Customer Reviews

It's a Jungle in Here

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I never picked up this album in my four years of listening to MMW until this year. And that, I regret. The album blows my mind. The first track, Beeah is a killer start to the whole sound. Bemsha Swing/Lively up Yourself is probably my favorite track on the whole album.
Words do not do this sound justice. If you like medeski, and also like the sounds of the older jazz (ie Miles Quintet, late 1960's free jazz) this one will definately become a quick favorite.
Super tight, real deep grooves. The feel that these musicians have for eachother is amazing.

Pound for pound, you don't get anymore talent than these guys. Phenomenal musicians, with chops and style like no others. This album swings, it grooves, it's -->FUNKAY<--. A versatile group of songs, inspired by the fevered minds of three great talents, rooted in the discipline of jazz. A sonic journey. This album capture's MMW's evolution from the straight jazz of the likes of Coltrane to the funkadelicious style that is all their own. It's a jungle in here.

The song 'Where's Sly' was my first introduction to Medeski Martin and Wood. It remains a favorite of mine. This CD is a very good listen, with the band in fatback groove mode. Check out the medly of 'Lively Up Yourself' and 'Bemsha Swing.' The humor and musicianship of this band is amazing. They always remind me that jazz was originally dance music.

John Medeski, Billy Martin, and Chris Wood are the best jazz trio out there right now. Bar none. This album marks the group's infusion of electronic instruments, now a staple sound for MMW. I don't have a favorite MMW album, as they are all equally fantastic. And do see them live if you have the chance!

Nicely acidic trippity-hippity-hoppity-funkity grooves made me want to shake my thang until the cows came down. MMW is the refreshing real thing when it comes to jazz (unlike the 4-chording so-called "swing bands" of late). These guys can play, they can write, and they can make you "Huh?" and "Wow!" in the same breath. It's not everyone's cup o' java, but hell, what is?

I recently bought this album recently after trying to complete my back catalog on this band, and I was very impressed when I got to "It's a Jungle in Here". I think it is a prime example of what makes the trio great, and it distinguishes itself because of the great piano lines strewn throughout the music. I think it actually accentuates the music without overpowering it.

This is something that was missing a bit in more recent MMW albums as a straight up piano has been pretty much absent (until the recent "End of the World Party (Just In Case)"). The piano really makes the jazz stand out. Of course Martin and Wood are great here as always, although as an older piece of work, you won't hear the experimental tendencies that have become the norm.

I love the album though as it really expands on the variety that I've known MMW capable of as well as their appreciation of fine Jazz (i.e. Bemsha Swing by T. Monk).

its a jungle introduces you to one of the fastest evolving groups of this time. although this album was recorded with the most conservative instrumentation of any MMW album, on IAJIH MMW showcase their ability to reform the "organ" trio with liquid rhythms and virtuoso musicianship. the music on IAJIH projects a standard jazz feel, but beautifully combines bebop, stride, swing, rock, funk, free, and lounge styles into an impressive jazz fusion which creates a basis for MMW's futuristic sound. If your at all intrigued by the more recent experimental MMW albums, try this one out, and you will better understand the roots of this incredible trio. 5 stars easy, a groundbreaking work in the world of jazz.

I was totally blown away by this album. I like the use of horns in early MMW. "Where's Sly", "Shuck it up", and "Wiggly's Way" were my favorite tracks on the CD, the latter being a very perfect end to the album. Get this album, nuff said.

It's bop in the 24th century!! Songs that Miles, Coltrane, Diz and countless others forgot to make. I love the use of traditional instruments: piano, double bass, and them horns! Like reinterpreting Charlie Parker for the 90s and beyond! Put it on, tell your grandparents it came out "like sometime in the mid 60's." It's an album where they shed some of the "avant-garde" that can weigh them down at times and get back to their roots, perhaps the very roots themselves. Where "post-bop" becomes "hard bop" while slow dancing with what was originally termed "cool." The title track is a great illustration of the "MMW" sound: funky, avant-garde, jam-band groove, where Medeski arises from his piano decorations to organ paradiddles. Chris Wood has some of the the most head-boppingest, splashy groove bass lines since ever. And Billy Martin might simply be an extra-terrestrial, his articulated musical thoughts are from another galaxy. Imagine the Meters flying thru a Hunter S. Thompson-esque car trip to Las Vegas during the Clinton years. Is "acid jazz" an ironic term here? Perhumps, MMW prove it without realizing. Either way, whatever you think, nevermind the bullocks, just listen. There really is a jungle in here!

3 1/2 stars


Exploring their hybrid jazz sounds from every percievable angle, M,M ,and W can only be accused of going too far into their tweaking and articulating of various themes, thereby undermining the overall theme of the song and album..That seems to be the only roadblock standing in their paths to creating a true masterpiece album, as they are the type of people that simply Cannot record a dull note...Blessed is the musician who balances out the far more overwhelming emptiness of souless, uninspired compositions!