Who is like Medeski, Martin & Wood?

[Bassist4Life]

I'm a huge MMW and I'm looking for some other ensembles that sling that same vibe. I'm finding it really difficult.

I've been to Pandora.com, Amazon, and iTunes to see what their suggested listening is. Some of the following have been suggested: Charlie Hunter, Greyboy All Stars, Karl Denson, Ulu, Mother Funk Conspiracy...

All those people/groups sound good to me; however, I think they're very different from MMW.

Does anyone know of some lesser known groups that have the same vibe as MMW?

Peace & Thanks,
Joe

[Johno Dunn]

Try Sugarman3, and Soulive for starters.
Great style of music you're listening to. My band is very influenced by this style.

Johno!

[brandau]

Check out The Benevento Russo Duo http://www.myspace.com/beneventorussoduocom

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by brandau

Check out The Benevento Russo Duo http://www.myspace.com/beneventorussoduocom

Good call, twas my suggestion. They are really pretty different, but I think in the genre of "Band that are lumped in with Jam bands but are in reality way too talented to be associated with jam bands" I think Sound Tribe Sector 9 are pretty cool. And though you can't find any studio recordings, if you look hard enough, you can find some bootlegs/live recordings of JoJo Mayer and Nerve. So So awesome.

Again, "different" but in that same genre. MMW are pretty unique.

[DopplerShift]

My band is kind of like mmw
http://www.myspace.com/dopplershift

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I'm a huge MMW and I'm looking for some other ensembles that sling that same vibe. I'm finding it really difficult.

I've been to Pandora.com, Amazon, and iTunes to see what their suggested listening is. Some of the following have been suggested: Charlie Hunter, Greyboy All Stars, Karl Denson, Ulu, Mother Funk Conspiracy...

All those people/groups sound good to me; however, I think they're very different from MMW.

Does anyone know of some lesser known groups that have the same vibe as MMW?

Peace & Thanks,
Joe

All those bands are good and you should support them. MMW or MSMW (with John Scofield, mmmmmm) are so different and unclassifiable that it is hard to say that there is any other band that sounds like them. At least that I've heard, and I've heard most the bands mentioned. Their music is always morphing, changing and evolving. There seems to be no formula with MMW and you never know what is about to be next.

I was going to say Soulive as previously mentioned. They are a great band and they have their own unique style that is jazzy and funky for sure, but not as raw and experimental as MMW.

Are you familiar with Scofield's A Go Go? Although not an MMW album technically, they do provide the rhythm section and some B-3 solo work. I think you will also find Billy Martin on Scofield's UberJam album, but don't quote me on that.

[Marcury]

Booker T and the MGs. Did it first and did it better!

[Bassist4Life]

Guys,

Thanks for your posts. I appreciate it. It doesn't seem like there are many MMW fans here. Whenever I post anything about Chris Wood or MMW, I get minimal responses... It's cool. They're not for everyone.

Anyhow, you guys listed some words that really do describe them:
- different and unclassifiable
- morphing, changing, and evolving
- no formula

I agree. I guess that's what makes them who they are. I enjoy those things about them. I just got a CD a few days ago in the mail I bought from their website, "Electric Tonic". Oh man... so good!

You guys also posted some bands that I should check out. I had some time to check out some of them:
- The Benevento Russo Duo → Sounds good, but it’s not exactly what I’m looking for.
- Sugarman Three → Sound really nice, but they're a little tame for what I'm looking for right now.

Yes! Scofield rocks! It is MM&W on "A Go Go",and it is Medeski and Martin on "Uberjam".

Through your recommendations I found so of choice cuts from Pandora.com:
- Papa Grows Funk: “Pass It!” on “Doin It”
- Mighty Imperials: "Kick The Blanket" on "Thunder Chicken"
- The New Mastersounds: "One Note Brown" on "Keb Darge Presents The New Mastersounds"

Again, thanks for taking the time to post. Any other suggestions you have are appreciated. My name is Joe and I'm a music addict.

Peace and Music,
Joe

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Marcury

Booker T and the MGs. Did it first and did it better!

Good suggestion! My iTunes shopping cart is full of them. Better? Maybe, but that's up for debate.

Peace,
Joe

[Bassist4Life]

Also, Voodoo Dogs have it going on! Thanks Pandora.com.

Peace,
Joe

PS. I don't work for pandora.com. I'm just addicted to it. Our drummer told me about it one night during a gig and I checked it out... I'm hooked.

