#reviewoftheweek / Medeski Scofield Martin And Wood - Juice

When MMW combine their talents with John Scofield, it's a perfect match. It's amazing that these guys have only collaborated a few times over their careers. The combo is so good, it's almost as if it should become a permanent thing. That being said, this is the best of their collaborations to date, showcasing some funky jazz music that is both creative and mindblowing. Where they shine the best is the cover songs. They do Bob Dylan, Cream, and The Doors, and the songs sound just as good as the originals, but in many ways are not even recognizable as the originals. They have taken music that is heavily driven by the lyrics and translated it into a vocal-free world, allowing their instruments to tell the stories and sing the songs. Cover songs are the best when they aren't copies of the originals and the guys do it terrifically. "Sham Time" is a great funky number (also not an original). Their best original tune is "Juicy Lucy" which blurs genre lines and shows off how great these guys are at jamming out. The track truly shows how well this foursome collaborates. Improvisation is key for this group, and it's hard to showcase that on a studio album, but they are able to get their point across well throughout. This collection of songs is a true gem.