Saint Disruption, founded by Jeff Firewalker Schmitt (musician; founder of the Eagle Condor Council and Wisdom Keepers member); John Medeski (renowned jazz musician; cofounder of Medeski Martin & Wood); and
Guitarist John Scofield is no stranger to collaboration, having played with monumental artists like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Phil Lesh, to name a few. Yet, out of all the
Free Magic might sound too arcane for its own good, but the title track, coupled with "Ballade in C Minor, Vergessene Seelen," interweaves the exotic sounds of the opener in almost equal proportion to the traditional piano trio approach. "Where's Sly," from their second album in 1993, It’s A Jungle in Here, thus becomes a refreshing and emphatic close to a recording that, through the course of its playing time, develops an identity all its own…much like the band who made it, by the process of constant reinvention.
New supergroup features members of MMW, Cream and Living Colour.
For years now, Club d’Elf has been one of the best-kept secrets in the Northeast music scene. They’ve have amassed quite an underground following with a regular residency at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA and occasional shows elsewhere in the area. Who is this band you may have never heard of? Club d’Elf is the brainchild of bassist Mike Rivard and a rotating cast of musicians that includes John Medeski (MMW), Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob), Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie), Sam Kininger (Soulive) and a wide range of other musicians that constantly evolves.
With a rotating lineup, the music of Club d’Elf can be difficult to categorize but the root of it is North African trance, glitchy turntablism, freeform improvisation and rock psychedelia. To celebrate the many sounds that influence them, Club d’Elf has just released a two cd set featuring one disc primarily of North African influence called Electric Moroccoland and a second disc called So Below that deconstructs dub, funk and freeform jazz while holding true to the trance roots of Club d’Elf’s past.
To support this double release, Club d’Elf will embark on a Northeast Tour with John Medeski starting in Philadelphia tonight to share this music with a wide audience. Electric Moroccoland/So Below can now be purchased for download via iTunes or a hard copy from the band’s virtual store. See below for a variety of creative packages that could land you a home cooked vegetarian meal, signed music score or a live set by Club d’Elf at your event/party.
READ ON for a full list of tour dates and Club d’Elf packages…
It seems hard to believe that the gospel-infused, jam-blues-rock band The Word released their eponymous debut album some nine years ago – which has held up quite well over time.
Over the course of the past two years, Medeski, Martin & Wood has had a very simple philosophy – write, tour and record. The avant-jazz groove-jammers stretched this idea out
For those of you who thought we left rock operas behind in the ’70s, literary-folk-prog act The Decemberists will revive the bloated tradition with their latest release The Hazards of
Medeski has never been contained by one set of musical values, which is why, when the announcement came from Ropeadope records that he would be collaborating as both producer and guest on a record by Sacred Steel legends the Campbell Brothers, it was hardly surprising.
Photos by Adam Foley of the moe. Tsunami Benefit featuring Trey Anastasio, John Medeski and Sam Bush at the Roseland Ballroom, New York, NY on 2/10/04.
