The acid-groove threesome of Medeski Martin & Wood will be appearing this Saturday at the House Of Blues along with their very special guest, DJ Logic. While the trio's been hitting on all cylinders these days and their latest disc, "Combusication," is something of a minor masterpiece, DJ Logic's solo disc, "Project Logic," is equally enthralling. John Medeski can sound like anybody from Keith Emerson to Booker T. Jones to the incredible Jimmy Smith, but it's the jam-heavy communication between these musicians working (and steaming) together that makes their live gigs cook. Years of constant touring have made the MMW trio about as tight as a funeral director's smile and funky as a year-old gym bag. Utilizing the sonic rhythmic constructions of DJ Logic, MMW take the always-questionable premise of acid-jazz and stretch it beyond recognition. They also run through the entire dictionary of funk without ever sounding weary or redundant. Using an arsenal that includes wah-wah organ, spooky mellotron, get-down clavinet and old-fashioned pianoisms, Medeski rides the righteous rhythm of drummer Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood with gleeful abandon.
On "Project Logic," DJ Logic's first solo album, he synthesizes the aesthetics of hip-hop, black rock and progressive acid-jazz while standing between New York City's downtown music scene and the ever-auspicious jam band mentality. Flexing the artistic muscles he's been developing with Medeski, Martin & Wood, DJ Logic (AKA Jason Kibler) showcases avant-garde inclinations and a modern dancehall vibe. While the scratch 'n' paste funk of Logic's DJ styling keeps his music well within the dance realm, there's plenty of jazzified soloing and spontaneous creativity going on here as well. Like the man says, "Everything's Everything" and everything is happening at the House Of Blues on Saturday night.
by Mitch Myers
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