[Captain_Arrrg]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

... It doesn't seem like there are many MMW fans here. Whenever I post anything about Chris Wood or MMW, I get minimal responses... It's cool. They're not for everyone....

The only thing I remember seeing was something about not liking Wood's electric tone. To which I should have replied "Uhhh, hello? New Planet."

Keep the suggestions rolling, I've always classified MMW as "One of a Kind".

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Captain_Arrrg

The only thing I remember seeing was something about not liking Wood's electric tone. To which I should have replied "Uhhh, hello? New Planet."

I love his tone. Man oh man, if I could get that tone... It's so gritty and nasty (in a good way of course).

I've been told that he uses a SansAmp Bass Driver, but nobody has really confirmed that for me.

I tried to get a peek at his pedal board during their last show in Buffalo, but no luck.

Keep those suggestions rollin'.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I'm a huge MMW and I'm looking for some other ensembles that sling that same vibe. I'm finding it really difficult.

I've been to Pandora.com, Amazon, and iTunes to see what their suggested listening is. Some of the following have been suggested: Charlie Hunter, Greyboy All Stars, Karl Denson, Ulu, Mother Funk Conspiracy...

All those people/groups sound good to me; however, I think they're very different from MMW.

Does anyone know of some lesser known groups that have the same vibe as MMW?

Peace & Thanks,
Joe

I have the same Taste Joe...
Ulu are great...

[PocketGroove82]

If you haven't heard The Bad Plus, you should check them out. They are a jazz influenced, tripped out, improvisational trio like MMW but they have a totally different thing going on. It defies explanation.

[McThumpin]

Originally Posted by Marcury

Booker T and the MGs. Did it first and did it better!

I heard that.

Been outta the Jam Band loop for a while but try
The Bad Plus.
or Galactic.

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

I love his tone. Man oh man, if I could get that tone... It's so gritty and nasty (in a good way of course).

I've been told that he uses a SansAmp Bass Driver, but nobody has really confirmed that for me.

I tried to get a peek at his pedal board during their last show in Buffalo, but no luck.

Keep those suggestions rollin'.

Little Walter Rides Again has this really pinched mildly distorted tone. It is one of my favorites. The solo part of that songs rips. I need to see these guys live though. Never Been.

The Meters aren't a close match to MMW but they have the same formula; Bass, Drums, B-3. I dig um.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

If you haven't heard The Bad Plus, you should check them out. They are a jazz influenced, tripped out, improvisational trio like MMW but they have a totally different thing going on. It defies explanation.

Good suggestion. I have Prog. They are a little more open and tripped out, but I really miss the organ sound a lot.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

Little Walter Rides Again has this really pinched mildly distorted tone. It is one of my favorites. The solo part of that songs rips. I need to see these guys live though. Never Been.

The Meters aren't a close match to MMW but they have the same formula; Bass, Drums, B-3. I dig um.

Little Walter is one of my all-time favorite tunes. The trio I play in does that tune at almost every show. I play the solo like Chris does on the CD. I know that Chris does it different each time, but the crowd goes nuts when they hear me do it like the CD.

I've been downloading all of MMW's recent live shows and they're doing a new tune called "Fillmore Freak". It's hot. Lots of repetition in the organ part, but the crowd goes wild. We started to incorporate Fillmore Freak into our live shows during the jam section of one of our originals. We've gotten a nice response from playing it.

Joe

[Bassist4Life]

Sunday MMW suggestion bump.

I'm really surprised that MMW doesn't get a little more attention here on TB. Are they not very well known?

Peace,
Joe

[bassist15]

MMW is amazing ! I really think there is no band really like them..because of morphing and such...they can change things up to fit on any bill. if they are playing with jam bands ...they can be a jam band...if they are playing at an acoustic jazz show...they can do it...fusion...funk..r&B....I cant decide who I like more in the band. Chris Wood is an amazing talent on bass who has alot of chops and grooves like no other. Billy Martin is sooooo wonderful to listen to ...so funky while throwing in jazz and latin....and John Medeski is amazing on those keys....Ive never heard a clavinet tone like he has. Wurlitzer, organ, Rhodes , synth...he gets it done on anything. Most of the time when I search for bands similar I find something to cheesy but I really dont think there is another band out there that is like MMW. Good suggestions like The Bad plus and The Mighty Imperials are amazing too but no one has such command over styles as MMW does.