though it is impossible for me to choose a favorite MMW album, it seems that this is the one that i tend to listen to most. Granted, it doesn't have the fat organ hooks that grab you and refuse to let go, but that doesn't mean it isn't highly addictive. No funk? listen again my friends. Some of those bass lines are far from typical jazz. So there isn't a DJ. It certainly doesn't suffer noticably. This is a very strong showing from three damn fine musicians. bottom line: DON'T BE AFRAID OF JAZZ. It's the good stuff kids.