Shack-man is the fourth album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood, released in 1996.[1][6][7] It was widely considered their commercial breakthrough, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.[8]
| Shack-man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 15, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | June 1996 (The Shack, Hawaii) | |||
| Genre | Jazz-funk, soul jazz, acid jazz | |||
| Label | Rykodisc[1] Gramavision | |||
| Producer | Medeski Martin & Wood, David Baker[2] | |||
| Medeski Martin & Wood chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [2] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Production
editThe album was recorded in an isolated shack in Hawaii, with power supplied by solar energy and generators.[9]
Critical reception
editAllMusic called the album "the best example to date of the trio's cerebral fusion of soul-jazz, hip-hop, and post-punk worldbeat."[3] New York wrote that "the changes are episodic, as in funk, rather than conversational, as in jazz."[10] Relix called it a "dark, funky dorm room breakthrough."[11]
The Cleveland Scene wrote that the group "made it cool to groove again with 1996's Shack Man, a Hammond-hammered Phish-lot mainstay that opened the door for instrumental improv groups like Soulive and Particle."[12]
Track listing
editAll music by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.
- "Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus" (traditional, arr. by MMW) – 4:27
- "Think" – 5:16
- "Dracula" – 4:16
- "Bubblehouse" – 4:27
- "Henduck" – 4:38
- "Strance of the Spirit Red Gator" – 7:06
- "Spy Kiss" – 4:22
- "Lifeblood" – 7:06
- "Jelly Belly" – 4:42
- "Night Marchers" – 4:26
- "Kenny" – 4:43
Performers
edit- John Medeski – Hammond B3 organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Pianet T, toy piano, Yamaha CSO1 II
- Billy Martin – drums, percussion
- Chris Wood – acoustic bass, electric basses, guitar
Credits
edit- Recording engineer: David Baker
- Assisted by Carl Green and Mark Kindermann
- Mixed at IIWII, Weehawken, NJ with David Baker and Katsu Naito
- Edited at Current Sounds, NYC with Bob Ward
- Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain, Northeastern Digital Recording
- Executive producer: Hans Wendl
- LP management: Liz Penta
- Band photo by Michael Macioce
- Artwork by Billy Martin, 1996
References
edit- ^ a b "Medeski, Martin & Wood | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 741.
- ^ a b "Shack-Man - Medeski, Martin & Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 684.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 533.
- ^ "Catching New Grooves After a Great Escape". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1996.
- ^ Budnick, Dean (November 19, 2003). Jambands: The Complete Guide to the Players, Music, & Scene. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879307455 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Medeski Martin & Wood". Billboard.
- ^ GETTELMAN, PARRY. "MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD". OrlandoSentinel.com.
- ^ "Groove Theory". New York. New York Media, LLC. November 4, 1996 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Medeski Martin & Wood: The Triple Entente". Relix Media. May 17, 2017.
- ^ Miller, Jeff. "Medeski, Martin & Wood". Cleveland Scene.