MMW: Let’s Go Everywhere

Little Monster Records Releases
Medeski Martin & Wood’s All-Ages Adventure
LET’S GO EVERYWHERE
Available at stores everywhere January 8, 2008

Medeski Martin & Wood

Medeski Martin & Wood, known to their legions of fans for their free-flowing “elegant mayhem of jazz and funk,” will release a new family music CD, Let’s Go Everywhere. Available January 8, from Little Monster Records, Let’s Go Everywhere takes listeners on a journey both literal and figurative, through a magical mélange of sounds and vehicular adventures.

Let’s Go Everywhere offers the same musical sophistication fans have come to expect from Medeski Martin & Wood (also known as John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood). This collection of all-ages tunes will keep everyone in the family bopping and jamming along, no matter how long the ride may be.

The band wanted to do a children’s record for some time. Chris Wood’s daughter shares play dates with the daughter of Kate Hyman and Kevin Salem, co-founders of Little Monster Records. The parents talked over some ideas and settled on the concept of travel and adventure. The band went into the studio together, and four days later had composed, arranged and laid down the basic tracks for this high-flying collection of rousing tunes. The collaborative and improvisational nature of the recording process comes through with the fresh and happy sound of each track.

Most of the songs are MMW rollicking originals, like “The Train Song,” “Let’s Go” and “Pirates Don’t Take Baths.” Others are familiar children’s rhymes and songs (“Pat a Cake” takes on a kid punk persona, “Hickory Dickory Dock” truly makes time and “All Around the Kitchen” shakes out of its traditions). “Old Paint” is done in an easygoing style complemented with Medeski’s expert piano playing. The band also enlisted talented friends to help round out the sound. Tim Ingham sings a tune that Johnny Cash made famous – the result is “Let’s Go Everywhere” (echoing “I’ve Been Everywhere”) as well as the original “Pirates” tune. And actor/Lounge Lizards band leader John Lurie (Down by Law; Paris, Texas) contributes his edgy vocals to the offbeat story/song “The Squalb.” It helps to know that if you find something fuzzy in your pocket, it’s a good thing.

Let’s Go Everywhere track listing
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