In order: Chris Wood (Bass), Billy Martin (Percussions), John Medeski (Keyboards)

Track list

1. Waking Up
2. Let’s Go Everywhere
3. Cat Creeps
4. The Train Song
5. Where’s The Music
6. Pat A Cake
7. Pirates Don’t Take Baths
8. Far East Sweets
9. On An Airplane
10. The Squalb
11. Let’s Go
12. Old Paint
13. Hickory Dickory Dock
14. All Around The Kitchen
15. We’re All Connected

Genre

Children’s music, jazz

Release

January 8, 2008

Label

Little Monster Records

Background Information

Medeski, Martin & Wood is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar. Most of their material would be considered jazz, experimental, fusion, funk, free jazz, soul jazz or even acid jazz by some, depending on the album. Let’s Go Everywhere is their 17th album since 1992 when they first recorded, and they’re still planning for more:

Medeski Martin & Wood are planning 3 tours, plus 3 albums in 2008. Each tour and subsequent album will consist of all NEW MUSIC. The plan: Write > Tour > Record > Repeat. (source)

Fans and readers should be warned, though: Let’s Go Everywhere is intended for kids. This, however, does not mean grown ups can not enjoy it, as the album still retains a lot of the musical qualities making Medeski, Martin & Wood what they are.

My Opinion

When I got my hands on this album, at first, I thought it was some kind of elaborate tongue-in-cheek concept Medeski, Martin & Wood gave us, strangely reminding me the kind of non-serious semi-humorous composition of songs like Coconut Boogaloo (Combustication) with its long one-note streaks that never seem to end. I was startled by the use of voices and even more by the fact children were singing, which reinforced the feeling I had about ‘Let’s Go Everywhere.’ Well, it turns out it’s actually a kids album. This surprised me a bit, because I don’t follow artist news that much, and all the reviews I later read were about how the kids liked this album and it was okay for parents. I’m going to review it from my own perspective, as an adult, and forget about the kid side as I doubt many of them would read this review anyway.

Musical imagery can be strong in this album. No, seriously. It’s an album for kids and I realize it now. I listened to the lyrics (I never do this on the first play) and yeah, it’s pretty obvious, but otherwise, MMW manage to portray their songs real well. A good example of this could be The Train Song: before anything comes on, the percussions build up at the rhythm of an old steam engine, the harmonica kicks in reminding the whistles, etc. and the song ends in the same manner. Cat Creeps just feels like that: a creeping cat.

From an adult’s point of view (my point of view), the lyrics are pretty simplistic. Nobody should expect anything else from an album targeted at children. However, the music around it is still the exact same MMW known before. For some, it may be bringing it down to a more boring level, but for others, this becomes a really interesting mix. Where’s The Music is a great example of this. The groove from that track is simply rich, and it’s continually cut short, at which point you hear children scream “Where’s the music?” before it starts again. This creates some kind of neat anticipation that makes the song hard to get tired of.

A few pieces are still the well-known MMW, namely Far East Sweets and Let’s Go, which brings back the good old honky-tonk keyboards. Then you can add a few other instrumental songs to let you relax, like Old Paint or We’re All Connected, a great ender for the record.

Other songs, like Pat A Cake, are really harder to like, as they’re absolutely aimed to kids: children singing the old nursery rhyme “Pat a Cake”. The music is not as there (although you still have some okay drums) and you’re pretty much stuck listening to any other kid song mixed with some kind of rap. Thankfully, it’s barely over a minute long. Hickory Dickory Dock is the same, although easier to listen to [and even shorter].

For most of the album, though, there is just a good balance between the always changing jazz seasoned with funky rythm and keyboards and the [extremely] silly kid side of things. Pirates Don’t Take Baths, Let’s go Everywhere (a strong song on this album), On An Airplane, The Squalb (could be compared as a really light and silly version of Your Name Is Snake Anthony, from Uninvisible) are examples of this.

In conclusion

While this is definitely not an album to blast through your car’s sound system while trying to pick up chicks or wrestle against bikers, it’s an interesting listen and a good addition to any MMW collection. You just have to keep an open mind and be in lighthearted mood in order to appreciate it. They still manage to surprise like they do most of the time, the basic elements that makes you like them are still around. It’s just more accessible for kids (and pretty much anyone, musically speaking), which is a great thing in itself to be honest.

I should finish by adding that if you do not know Medeski, Martin & Wood, a good album to get into them (better than this one) would be Uninvisible.

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