Billy Martin and John Medeski
Mago
Amulet Records

A

This is MM, not MMW, and without bassist Chris Wood in the equation, organ master John Medeski and most unorthodox drummer Billy Martin strike fire with Mago.

Certainly not an affect of Wood’s absence, but a tribute to Martin and Medeski’s brilliance, Mago Careens back and forth between the duo’s knack for Sun Ra esque improvisation, the acid jazz and funk beats that made MMW such a force to be reckoned with and free and easy melodies you could set your watch to Mago is an MMW fan’s delight. “Introducing Mago,” “Crustaceatron,” and “Mojet,” the first three tracks follow these formulas to a tee. While Martin and Medeski dip into experimental, avant-garde waters quite frequently, it never strays too far off track. In other words there is always a heady, explosive beat right around the corner. Not a dull moment here, this duo has reconstructed some of MMW’s brilliant ideas of the past into something fresh, yet wonderfully nostalgic.